Houston Basketball: Top 3 opponents from Cougars 2023-24 non-con schedule

The non-conference schedule for Houston Basketball is out, with a couple of good opponents in a rather weak schedule. What are the key games to watch?

It’s the first year for Houston Basketball as they go to the Big 12, which is a major upgrade from the American Athletic Conference. The Big 12, statistically, was the top conference when it comes to the strength of schedule and there’s going to be 18 Quad 1/2 matchups for the Cougars in 2024.

That means that Houston doesn’t have to play a very difficult non-conference schedule going forward. And based on the schedule that the program released on Tuesday, they made sure not to schedule too hard. The team is set to play in the Charleston Classic, featuring potential opponents such as St. John’s, Dayton, and LSU.

The rest are mostly “buy games” including a couple of other opponents. Here’s a closer look at the three marquee opponents for Houston Basketball to deal with.

3. Rice Owls – Dec. 6th

Of all the “buy games” on the schedule, the one that could get interesting is the one against Rice, who is moving from Conference USA to the AAC. They do lose leading scorer Quincy Olivari to Xavier but do bring back the next two key pieces in Travis Evee (15.6 ppg) and forward Max Fielder. They also add four-star freshman forward Keanu Dawes, who’ll likely have a key role out the gate.

2. at Xavier Musketeers (Big East vs Big 12 Challenge) –  Dec 1st

Speaking of “Conference USA”, that’s where three of the top transfers for the Musketeers come from. Guard Olivary and Dayvion McKnight (Western Kentucky) are the projected backcourt starters, while Abu Ousmane (North Texas) and returning big man Zach Freemantle are the forwards to watch for. Returning forward Jerome Hunter is out with a medical issue at the moment so there are depth concerns but there’s potential with this roster if the transfers can play at the power conference level.

1. (N) Texas A&M Aggies – Dec 16th

There’s no question that the Aggies are the best-confirmed opponent for Houston Basketball outside of the Big 12. They’re projected to be ranked, bringing back most of its roster that won 25 games last season. That includes leading scorer Wade Taylor IV. The frontcourt of Julius Marble and Henry Coleman is back, while 6’6 wing Jace Carter leads a group of potential impact transfers to the rotation.

Texas A&M is a mirror image of Houston Basketball’s best teams in the Coach Kelvin Sampson era. They’re great defensively with a quality lead guard on offense. And they’ll be the last test for the Cougars before the inaugural start to Big 12 play for the program.