The college basketball season is about to get started and we take a look at the top 10 non-conference games.
Basketball fans unite as the college basketball season is two weeks away from getting started. This is the time of year when every college team has a dream of making the Big Dance in March and having their One Shining Moment.
The beginning of the season always brings us a great slate of games between teams not in the same conference. This year is no exception and it should be great for all college fans.
Before the season officially gets underway, we take a look at what we think are the 10 best non-conference games.
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UConn at Kansas – Dec. 1
We have to wait a month to get this one, but this could be one of the best games of the year. The Huskies ran away with the NCAA title last year but the Jayhawks are the preseason No. 1 team in the country. The Jayhawks are loaded and brought in Hunter Dickinson, who transferred from Michigan. They both had some big games before this but this game is a marquee matchup.
FAU vs. Arizona in Las Vegas – Dec. 23
We have to wait even longer for this gam but it is still an intriguing matchup that you need to watch. FAU is coming off a shocking run to the Final Four last year and it earned them a preseason top-10 ranking. The Owls have a tough game with Illinois before this but could very easily be undefeated coming into this game. This will be the third straight-ranked opponent for the Wildcats and fifth of the year. They have a brutal schedule and could have a few losses before this game.
Michigan State vs. Duke in Chicago – Nov. 14
One of the first big matchups of the year between two of the biggest programs in the country. Both teams are loaded this year and have their eyes set on a No. 1 seed in the tournament. Jon Scheyer is in his second year at Duke and is looking to improve on last year when they were knocked out in the second round of the tournament. The Spartans are coming off a Sweet 16 appearance and are ranked No. 4 in the preseason poll.
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Purdue vs. Gonzaga at the Maui Invitational – Nov. 20
Purdue was the top team in the country for most of last year but was shocked in the first round by 16-seed Fairleigh Dickinson in a huge upset. The Boilermakers bring a lot back from that team including National Player of the Year, Zach Edey. The Bulldogs are coming off an Elite Eight appearance last year where they lost to eventual champion UConn 82-54. These two teams played last year with the Boilermakers winning easily 84-66. The Bulldogs will want revenge.
Saint Mary’s vs. San Diego State in Las Vegas – Nov. 17
This might not be the game that jumps off the page at you but both of these teams are going to be good. The Gaels have been one of the best mid-major teams in the country for a long time – they have just been stuck behind Gonzaga. The Aztecs have also been really good and made a run at the national championship game last year. What do the Aztecs have ready for an encore? This game could tell us a lot.
Tennessee at North Carolina – Nov. 29
Tennessee makes a trip to Chapel Hill looking to prove it can win a big road game. The Volunteers are coming off a Sweet 16 appearance last year after they beat Duke in the second round. They will be looking to make it a sweep of North Carolina in this one. The Tar Heels are trying to bounce back from a year in which they missed the tournament. They were a disappointing 20-13 last year and are trying to prove that last year was more of an anomaly than anything else.
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Texas at Marquette – Dec. 6
If it was just a matchup of these two teams it would be a great game but throw in that it could be a top-15 matchup and it includes Shaka Smart and it becomes a must-watch. Smart left Texas to take the Marquette job and he has already had more success with the Golden Eagles. The Longhorns will be looking to show Smart that they are the better team now.
Kentucky vs Kansas in Chicago – Nov. 14
The second time on this list for Kansas and it is for good reason as it takes on another blue blood in Kentucky. The Jayhawks, as we stated above, are the top-ranked team in the preseason and are looking to prove why. The Wildcats are at No. 16 entering the year and are looking to bounce back after getting knocked out in the second round of the tournament last year. This should be a battle between two very good teams.
Arizona at Duke – Nov. 10
This is going to be great. The Wildcats come into Cameron Indoor to take on the Dukies. Both teams have dreams of a Final Four run this year and have the teams to do it. These games are normally played at a neutral site, but for just the second time ever Arizona with head to Durham. The only other meeting at Duke was in 1990 with the Blue Devils winning 78-76.
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UConn vs, Indiana in New York – Nov. 19
The defending champions are back on the list for this intriguing matchup with a blue blood trying to make its way back. The Hoosiers did lose all-everything Trayce Jackson-Davis but brought in a good recruiting class. They may be a year away, but they have a lot to prove and get a chance against the Huskies.
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