03. Alabama Crimson Tide
Best win: Houston Cougars
Alabama played one of the more difficult non-conference schedules this year, so there were a few different options when picking the Tide's best win. One early season win stood above the rest - the Houston Cougars. At the time of the game, both teams were ranked in the top ten, making this one of the most anticipated matchups of the early part of the season. Mark Sears scored 24 points in the win, helping the Tide overcome 30 points from Houston star L.J. Cryer. The overtime win handed Houston its second loss of the season, but more notably logged the only game this season that an opponent scored more than 75 points on a dominant Houston defense.
02. Auburn Tigers
Best win: Iowa State Cyclones
Auburn was another team that had a ton of quality wins in the non-con to choose from, with wins over four ranked opponents. The Tigers picked up wins over Houston, North Carolina, and Purdue, but beating No. 5 Iowa State in Maui was Auburn's best win of the non-conference slate. The Cyclones led by 16 at the half, so for the Tigers to fight back and get the win was extremely impressive. Johni Broome proved why he is the early season favorite for Player of the Year in the win, scoring 21 points and grabbing 10 rebounds for his third of six straight double-doubles.
01. Missouri Tigers
Best win: Kansas Jayhawks
There was never any doubt that the win over Kansas was the best of the non-conference slate for the Missouri Tigers. Not just because the Jayhawks were the No. 1 team in the nation. Not just because Kansas was only one of three power conference opponents on the schedule. But because of the history and hatred between these two programs.
Missouri hadn’t beat Kansas in over a decade so the 76-67 win was heavily celebrated in CoMO. Tamar Bates led Mizzou with 29 points in the upset, but the biggest factor in the win was that the Tigers forced 22 Kansas turnovers.