It’s only August, but admit it: you’re already excited for Big East basketball. Coach Mac and the Creighton Bluejays are one of the seven Big East schools that have released their non-conference schedule a few weeks ago, whetting the whistle for Jays fans to start pining for the season to start.
Here at White & Blue Review, we already have compiled most of the conference’s non-con schedule. From official releases to reading between the lines, we’ve got a good grasp on the games of interest before Big East play begins in late December – and even a few that creep into the calendar later in the season (no, not Creighton vs. Truman State).
As we wait with baited breath for the conference slate to drop, let’s take a look at the non-conference games Big East hoops heads can’t afford to miss.
Virginia @ Villanova (January 29)
This is a return game from last season when the Wildcats went into Charlottesville in December and suffered one of their only losses of the season against the Cavaliers 86-75. Villanova, as you know, went on to win the National Championship. Both of these teams will start the 2016-17 season in the top 10 or top 15 depending on who you talk to, but where will these teams be at the two-thirds point of the season about to hit the back stretch of their conference season? At this point, there is no reason to doubt that both teams will still be in the top 15 at the end of January. Such an intriguing out of conference matchup between top teams so late in the season is sure to garner a lot of attention.
Maryland @ Georgetown, Gavitt Games (November 15)
John Thompson III’s Hoyas have more than a few quality non-con games to help their resume for March (WBR/Mike Spomer)
The Gavitt Games started last season as a challenge series between the Big East and the Big Ten. Maryland and Georgetown faced off during the inaugural version, a meeting between two schools only about 20 miles apart. It was the Hoyas’ first visit to College Park since 1973-74, though; they last played each other in the 2008-09 season. Georgetown lost 75-71 and now gets a chance at the Terps in D.C. John Thompson III’s talented roster missed the NCAA Tournament last season and needs to make noise in a challenging non-conference slate to prove they’ll be back to the dance sooner than later. A win over a Melo Trimble-led Maryland squad would go a long way.
Wisconsin @ Creighton, Gavitt Games (November 15)
Creighton, a team receiving some preseason pub from places like ESPN and Busting Brackets, received their marquee matchup of the non-conference thanks to the Gavitt Games. There was a lot of talk before the announcement of this game that Creighton would not take part in the challenge series this season. But circumstances find the Bluejays hosting a Badgers team that will be in the preseason top 15 lists of any publications that know anything about college hoops.
Maurice Watson, Jr. and the Bluejays were embarrassed by Indiana in Bloomington last season (WBR/Mark Davis)
After getting embarrassed last season in the Gavitt Games at Indiana, you can bet that Maurice Watson, Jr. and crew will be ready to play the Badgers in the friendly confines of the CenturyLink Center. Creighton fans no doubt have this date circled on their calendars for what is certainly the marquee non-conference home game for the Jays. With so much hype heading into a season when Marcus Foster and Justin Patton join Watson and Cole Huff, a matchup with the Badgers will be a great early season litmus test to see what Mac’s team is made of.
Villanova @ Purdue, Gavitt Games (November 14)
Let’s face it: when you win the National Championship, you get the marquee games. But that doesn’t mean you want those right out of the gates. Villanova will likely open with a cupcake at home. But Jay Wright’s defending national champs will hit a bit of a road trip starting with a game in West Lafayette against Matt Painter’s Boilermakers (Nova then gets to Charleston, South Carolina, for the Charleston Classic a few days later, an event that starts with an opening game against Western Michigan).
Everyone wants a shot at the champs (WBR/Mike Spomer)
Villanova probably would have enjoyed playing one more guarantee game at home, but with the Gavitt Games already tight on getting 8 of the 10 Big East teams involved for the first week of the season, Villanova stepped up and took a game on the road against a potential top 25 opponent. With the return of Caleb Swanigan for the Boilermakers, Purdue stays a top 25 team and will be gunning for the defending champs. It is possible this game is part of the ESPN 24 hour marathon to kick off the season.
Butler vs. Indiana, Crossroads Classic (December 17)
Butler, Indiana, Notre Dame, and Purdue have gotten together the past several seasons to be a part of an event called the Crossroads Classic, where these teams from Indiana all play each other in alternating years. This season Butler matches up with Indiana. The Bulldogs will have in-state bragging rights on the line, as well as the chance to claim a win for the Big East over a Big Ten team (although not in the Gavitt Games event).
The Hoosiers are likely a preseason top 25 team according to prognosticators but are just one of a potentially salty slate of non-con opponents for the Bulldogs. Leading up to the classic, Butler could see all of the following: Northwestern, Vanderbilt and Arizona in Las Vegas, at Utah and hosting Cincinnati.
Xavier vs. Cincinnati, Crosstown Shootout (Date TBA)
Remember when things were so intense (and violent) between these two schools that they almost got rid of the series for good? Fortunately for fans of both programs (and college hoops junkies like you and me), the Crosstown Shootout is on the books.
Xavier will get plenty of preseason love from the pollsters (WBR/Adam Streur)
The only question at this point is when the game is going to be played. While an official date has not been announced yet, this one is expected to take place either in January of February. And it should be a good one.
Xavier is expected to be a top 10 team this season, and Cincinnati is anywhere between a top 20 team or one just outside the top 25. Other Big East teams have some challenging non-conference games already scheduled once conference play is in full swing (Villanova, Georgetown, not Creighton), and Xavier’s certainly fits the bill.
UConn @ Georgetown (January 14)
One of these top games to watch just had to be a classic matchup between old Big East foes. Georgetown hosts UConn in an out of conference game in the middle of January that could be mistaken for an old conference game in the Big East. Georgetown went to Storrs last season and left with a tough 66-62 loss. Again, similar to hosting Maryland earlier in the season, the Hoyas get a favorable matchup at home and could add to their resume if things have gone well in the season’s first two months.
Seton Hall vs. Cal, Pearl Harbor (December 7)
Seton Hall will have a different look in 2016-17 without Isaiah Whitehead. The Pirates were unquestionably one of the hottest teams in the country entering last season’s NCAA Tournament, after vanquishing Villanova in the Big East Tournament championship at MSG. But the Pirates faltered in the Big Dance, then Whitehead bolted for Brooklyn, and now they’re struggling to get any good teams to play them in New Jersey.
So they’ll play Cuonzo Martin’s Cal Bears in Hawaii on the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor.
Others Games Considered:
- Georgetown @ Syracuse (Dec. 17)
- Marquette vs. Vanderbilt, Veterans Classic (Nov. 11)
- Villanova vs. Notre Dame (Dec. 10)
- Xavier @ Baylor (Dec. 3)
- Xavier vs. Utah (Dec. 10)
- Seton Hall @ Iowa, (Nov. 17)
We’ll know times at TV designations sooner than later for these and all the other Big East non-conference games. So stay tuned, and then plan to tune it. Because even though football’s about to begin, Big East hoops is just around the corner.