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The Big 12’s Non-Conference Scheduling for 2019-20

Usually, Kansas leads these rankings, but not this season. That being said, the Jayhawks aren’t far from the top.

Big 12 teams in order of non-conference schedule rank (1-3 top; 4-7 middle; 8-10 bottom)
Image by Chris Dobbertean using logos from SportsLogos.net

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

Warning: Tables may not appear optimally when viewing on a mobile device.

Ranking The Teams

Big 12 Four-Year Rankings

Team 4-Year Ranking 2018-19 Ranking Ranking Change
Team 4-Year Ranking 2018-19 Ranking Ranking Change
Kansas 10 6 -4
Texas Tech 11 30 19
Baylor 21 15 -6
Iowa State 23 33 10
Kansas State 25 39 14
West Virginia 26 9 -17
Texas 34 43 9
Oklahoma 37 27 -10
TCU 41 45 4
Oklahoma State 53 38 -15
Average 28.1 28.5 0.4
Conference Rank 1st of 32 (1st in 2018-19)

Once again, the Big 12 stands alone at the top of Division I’s 32 conferences in the four-year rankings. Making this accomplishment all the more impressive for 2019-20? The league has just one top 10 team this season, Kansas, compared to two a season ago. However, Texas Tech is knocking on the door. The Red Raiders rank 11th, thanks to a 19-place jump. The Big 12’s average ranking of 28.1 is a modest improvement upon the 28.5 of a season ago, and while the conference can no longer boast of having all 10 members ranking in the national top 50, the number of top 25 teams has increased from three to five over the past year. And if West Virginia hadn’t struggled so much in 2018-19 that total would have double. Instead, the Mountaineers fell out of both the top 10 and top 25.

Ranking The Schedules

Big 12 Non-Conference Schedule Rankings

Average Schedule Strength Ranking 2019-20 Average Schedule Strength Ranking 2018-19 Team (* = number of TBD bracketed games) Average Schedule Strength 2019-20
Average Schedule Strength Ranking 2019-20 Average Schedule Strength Ranking 2018-19 Team (* = number of TBD bracketed games) Average Schedule Strength 2019-20
17 99 Oklahoma State* 283.2115385
18 2 Kansas** 278.3221154
21 5 Oklahoma* 276.1105769
47 105 Iowa State** 253.5865385
49 24 Texas* 253.0288462
74 78 West Virginia* 242.3269231
75 147 TCU* 242.2291667
115 138 Kansas State* 226.5961538
117 59 Baylor** 226.3229167
188 315 Texas Tech* 202.9230769
72.1 97.2 Conference Average 248.4657853
1/32 2/32 Conference Rank

Last season, Kansas and Oklahoma had top five schedules nationally, but the conference’s average schedule strength ranked second to the SEC. This time around, no Big 12 team ranks higher than Oklahoma State at 17th, but the conference has jumped its challenge partner—though the gap is a mere four-tenths. What gives? Well, the bottom half of the rankings have improved, for starters, as Texas Tech, the only Big 12 team with a sub-150 non-conference schedule a season ago (a woeful 315th), is now in the top 200. Plus, the Red Raiders are now the only team outside of the top 125 nationally. More notably, while just three Big 12 teams had top 50 non-conference slates heading into 2018-19, five do this time around, with seven teams in the top 75 compared to just four last year.

Big 12 Road/Non-D1 Games

True Road Games Scheduled Road Games Scheduled Against Non-Power 7 Teams Non-D1 Opponents Scheduled
True Road Games Scheduled Road Games Scheduled Against Non-Power 7 Teams Non-D1 Opponents Scheduled
19 (18 in 2018-19) 3 (4) 2 (1)
6th of Power 7 6th of Power 7 t-5th of Power 7 (Big East, Big Ten)

This season, the Big 12 will collectively play one more true road game and one fewer non-power road game than in 2018-19. While Baylor, TCU, and Texas Tech will each play just one non-league away contest this season—with each being part of one of the Big 12’s two challenge series—the other seven teams will each play at least two. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will play three apiece, with both taking the floor for a single non-power road game.

TCU is the lone conference team playing a non-D1 game subject to the penalty I implemented in this season’s rankings. Remember that Kansas’ Maui Invitational quarterfinal against Chaminade is exempt from the rule.

