Big East Basketball: Non-conference schedule grades entering 2024-25 season

For 360+ teams across college basketball, non-conference scheduling is a work of art. It's an intricate balance. It’s a strategic approach. It’s a difference-maker for postseason implications, good or bad. For the Big East Conference, it’s all that and more -- all crucial factors that set the tone for a 20-game gauntlet.

With most power-five conferences, including the Big East, gravitating toward the 20-game conference schedule format, the maximum number of non-conference games a team can schedule is 11. The 11 games account for about 35% of a team’s regular-season schedule -- a substantial portion of one’s schedule.

Given the crucial role the 11 non-conference games play in the Big East, how does one grade the quality of a non-conference schedule?

Grading the quality of one’s non-conference schedule in the preseason can be tricky because nobody has played a game yet, therefore we don’t know how truly good or bad a team is. However, looking at each Big East team’s non-conference schedule, we can see each team’s non-conference scheduling approach through several key metrics. Key metrics include projecting the number of Q1, Q1, Q3 and Q4 games played, contributing to the overall NCSOS. Other factors include who you beat, how you beat them and games played away from home -- all of which positively or negatively influence one’s NET rankings.

In addition, another interesting wrinkle that will have importance on a team’s resume come Selection Sunday, impacting the overall grade of one's non-conference schedule, is Wins Above Bubble (WAB.) The WAB, used from BartTorvik.com, was recently added to the men’s basketball selection criteria. In simple terms, the WAB calculates the average number of wins a team has versus an average bubble team.

With all 11 Big East teams having released their non-conference schedules -- and keeping these key metrics in mind -- take a look and grade each non-conference schedule entering the 2024-25 season.

Georgetown Hoyas: D-

Noteworthy games: versus Notre Dame, at West Virginia, at Syracuse

This is not a well-built non-conference schedule as the Georgetown Hoyas enter year two of the Ed Cooley era. The Hoyas will start the season with eight-straight home games highlighted by a return of a home-and-home versus Notre Dame on Nov. 16. In total, there are eight buy games caked into its schedule which will all likely result in Q4 games come March. Road games against West Virginia (Big East-Big 12 Battle) and Syracuse (rivalry) keep its schedule from falling to an F grade, however, there is little-to-no substance on its non-conference schedule to inspire Hoya faithful for a miraculous year-two turnaround under Ed Cooley.

This zero-margin-of-error type of schedule is one that severely limits one’s ceiling when postseason play approaches. While it’s clear that Ed Cooley is looking to build momentum before Big East play, this non-conference schedule indicates that the Hoyas will have its work cut out for them in Big East play.