Big East Basketball: Non-conference schedule grades entering 2024-25 season
Seton Hall Pirates: B
Noteworthy games: versus Hofstra*, Charleston Classic, at Rutgers
Third-year head coach Shaheen Holloway has quietly assembled a sneaky-quality non-conference schedule for his Seton Hall Pirates. The Pirates will open the 2024-25 season versus Holloway’s previous school, Saint Peter’s. Seton Hall will travel to Uniondale, NY to take on Hofstra in Nassau Coliseum. Hofstra has had three 20+ seasons under Speedy Claxton.
The Pirates will also play in the three-game Charleston Classic, facing VCU in the quarterfinals with notable potential matchups versus Vanderbilt, Nevada and Miami (FL). To round out its non-conference slate, Seton Hall will face Oklahoma State in the Big East-Big 12 Battle followed by a daunting road trip to the RAC to face Rutgers.
Overall, this is a quality non-conference schedule with plenty of opportunities to pad its resume with quality Q1/Q2 wins. While it may not scream elite, it's undoubtedly palatable for a program that lost its star, Kadary Richmond, and returns only a quarter of its minutes.
Xavier Musketeers: B
Noteworthy games: versus Wake Forest, Fort Myers Tip-Off, at TCU, at Cincinnati
Last season was a bit of a disappointment for Xavier after dealing with a pair of season-ending injuries. Entering the 2024-25 season, the Musketeers are locked and loaded with a quality non-conference schedule.
After a trio of buy games to open the season, Xavier will host Wake Forest in the Skip Prosser Classic -- a nod to the late Xavier/Wake Forest head coach Skip Prosser. The Musketeers will also travel to the Fort Myers Tip-Off, playing South Carolina in the semifinals and facing the winner/loser of Michigan or Virginia Tech.
To round out its non-conference schedule, Xavier will travel to Fort Worth as part of the Big East-Big 12 Battle with a trip eight minutes southwest to Fifth Third Arena to take on Cincinnati in the annual Crosstown Shootout.
It’s a solid schedule with a nice balance of road games and neutral site matchups. Its home schedule may be on the weaker side, but the overall body of the schedule speaks for itself. The Musketeers did a noteworthy job here.