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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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NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 09: The Monmouth Hawks cheerleaders and mascot stand after their game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Madison Square Garden on December 9, 2017 in New York City. This photo is part of a photo essay on three sporting events in a fifteen hour time span at Madison Square Garden. The three sports were an NCAA college basketball game between The University of Kentucky vs Monmouth College, followed by an NHL hockey game between the New York Rangers against the New Jersey Devils, followed by a boxing match for the WBO Lightweight Title between Vasiliy Lomachenko against Guillermo Rigondeaux. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 09: The Monmouth Hawks cheerleaders and mascot stand after their game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Madison Square Garden on December 9, 2017 in New York City. This photo is part of a photo essay on three sporting events in a fifteen hour time span at Madison Square Garden. The three sports were an NCAA college basketball game between The University of Kentucky vs Monmouth College, followed by an NHL hockey game between the New York Rangers against the New Jersey Devils, followed by a boxing match for the WBO Lightweight Title between Vasiliy Lomachenko against Guillermo Rigondeaux. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

10) Monmouth

Monmouth has certainly not been their best these past few seasons. That is not to say that things will not change soon, though. Having the courage to schedule a brutal non-conference slate speaks volumes in itself. Things may not go well in these games, but at least they will be battle-tested when heading into MAAC play.

Notable Opponents

@ Hofstra (Nov. 9)

@ Kansas State (Nov. 13)

@ Kansas (Nov. 15)

@ Pittsburgh (Nov. 18)

Norfolk State (Nov. 27)

@ Princeton (Dec. 10)

Hofstra and Norfolk State will be huge challenges due to the fact that both were so close to playing in the NCAA Tournament a season ago. They were at the top of their conferences before falling in their conference tournaments.

Princeton is returning much of its production from last season, and they look to step up and make the Ivy League race interesting this year. Pittsburgh has not been an issue to other ACC opponents in recent years, but for Monmouth, a game against an ACC opponent will be a giant challenge.

The scary part of their schedule is their matchups against the state of Kansas. Kansas State lost some key production from last season but will threaten in the Big 12 once again. As for the Kansas Jayhawks, once a blueblood, always a blueblood. That being said, the Jayhawks will be one of the best teams in the nation once again.

Monmouth will certainly have their hands full with this schedule, and I honestly do not see them making it to the NCAA Tournament this year, but they will be fully prepared to compete with anybody in the MAAC.

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