For all of the posts in this series, visit the 2019-20 Non-Conference Scheduling Hub.

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Ranking The Teams

A season ago, the Big East ranked third nationally in the four-year ranking, thanks to nine top 100 teams and a trio of top 25 outfits. Heading into 2019-20, however, both the Big Ten and SEC passed the conference. While the Big East still counts nine top 100 clubs among its membership, just one of those finds itself in the current top 25, last year’s No. 1, Villanova.

Ranking The Schedules

Overall, Big East teams continue to schedule well out of conference, with the teams rooted to the bottom of the table last fall stepping up across the board for 2019-20. Heading into 2018-19, the Big East had three non-conference schedules ranked outside of the top 250. This time around, only St. John’s sits outside the top 200. It’s no wonder the Big East’s average schedule strength jumped from sixth to fourth.

On aggregate, the Big East will play slightly more road games, both overall and against non-power teams, than it did a season ago. While St. John’s won’t play a true road contest until league play begins, every one of the Red Storm’s conference rivals will play at least two true road games, with Seton Hall and Villanova both scheduling three and DePaul lining up four. On the other hand, the Blue Demons and Creighton both needed to call up non-D1 opponents to complete their schedules. The Bluejays have now done so in four straight seasons.

No games scheduled or possible against: Big Sky, Big South, WAC

While the Big Ten, partners with the Big East in the Gavitt Tip-Off series, continues to lead the way, the Big 12 is now second thanks to their own scheduling alliance—the Battle—with the conference. The America East and Atlantic Sun both saw their total number of Big East matchups jump, while the Atlantic 10 and ACC were the most notable conferences that saw their totals drop.

No single non-conference opponent appears more than twice on Big East schedules, while three league members will play a trio of opponents from other loops. Both DePaul and Seton Hall scheduled three Big Ten teams, while St. John’s takes on the same number from the America East.

There’s been a slight uptick in Big East Quad 1 matchups in non-conference play, one that nearly parallels a slight decline in Quad 4 non-league games. There’s also been a slight shift in favor of Quad 2 games over Quad 3 ones when compared to a season ago.

The Big East By Team

Teams are listed in order of their Average Schedule Ranking. The number in front of an opponent name is its Four-Year Ranking.

Teams that failed to max out their schedules (2/10): Marquette (no fourth MTE game), Seton Hall (no fourth MTE game)

24. Seton Hall Pirates

Kevin Willard’s Pirates enter the season as a chic pick to challenge for the Big East and NCAA titles and this non-conference schedule is certainly worthy of a team bearing such lofty expectations. For starters, the Pirates will participate in an absolutely loaded Battle 4 Atlantis, where Oregon will be their first opponent, and Gonzaga, North Carolina, Michigan, and Iowa State could all feature in the Hall’s plans for days two and three—and the Pirates will see the Cyclones anyway as part of the new Big 12/Big East Battle. And that’s not the only intrigue a conference challenge will offer Seton Hall this season, as the Pirates will be Michigan State‘s opponent in the Spartans’ long-awaited Gavitt Tip-Off debut. Plus, Myles Powell and co. will also welcome Maryland to Newark, one year after defeating the Terps in College Park.

29. Butler Bulldogs

The Bulldogs followed up a 21-victory campaign capped by an NCAA win with a 16-17 clunker in LaVall Jordan’s second season in charge at Hinkle Fieldhouse. While Butler won nine non-conference games a season ago, the presence of seven power-conference matchups on this slate means Butler will be hard pressed to repeat that performance. December could be particularly rough, thanks to road games against Ole Miss and Baylor, plus a visit from Florida and the biennial Crossroads Classic fixture against Purdue.

34. Villanova Wildcats

Even though the Wildcats struggled a bit last season, particularly early, losing four non-conference game, they still managed to record an NCAA win for the sixth season in succession. Jay Wright’s club should once again contend for the Big East title and national honors, and this non-conference schedule should more than adequately prepare them to meet those goals. As usual, there’s the Big 5, which will see the Wildcats attempt to wrest the crown from (checks notes) Penn. In terms of the two challenge series on offer, Nova has to travel to Ohio State for game two, then host Kansas immediately before the start of conference play. The Myrtle Beach Invitational could be sneaky good, with Mississippi State and Baylor looking like the Wildcats’ optimal opponents. Plus, Villanova will step out of Big East play twice, once to play once-and-future rival UConn at the Wells Fargo Center and then to play Temple to wrap up the City Series. That’s quite a bit on Nova’s plate for the season.