Big 12 Non-Conference Games By League

Conference Games Scheduled Against Possible Tournament Games Against
Conference Games Scheduled Against Possible Tournament Games Against
SEC 12 6
Big East 10 4
Pac-12 8 5
Big Ten 7 3
WAC 7 0
ACC 6 3
Southland 6 0
American Athletic 5 2
C-USA 5 2
MAC 5 0
MEAC 5 0
SWAC 5 0
OVC 4 0
A 10 3 1
Summit 3 0
MW 2 2
MVC 2 1
Sun Belt 2 1
Big Sky 2 0
Big South 2 0
Horizon 2 0
Non-D1 2 0
SoCon 2 0
CAA 2 0
MAAC 2 0
NEC 1 0
Big West 1 0
Ivy 1 0
Patriot 1 0
WCC 0 2
America East 0 0
Atlantic Sun 0 0

No games scheduled or possible against: America East, ASUN

For the second season in a row, the Big 12’s first challenge partner, the SEC tops the table. However, there are four fewer Big 12/SEC encounters scheduled than there were a season ago. It’s the Big 12’s newest partner, the Big East, that’s made the biggest jump, from a tie for ninth to second place, thanks to double the number of set matchups when compared to 2018-19. That helped knock the Southland out of second spot, all the way down into a tie for sixth with the ACC. Overall, the other six power conferences all rank in top eight in terms of Big 12 non-league games. All but the ACC did a season ago.

There’s a fair amount of variety on Big 12 schedules, as no team appears more than twice across all 10. Plus, no league member will play more than two games against any other Division I conference.

Big 12 Non-Conference Games By Quad

Opponent Strength Home Away Neutral Total Average Potential
Opponent Strength Home Away Neutral Total Average Potential
Quad 1 3 11 8 22 2.2 13
Quad 2 11 6 7 24 2.4 12
Quad 3 14 2 5 21 2.1 4
Quad 4 43 1 3 47 4.7 3
Non-D1 1 0 1 2 0.2 0
Total 72 20 24 116
Average 7.2 2 2.4 11.6
Percentage 0.6206896552 0.1724137931 0.2068965517
Rank (of 32 Conferences) 7th 28th 2nd
Q1 1-30 1-75 1-50
Q2 31-75 76-135 51-100
Q3 76-160 135-240 101-200
Q4 161-353 241-353 201-353

The Big 12’s collection of Quad 1 win possibilities fell from 28 a season ago to 22 in 2018-19. With the conference’s total of Quad 4 games remaining exactly the same, that means Quad 2 and 3 opponents feature a little more heavily this time around. Quad 2 is the biggest beneficiary as there are seven more games against such opposition than a season ago.

The Big 12 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): Baylor (no fourth MTE game), TCU

17. Oklahoma State Cowboys

*MTE: NIT Season Tip-Off

Home Games (7) Neutral-Site Games (3) Road Games (3)
Home Games (7) Neutral-Site Games (3) Road Games (3)
28. Wichita State 39. Syracuse* 17. Houston
84. Georgetown# 48. Penn State or 51. Texas A&M^
121. Yale 63. Ole Miss* 106. College of Charleston
213. Western Michigan 66. Minnesota$ ^ - SEC Challenge
236. Southeastern Louisiana $ - Tulsa
260. Kansas City
262. Oral Roberts
# - Big East Battle

Oklahoma State Chronological

Date (Rank) Opponent Event/Venue 2018-19 Meeting (1-2)
Date (Rank) Opponent Event/Venue 2018-19 Meeting (1-2)
Nov. 6 262. Oral Roberts
Nov. 9 260. Kansas City
Nov. 13 106. College of Charleston OSU 70-58 (H)
Nov. 17 121. Yale NIT Season Tip-Off
Nov. 22 213. Western Michigan NIT Season Tip-Off
Nov. 27 39. Syracuse NIT Season Tip-Off (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Nov. 29 48. Penn State or 63. Ole Miss NIT Season Tip-Off (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Dec. 4 84. Georgetown Big 12/Big East Battle
Dec. 8 28. Wichita State
Dec. 15 17. Houston UH 63-53 (H)
Dec. 21 66. Minnesota BOK Center, Tulsa, Okla. UM 83-76 (N)
Dec. 29 236. Southeastern Louisiana
Jan. 25 51. Texas A&M Big 12/SEC Challenge

