NCAA Basketball: Each top 25 team’s toughest November test in 2023-24

4. Michigan State

November 14 (vs. Duke)

All five members of Michigan State’s starting lineup were on the team last year, with Tyson Walker and AJ Hoggard in particular expected to be major forces this season. The Spartans could break a recent rough streak in the Big Ten but have plenty of things to worry about long before those games begin. They’ll get a handful of November home dates to figure things out, but November 14th will certainly be circled on most calendars.

That day is when the Spartans head over to Chicago to play #2 Duke in the Champions Classic. This will be a highly-anticipated matchup, with the Spartans’ experienced matched up against a relatively young but elite Blue Devils roster. As if this wasn’t challenging enough, the Spartans do battle with #12 Arizona in Acrisure Classic just over a week later in California. Surviving November with an unbeaten record would be extremely impressive.

3. Purdue

November 20 (vs. Gonzaga)

Zach Edey was last season’s National Player of the Year and now he’s back for his senior season. He’s surrounded by Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith, two guards who showed plenty of promise as freshmen and should be even better this season. The Boilermakers have a relatively easy start to the season, including a home date with Xavier as part of the Gavitt Tip-off Games.

November’s true challenge comes overseas as part of the Maui Invitational. A date with #11 Gonzaga awaits in the opening round and should be an intense matchup between Edey and the new-look frontcourt for the Bulldogs. Purdue travels to Hawaii as the likely favorites but that doesn’t mean that Gonzaga and their later contests won’t be challenging. There’s a definite path to 7-0 at the end of November but it’ll be tougher than it seems.