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

DePaul Blue Demons: D+

Noteworthy games: at Texas Tech, versus Wichita State, at Northwestern

It’s a new era of DePaul basketball with an entirely new-look roster. Given how bad last year went, it makes sense that first-year head coach Chris Holtmann opted to roll with a lighter slate, which is why the Blue Demons get a D+ grade -- not an F -- despite its overall weak NCSOS.

There isn’t much substance to DePaul’s non-conference slate in November with seven-straight buy-games at home. In December, it gets burdensome as DePaul faces Texas Tech in Lubbock as part of the Big East-Big 12 Battle followed by a home-and-home matchup versus Wichita State -- who expects to be improved this season -- and a road tilt at Northwestern (rivalry).

There is no denying that this is a generally weak non-conference schedule. However, if one team gets a pass because it needs to get back into the win column, it’s DePaul.

Villanova Wildcats: C-

Noteworthy games: at Saint Joe's, versus Virginia*, versus Maryland*, versus Cincinnati

Last season, the Villanova Wildcats were among the more up-and-down, unpredictable teams in non-conference play. Losses to Penn, Saint Joe’s and Drexel (0-3 in the Big Five) were not ideal, yet wins over Memphis, Texas Tech and North Carolina in the Battle 4 Atlantis made the Wildcats look like a sure-fire NCAA Tournament team.

Entering the 2024-25 season, the Wildcats will look for more consistency. Saint Joe’s (road), Virginia and Maryland on neutral sites and a home tilt against Cincinnati in the Big East-Big 12 Battle highlight its non-conference slate.

Third-year Villanova head coach Kyle Neptune is facing the heat this upcoming season. Its non-conference schedule, while far from abysmal, won’t help Neptune gather the collection of needle-moving, high-quality wins he needs. The wins will need to come in Big East play.