After threatening to sneak into the NCAAs in Mike Boynton’s first season, the Cowboys took a step back in his second, recording just 12 wins, a nine-victory drop from 2017-18’s NIT campaign. Oklahoma State finished below .500 a season ago in non-Big 12 play with a slightly more forgiving schedule, but Boynton clearly wants to test his team early once again despite those results. There will be very little time for the Pokes to breathe this fall, as a stretch that starts with a road game against College of Charleston and ends with a game in Tulsa against Minnesota is one of the toughest stretches a power conference team will face in November and December 2019. Five NCAA teams from a season ago and a pair of NIT qualifiers could factor in that nine-game stretch depending on how things shake out in Brooklyn over Thanksgiving week.

18. Kansas Jayhawks

*MTE: Maui Jim Maui Invitational

Home Games (6) Neutral-Site Games (5) Road Games (2)
Home Games (6) Neutral-Site Games (5) Road Games (2)
14. Tennessee^ 3. Duke$ 6. Villanova#!
74. Colorado (Non-D1) Chaminade* 99. Stanford
81. ETSU* 52. UCLA or # - Big East Battle
100. UNCG 70. BYU* ! - Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia
182. Monmouth 5. Michigan State/
255. Milwaukee 19. Virginia Tech/
^ - SEC Challenge 76. Dayton/
77. Georgia*
260. Kansas City%
$ - New York
% - Sprint Center

Kansas Chronological

Date (Rank) Opponent Event/Venue 2018-19 Meeting (2-0)
Date (Rank) Opponent Event/Venue 2018-19 Meeting (2-0)
Nov. 5 3. Duke Champions Classic (New York)
Nov. 8 100. UNCG
Nov. 15 182. Monmouth
Nov. 19 81. ETSU Maui Jim Maui Invitational
Nov. 25 (Non-D1) Chaminade Maui Jim Maui Invitational (Lahaina, Hawai'i)
Nov. 26 52. UCLA or 70. BYU Maui Jim Maui Invitational (Lahaina, Hawai'i)
Nov. 27 5. Michigan State/ 19. Virginia Tech/ 76. Dayton/77. Georgia Maui Jim Maui Invitational (Lahaina, Hawai'i)
Dec. 7 74. Colorado
Dec. 10 255. Milwaukee
Dec. 14 260. Kansas City Sprint Center (Kansas City, Mo.)
Dec. 21 6. Villanova Big 12/Big East Battle (Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia) KU 74-71 (H)
Dec. 29 99. Stanford KU 90-84 (OT) (H)
Jan. 25 14. Tennessee Big 12/SEC Challenge KU 87-81 (OT) (N)

Unusually for these rankings, the Jayhawks don’t lead the way in this year’s discussion of Big 12 non-conference scheduling. But there’s not much separating Kansas from Oklahoma State, particularly with the Jayhawks opening against Duke in a top-four matchup in the Champions Classic, Michigan State likely awaiting Bill Self’s club in the Maui final (I don’t think any of the three teams on KU’s side of the bracket will provide much resistance.), and a pair of marquee conference challenge matchups at Villanova and against Tennessee in Lawrence. Even though KU has to play Chaminade in the Maui quarters and a pair of sub-250 teams, matchups with SoCon contenders ETSU and UNCG, a Big 8/12 reunion with a quality Colorado club, and road trip to take on favorite son Jarrod Haase’s Stanford squad (who took Kansas to OT last season at the Phog) more than make up for those games.

21. Oklahoma Sooners

*MTE: Hall of Fame Classic Presented by ShotTracker

Home Games (6) Neutral-Site Games (4) Road Games (3)
Home Games (6) Neutral-Site Games (4) Road Games (3)
34. Mississippi State^! 66. Minnesota! 28. Wichita State%
71. UCF 109. Oregon State$ 32. Creighton#
165. William & Mary* 99. Stanford* 220. North Texas
195. UTSA 38. Butler or % - InTrust Bank Arena
268. UTRGV 82. Missouri* # - Big East Battle
348. Maryland-Eastern Shore* ! - Sioux Falls, S.D.
^ - SEC Challenge $ - Portland, Ore.
! - Oklahoma City

