By james art There’s plenty to watch during the non-conference portion of the 2024-25 men’s college basketball season.
It’s not just for 17-year-old phenom Cooper Flagg, who will make his prime-time debut Nov. 12 when Duke takes on Kentucky in the Champions Classic (9 p.m. ET, ESPN). It also happens to be the first game for Mark Pope, who stepped in for John Calipari — who moved to Arkansas.
The SEC, for its part, is firmly in its basketball era and determined to prove it early, with both Alabama and Auburn wanting a piece of Big 12 giant Houston. UConn’s Dan Hurley continues to set some of the toughest early-season schedules we’ve seen from a (two-time) defending champion in recent years. And, yes, other blue bloods will weigh in as well.
It will take some time to remember all the new faces in new places (quick, name all 36 teams in the Big Ten and ACC!), but seeing some of them in action in the non-conference will help. ESPN’s Myron Medcalf, Neil Payne, Joe Lunardi and Jeff Borzello highlight 16 games you don’t want to miss in November and December.
November 8 | 7:00 PM ET | Lawrence, Kansas | ESPN2
The buzz about Cooper Flagg — and all of it is valid — has diminished the spotlight on a player who could leapfrog Flagg and the rest of the field in the National Player of the Year conversation by the end of the campaign. Last season, RJ Davis averaged 21.2 PPG and made 40% of his 3-point attempts. An early blowout against the No. 1 preseason team in America might remind the country that the Wooden Award winner might be out of the ACC — but it might not be the name you expect. — Myron Medcalf
November 9 | 9:30 PM ET | Houston | ESPNU
This is the best non-conference game of the entire season – according to Ken Pomeroy. For Houston, his No. 1 team, this will be an early test of Kelvin Sampson’s post-Jamal Shead lineup. Auburn, the defending SEC tournament champion and KenPom’s No. 3 team, has Wooden Award candidate Johni Broome poised to have his best season yet, though the Tigers still need to find replacements for starters Jaylin Williams and Aden Holloway . Neither team is what it will be until March, but Auburn is a 64 percent favorite for this one, according to KenPom. — Neil Payne
November 12 | 5:00 PM ET | Philadelphia | CBSSN
The Hawks should be in the NCAA Tournament conversation for the first time under Billy Lange. Last season, they ended a 12-year losing streak against their old rivals en route to winning the expanded Philly Big 5 (plus Drexel). The Wildcats went 0-3 (sixth) in the new format, adding to the Heat’s Kyle Neptune for a pair of unwanted NIT bids since he succeeded Jay Wright. Add a bubble fallout to the usual domestic bragging rights and this is shaping up to be a major early season test for both sides. — Joe Lunardi
November 15 | 7:00 PM ET | West Lafayette, Indiana | Peacock
After reaching the national championship game, the Boilermakers will undoubtedly be without two-time Wooden Award winner Zach Edey. But the cupboard isn’t empty for Matt Painter, who returns Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Wren and adds 7-foot-3 freshman Daniel Jacobsen. Nate Oates’ team will also use this game to put together a lineup around three new starters — chief among them Rutgers transfer Clifford Omorui, who knows Purdue well, having logged 181 minutes against the Boilermakers in six games while a Big Ten player . Purdue is slightly favored (at 56%) for this home game, according to KenPom, though it also wouldn’t surprise anyone to see Bama — the preseason AP’s No. 2 team — pick up the W. — Payne
November 18 | 10 p.m. ET | San Diego | CBSSN
Pretty soon, that pairing will be a regular occurrence in the new Pac-12. For now, SDSU is still flying the Mountain West Conference banner, trying to prove that its six NCAA bids this past March were no fluke. Kudos to the Bulldogs for playing at Viejas Arena while so many other powerhouse programs won’t be traveling to campus sites. But the pressure will be on the Aztecs to post a resume-building win in a year where continuing their multi-year NCAA streak is by no means guaranteed. — Lunardi
November 22 | 10:30 PM ET | Tucson, Arizona | ESPN2
Yes, I like traditional home and home series. Remember, Arizona ran out of Cameron Indoor Stadium in last season’s opener with a 78-73 win. The Blue Devils will no doubt look to return the favor at the McHale Center in a battle between two potential Final Four teams. While we can’t ignore the hype surrounding Duke, the Wildcats are flying a bit under the radar as they enter a Big 12 recently dominated by Kansas, Baylor and Houston. Tommy Lloyd’s program is expected to make a breakthrough. — Lunardi
November 25 | 11:30 PM ET | Lahaina, Hawaii | ESPN2
It’s worth noting that the Flyers are 9-3 in four previous appearances in Maui, including the tournament title in 2003 and a runner-up finish in 2019. This 2019-20 edition of the Flyers was 29-2 and was on track for an NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed before the intervention of COVID-19. Incidentally, one of those two losses was an overtime thriller against Kansas in the Maui championship game. Something to keep in mind when switching from Monday Night Football to a nightcap on a high-energy Opening Day in Lahaina. — Lunardi
November 26 | 8:00 PM ET | Las Vegas | TBS
Both teams are ranked in the top five entering the season and are a contrast in styles between Nate Oates’ elite offense and Kelvin Sampson’s elite defense. The biggest key for the Cougars this season will be how Jamal Shead’s replacement performs at point guard. Milos Uzan will no doubt be tested by Alabama All-American Mark Sears. But can the Tide handle Houston’s physicality? I give a slight edge to Bama. — Jeff Borzello