60. Georgetown Hoyas

What a difference a year makes for the Hoyas, who have a top 60 non-conference schedule, just 12 months after clocking in well outside of the top 300 nationally in what turned out to be an NIT season. This slate clearly has a different tournament, the four-letter one, in mind. And while Georgetown will play plenty of home games, including four against teams ranked outside of the top 200, both Penn State and ancient rival Syracuse will visit Capital One Arena. Patrick Ewing’s team even hits the road for consecutive games against Oklahoma State and SMU. Then there’s the Hoyas’ exempt event, which will see Georgetown attempt to make some national noise early by defeating Texas in the semifinals at Madison Square Garden. Win that matchup and a Friday night showdown with Duke would undoubtedly await.

73. Providence Friars

Like so many Big East teams, the Friars took a step back in 2018-19, as their string of five straight NCAA bids ended with an 18-16 NIT campaign. In an attempt to get back to field of 68, Ed Cooley’s squad will play a non-conference schedule that’s largely backloaded. The biggest challenge before a four-game Wooden Legacy run that begins with a home game against Penn will be the Gavitt Tip-Off matchup with a Northwestern team that’s not as strong as its four-year ranking indicates. Upon Providence’s return from Orange County, a road trip to neighbors Rhode Island, a showdown with Florida in Brooklyn, and Big 12 Battle with Texas await.

83. Xavier Musketeers

Big things are expected out of Travis Steele’s second Musketeer squad after last season’s 19-16 season that saw Xavier win seven of its last eight Big East games to earn fringe bubble consideration and an NIT bid. The Musketeers will be well-tested, even with a quartet of sub-200 home games on the schedule. It would be a mild surprise if Xavier didn’t end up in the Charleston Classic final on the Sunday night before Thanksgiving, where Florida would be the most optimal matchup. There’s the annual showdown with Cincinnati, set for the Cintas Center this season, and while the Musketeers don’t participate in the Gavitt series this season, they will welcome Missouri from the SEC during that window. In the mandatory challenge series with the Big 12, Xavier travels to TCU, one of two 2019 NIT teams the Musketeers will play in the second half of non-league play, with Lipscomb being the other. Finally, the Skip Prosser Classic series resumes at Wake Forest.

109. Marquette Golden Eagles

Even though the Golden Eagles won 24 games and earned a five seed in the NCAAs last season, going 1-6 in their final seven games undoubtedly left a sour taste in the mouths of Steve Wojciechowski and his players. Marquette won 11 non-conference games a season ago, a mark it will be hard pressed to match in 2019, thanks in part to the fact it only scheduled 12 games. Three of those games will feature top 25 teams from the four-year ranking—Purdue in the Gavitt Tip-Off, Wisconsin in the pair’s annual meeting, and a rematch with Kansas State, who the Golden Eagles handled in Milwaukee last season. Plus, there’s the Orlando Invitational, where Marquette faces a tough quarterfinal draw in Atlantic 10 contender Davidson. Sure, there are no fewer than five sub-200 home games, but those matchups do nothing more than slightly devalue this slate.

151. Creighton Bluejays

Speaking of a schedule that’s devalued by some of the home opposition, the Bluejays will play five power conference opponents in their 13 non-league matchups, but five sub-200 games and a non-D1 contest sink this slate’s value considerably. One season after an NIT quarterfinal appearance, failure to take advantage of contests against Michigan, Oklahoma, Arizona State, and the Jays’ TBD day two opponent in Las Vegas, could see Creighton meet the same fate. That’s particularly true if Greg McDermott’s team finishes near .500 in Big East play for the fifth straight season.

174. DePaul Blue Demons

Thanks to the difficulties Minnesota and the Blue Demons had in signing teams up for their exempt event, DePaul added Buffalo as a waiver opponent. As a result, the CBI runners-up’ schedule ends up a little bit stronger than anticipated. And this schedule already included a surprise Big 12 Battle matchup with Texas Tech and Gavitt Tip-Off encounter with Iowa. While Dave Leitao’s squad will play five power conference opponents and a quartet of true road games, the five sub-200 opponents (including Cleveland State, who DePaul will play on the road) and the inclusion of a non-D1 game act as an anchor on this schedule’s ratings.

207. St. John’s Red Storm

The most noteworthy thing about Mike Anderson’s first St. John’s schedule is the fact they’ll play both of the Pac-12’s Arizona schools on neutral floors. Of course, if they avenge their NCAA Tournament loss to the Sun Devils, they’re likely to play defending National Champion Virginia in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off final. There are few other highlights here beyond a Tip-Off preliminary game against Vermont that screams “upset alert” and the Big 12 Battle contest at MSG with West Virginia. Still, don’t expect the Red Storm to match last season’s 12-1 non-conference mark because of the three games described above.

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