Virginia Basketball: Purdue, South Carolina headline 2019-20 non-conference schedule

Virginia basketball will encounter a relatively challenging assembly of non-conference affairs during the Cavaliers’ 2019-20 campaign.

The Virginia basketball squad, which seeks to defend its first-ever NCAA championship, has unveiled the non-conference portion of its 2019-20 calendar. Upon an initial review of these match-ups, I have to say that the Cavaliers’ out-of-conference ballot is fairly formidable.

UVA, as it arrives upon the 2019-20 term, will have to replace an abundance of talented players who departed the program for the pros. Simultaneously, Virginia brings in a strong 2019 recruiting class, so expectations will remain high for the Cavaliers during the next stanza.

I would feel remiss if I didn’t mention that UVA’s 2019-20 season-opener, on Nov. 6, is at Syracuse, where I’m a proud alum. It’s going to take me a while to get used to a campaign commencing with Atlantic Coast Conference competition, but that’s a topic for another day.

Following their date with the Orange, the Cavaliers host James Madison on Nov. 10, Columbia on Nov. 16, and then Vermont on Nov. 19, per the Virginia announcement. Vermont is no slouch, as the Catamounts finished 27-7 in 2018-19, capturing the America East Conference regular and post-season crowns. In the 2019 Big Dance, Vermont proved a tough out for another ACC unit, Florida State, in the round of 64.

On Nov. 23, the Cavaliers will do battle with Massachusetts in the Air Force Reserve Tip-Off Tournament at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Then, UVA will face either Arizona State or St. John’s in this tourney, depending on how the brackets shake out.

The Cavaliers will travel to Purdue on Dec. 4 for the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. The Boilermakers are coming off a terrific 2018-19, where they journeyed to the Elite Eight, losing in heart-breaking fashion to … well, if you’re a Virginia or a Purdue fan, you already know the answer.

Also making trips to Charlottesville are Maine on Nov. 27, Stony Brook on Dec. 18, 2017 Final Four participant South Carolina on Dec. 22, and Navy on Dec. 29. South Carolina, out of the SEC, is a solid opponent, although the Cavaliers went on the road and throttled the Gamecocks, 69-52, a year ago. Stony Brook, meanwhile, recorded a commendable 24-9 mark in 2018-19.

All in all, this is a manageable non-conference itinerary for UVA, one that provides several chances for resume-boosting victories, but not completely draining the Cavaliers prior to the bulk of their ACC docket getting underway.