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

14. Arkansas

November 29 (vs. Duke)

The Razorbacks boast a very talented rotation and are coming off a third straight trip to at least the Sweet Sixteen. With Davonte Davis, Tramon Mark, and a healthy Trevon Brazile (among others), this could be another special season in Fayetteville. It begins with relative ease, as the Razorbacks don’t leave home for their first four contests, but things get trickier at the end of the month.

We won’t spend too much time talking about the Battle 4 Atlantis, because Arkansas’s first opponent is Stanford. While the Cardinal are much improved and more intriguing matchups lay in wait, it’s hard not to circle that November 29th date with #2 Duke on the calendar. This matchup comes in Fayetteville and will be part of the ACC/SEC Challenge. One of the national favorites, the Blue Devils present a strong challenge to the Razorbacks in the opening month of the season, though at least the game is at home.

13. Miami

November 28 (at Kentucky)

Last season, Miami advanced to their first Final Four in program history. This year, they’ll get Norchad Omier and Nijel Pack back, expect bigger things from Wooga Poplar, and added a few interesting pieces in the offseason, giving them another strong rotation that can do damage in the ACC. In the early weeks of the season, they won’t need too much strength, as a home date against UCF is the toughest challenge in the first two weeks.

While the Hurricanes do finally leave home to play in the Bahamas Hoops Championship, their first matchup is against Georgia and something far tougher awaits when they return home. After the holiday, the Hurricanes take a trip to Lexington to play #16 Kentucky. This matchup, part of the ACC/SEC Challenge, will be a significant contest for both squads, especially with the youth on this Kentucky squad. Miami will get their first real test as an underdog.