NCAA Basketball: Each top 25 team’s toughest November test in 2023-24
By Joey Loose
8. Creighton
November 30 (at Oklahoma State)
The Bluejays received a beautiful offseason gift when both Ryan Kalkbrenner and Baylor Scheierman decided to return for another year at Creighton. While a few other pieces departed, Creighton should have a very strong starting five, thanks to the addition of Steven Ashworth in particular. They won’t be tested early on, with four straight home games including November 14th against Iowa.
They’ll make the short trip down to Kansas City for the Hall of Fame Classic but will be the best team there by far, facing Loyola-Chicago in game one and either Boston College or Colorado State on Thanksgiving. What becomes November’s toughest test is their Big East-Big 12 Battle match on the final day of the month. A true road test at Stillwater will be Creighton’s first game in a hostile road environmental and will help prepare them for the rigors of the Big East season.
7. Houston
November 16 (vs. Towson)
New members of the Big 12, Houston looks to keep rolling after several impressive seasons, bringing back Jamal Shead and J’Wan Roberts while adding former Baylor guard LJ Cryer into the fold. While great things are expected of the Cougars this year, they won’t exactly need that greatness to survive most of this November.
Their first three games are very winnable home dates before departing for the Charleston Classic. We’re not exactly expecting Towson to challenge the Cougars, but their only other scheduled contest in the month is against Montana. There’s potential that Houston could find a bit of a challenge against a team like LSU, St. John’s, or Wake Forest later in that tournament, but it really isn’t a bad November and anything short of 7-0 would be very disappointing.