November 26 | 9 p.m. ET | Las Vegas | ESPN
The No. 1 projected pick in the NBA draft against my No. 1 preseason team? In Las Vegas? Yes, I’m in favor. Duke will have marquee games before this Feast Week tilt (see: Champions Classic on Nov. 12), but against experienced college forwards like AJ Storr and KJ Adams Jr. should be a fun watch. This game is also a test for projected lottery pick Khaman Maluach, who will have to defend Kansas big man All-American Hunter Dickinson. I think Kansas will be ahead at this point in the season, so I’ll go with the Jayhawks for the win. — Borzello
December 4 | 6:30 PM ET | Storrs, Connecticut | FS1
Mike Krzyzewski was criticized for his weak non-conference schedules, which often positioned Duke for two months of easy wins before conference play. Dan Hurley took the opposite approach. This matchup against Baylor — led by former Duke star Jeremy Roach and projected lottery pick VJ Edgecomb — is in the middle of one of the toughest 20-day stretches of the season. This comes after UConn’s appearance at the Maui Invitational (where matchups against Iowa State, Auburn and/or UNC are possible) and before games against Texas and Gonzaga. On the other hand, it’s a chance for Baylor to climb into the national title conversation if it can beat the defending champs. — Medcalf
December 4 | 20:15 | Durham, North Carolina | ESPN
Auburn faces a lot of tough non-conference play, including the aforementioned Houston game, plus contests against Iowa State (Maui Invitational), Ohio State (Holiday Hoopsgiving) and Purdue. Then there’s this game, in one of college basketball’s most ruthless environments, against a loaded Blue Devils team ranked No. 2 in KenPom. Can Duke slow down an Auburn team that liked to strike out fast last season? Can Johnny Broome & Co. defend against all-around phenom Cooper Flagg, who will be playing in his eighth collegiate game to date? Predictably, Duke is favored by 63% of KenPom, but Auburn’s ability to contend with opposing talent and the crowd may tell us something about its eventual potential come March. — Payne
December 7 | 10 p.m. ET | Seattle | ESPN2
Entering this season, a handful of players dominated the Wooden Award conversation: Cooper Flagg, RJ Davis, Mark Sears, Johnny Broome, Wade Taylor IV and others. Graham Icke is not a household name in this dialogue. He should be. After leading the Zags to the Sweet 16, this matchup against Mark Pope’s Kentucky team should draw a large national audience — and a chance for Ike to remind the country that he’s also on the short list for National Player of the Year. — Medcalf
December 12 | 3:00 PM ET | Phoenix | ESPN2
This is supposed to be a venue for non-conference games, right? Well, realignment chaos turned this meeting into a battle of two teams from different leagues for the first time since 1978 — the year Arizona joined the Pac-12 (then known as the Pac-10). Beyond that storyline, though, it’s a fun match. Mick Cronin believes former USC standout Kobe Johnson can go pro, and McDonald’s All American Trent Perry also looks like a future star. Arizona’s Caleb Love is chasing a second trip to the Final Four — and a look at the Wooden Award. And he is joined by a strong fleet of veterans. Get ready for this incredible … Big Ten-Big 12 battle. — Medcalf
December 14 | 8:00 PM ET | New York | FOX
UConn’s blowout of Gonzaga last December was one of the first signs that the Huskies had a legitimate shot at winning back-to-back national championships. The Zags now travel across the country to Madison Square Garden for a prime-time Saturday night game hoping for revenge. The Huskies will have an edge on the wings with sharpshooting duo Alex Karaban and Liam McNeely, while Gonzaga’s inside-out combination of Ryan Nembhardt and Graham Ike should cause problems for Dan Hurley’s team. With the game being played at Storrs South, I’m leaning toward UConn coming away with a win. — Borzello
December 14 | 8:30 PM ET | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | SEC Network
One of the themes of these non-conference games is their usefulness as an indicator of teams that have lost key players in the offseason. Creighton is one of those after saying goodbye to leading scorers Baylor Scheierman and Trey Alexander. However, the third member of his three-headed offensive monster, Ryan Kalkbrenner, returns along with Steven Ashworth and Mason Miller. The Tide will be a formidable opponent to test that progress against, with Mark Sears and Clifford Omorui good sparring partners for Ashworth and Kalkbrenner. Bama is a 68 percent favorite at home in the KenPom model, but the Bluejays can also prove they’re potentially capable of a fourth Sweet 16 bid in five seasons. — Payne
December 21 | 12 p.m. | Newark, New Jersey | FOX Sports 1
This isn’t a potential top 5 or top 10 matchup like many others on this list, but it does feature two of the more compelling teams entering the season. For Rutgers, the reasons are obvious. Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper are projected top-five picks in the NBA draft, and expectations for the Scarlet Knights are the highest in program history. Princeton, meanwhile, has two elite mid-major players in Caden Pierce and Xaivian Lee, and the Tigers will get an opportunity to win at a neutral site. I’ll take the irritation. — Borzello
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