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NCAA Basketball: 10 toughest non-conference schedules for 2019-20 season

By Donovan Darlington

ST LOUIS, MO - MARCH 23: A view of Basketballs lined up during warm ups prior to game between the Stanford Cardinal and the Kansas Jayhawks in the third round of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 23, 2014 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MO - MARCH 23: A view of Basketballs lined up during warm ups prior to game between the Stanford Cardinal and the Kansas Jayhawks in the third round of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 23, 2014 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 16: Trayvon Reed #5 of the Texas Southern Tigers reacts against the Xavier Musketeers during the game in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 16: Trayvon Reed #5 of the Texas Southern Tigers reacts against the Xavier Musketeers during the game in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

2) Texas Southern

Texas Southern having one of the toughest non-conference schedules in America is nothing surprising or new. Over the past few years, Texas Southern has been known to schedule a non-conference slate that is not very kind. The Tigers often head into SWAC play with barely any wins, but such a tactic of obtaining a rough schedule ultimately works in their favor in the end.

Notable Opponents

@ San Diego State (Nov. 5)

@ Wichita State (Nov. 9)

@ Arkansas (Nov. 19)

@ Montana (Nov. 25)

@ Gonzaga (Dec. 4)

@ Nevada (Dec. 18)

@ Oregon (Dec. 21)

@ Arizona State (Dec. 28)

@ Texas A&M (Dec. 30)

Most of these notable opponents Texas Southern will face this season have been very good in their respective conferences in recent years, and a few have even made plenty of noise nationally. Of the ones that haven’t, they are still a great test for the Tigers.

Such a schedule ensures that Texas Southern has seen competition way better than any they will see in the SWAC throughout the season. Heading to the gates of Hell to craft a non-conference schedule this difficult has been very instrumental in allowing them to advance to the NCAA Tournament four times in the last six years, most recently in 2018.

In the 2018 NCAA Tournament, on the same night when fellow 16 seed, UMBC, shocked the world in their upset of Virginia, Texas Southern ran a full 40 minutes with Xavier, ultimately falling 102-83 in a shootout that was most closer than the scoreboard suggests.

The harshness of non-conference play is what gave the Tigers everything they needed to not be phased one bit when facing the Musketeers. Once again, it will be to their advantage this season.

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