Big East Basketball: Five intriguing non-conference matchups

Big East Basketball is lined up for several primetime non-conference duels this winter. Here are five must-watch games.

We are now nearly 80 days removed from Villanova’s win over Michigan in the 2018 National Championship game; unfortunately, we still have over 130 days to cover until the 2018-19 season opens on Nov. 6. Until then though, we can at least parse through non-conference schedules across college basketball.

I did not include early season tournament games, or matchups from the Gavitt Games. Those early season tournaments and conference-affiliated challenges certainly pit quality teams against each other, but they don’t have the same feel as two coaches calling each other up and picking home and road dates on the calendar. Nostalgia is still a big part of college basketball, and old school scheduling creates an exciting buzz around the game when two unfamiliar opponents face off.

I also didn’t include matchups that we have already seen in recent years as part of other non-conference series. Creighton–Gonzaga, Georgetown–Syracuse, and St. John’s–Duke should be exciting matchups in 2018-19, but they don’t have the brand new feel of these five upcoming contests.

Butler at Florida

Butler and Florida have been two of the most consistent programs throughout the 21st century, with the two schools combining for 28 NCAA tournaments and 5 National Championship appearances since 2000. This will be the first regular season meeting between the Bulldogs and Gators and just the fourth all-time matchup. Both teams are dealing with the loss of key seniors, but Butler’s Kamar Baldwin and Florida’s Jalen Hudson should be two of the best players in the Big East and the SEC this season.

Marquette vs. Kansas State

Kansas State, fresh off a run to the Elite Eight, will make a trip to Milwaukee on Dec. 1 for an up-tempo contest featuring four of the nation’s best scorers. Marquette’s Markus Howard and Sam Hauser and K-State’s Barry Brown and Dean Wade combined to average 34.5 and 32.1 points respectively last season. Marquette has a loaded non-con schedule next year, but this matchup with the Wildcats (what team? Wildcats!) will be the Golden Eagles’ first high-profile game in the new downtown arena.

Providence at Texas

These two schools are very different on the surface – a small, Catholic college in the Northeast vs. a behemoth public university in the South – but in basketball, both teams are simply looking to build off 2017-18 campaigns that resulted in first-round exits as 10 seeds in the NCAA tournament. The Longhorns (8th) and Friars (20th) do bring in high-level recruiting classes and are projected to combine solid offense with stingy defense. Ed Cooley and Shaka Smart also add some sideline flair to what should be an extremely entertaining game.

Seton Hall vs. Kentucky (at Madison Square Garden)

Kentucky brings in its usual elite recruiting class, while Seton Hall’s departing seniors represent one of the most successful groups in program history. But don’t sleep on the Pirates, who should still contend for a tourney spot with Myles Powell stepping into a bigger role and transfers Taurean Thompson and Quincy McKnight now eligible. Kentucky will once again field an incredibly talented crew, but per usual, the Wildcats’ season will depend on how all that talent meshes on the court.

Next: Breaking down Butler's potential rotation

Villanova at Kansas

Villanova lost Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Donte DiVincenzo, and Omari Spellman. Kansas is without Devonte’ Graham, Svi Mykhailiuk, Malik Newman, and Lagerald Vick. Still, the Wildcats’ first trip to Allen Fieldhouse since 2004 could act as both a 2018 Final Four rematch and a 2019 title preview. Five-star freshmen guards – Villanova’s Jahvon Quinerly and Kansas’ Quentin Grimes and Devon Dotson – will be thrust headfirst into one of the biggest college basketball games of the year.

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Big East Basketball: Five intriguing non-conference matchups for 2018

By Brian Foley | Jun 20, 2018