Oklahoma Chronological

Date (Rank) Opponent Event/Venue 2018-19 Meeting (5-0)
Date (Rank) Opponent Event/Venue 2018-19 Meeting (5-0)
Nov. 5 195. UTSA OU 87-67 (@)
Nov. 9 66. Minnesota Sanford Pentagon, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Nov. 12 109. Oregon State Phil Knight Invitational (Portland, Ore.)
Nov. 18 165. William & Mary Hall of Fame Classic Presented by ShotTracker
Nov. 21 350. Maryland-Eastern Shore Hall of Fame Classic Presented by ShotTracker
Nov. 25 99. Stanford Hall of Fame Classic Presented by ShotTracker (Kansas City, Mo.)
Nov. 26 38. Butler or 82. Missouri Hall of Fame Classic Presented by ShotTracker (Kansas City, Mo.)
Dec. 5 220. North Texas OU 73-57 (H)
Dec. 14 28. Wichita State InTrust Bank Arena, Wichita OU 80-48 (N)
Dec. 17 32. Creighton Big 12/Big East Battle OU 83-70 (H)
Dec. 21 71. UCF
Dec. 30 268. UTRGV OU 91-76 (@)
Jan. 25 43. Mississippi State Big 12/SEC Challenge (Oklahoma City)

Once again, Lon Kruger’s club will play many non-conference games away from Lloyd Noble Center, including its January 25th SEC Challenge matchup against Mississippi State, tapped as one of two games scheduled for Oklahoma City this winter. That game against the Bulldogs and a December 21st visit from UCF are the only two high-quality home games Oklahoma has lined up for the season. As a result, its the half-dozen quality road/neutral matchups that give this slate its rankings boost. Note that Oklahoma went 12-1 in non-conference games a season ago, racking up seven road and neutral wins, and those victories helped push the Sooners into the NCAAs after they struggled to a 7-12 mark in conference games.

47. Iowa State Cyclones

*MTE: Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis

Home Games (8) Neutral-Site Games (3) Road Games (2)
Home Games (8) Neutral-Site Games (3) Road Games (2)
40. Seton Hall# 9. Michigan* 27. Auburn^
49. Iowa 4. North Carolina or 109. Oregon State
155. Purdue Fort Wayne 54. Alabama* ^ - SEC Challenge
173. Northern Illinois 2. Gonzaga/
203. Southern Mississippi* 29. Oregon/
260. Kansas City 40. Seton Hall/
345. Florida A&M 203. Southern Mississippi*
348. Mississippi Valley State
# - Big East Alliance

Iowa State Chronological

Date (Rank) Opponent Event/Venue 2018-19 Meeting (0-1)
Date (Rank) Opponent Event/Venue 2018-19 Meeting (0-1)
Nov. 5 348. Mississippi Valley State
Nov. 9 109. Oregon State
Nov. 12 173. Northern Illinois
Nov. 19 203. Southern Mississippi Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis
Nov. 27 9. Michigan Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis (Paradise Island, Bahamas)
Nov. 28 4. North Carolina or 54. Alabama Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis (Paradise Island, Bahamas)
Nov. 29 2. Gonzaga/29. Oregon/ 40. Seton Hall/203. Southern Mississippi Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis (Paradise Island, Bahamas)
Dec. 4 260. Kansas City
Dec. 8 40. Seton Hall Big 12/Big East Battle
Dec. 12 49. Iowa Cy-Hawk Series UI 98-84 (@)
Dec. 22 155. Purdue Fort Wayne
Dec. 31 345. Florida A&M
Jan. 25 27. Auburn Big 12/SEC Challenge

Like Oklahoma, the Cyclones looked to be skidding into the NCAAs, thanks to three consecutive losses to close the regular season. But three straight wins in Kansas City earned the Big 12’s auto bid, so Steve Prohm’s club didn’t need to sweat out a sub-par non-conference schedule. Despite the presence of two sub-340 home games, November and December’s slate shouldn’t be much of a concern for Iowa State this March. That’s thanks to the Cyclones’ participation in a loaded Battle 4 Atlantis, a home game against Seton Hall in the Big East Battle (with the Pirates also a day three possibility in the Bahamas), the annual game with Iowa, and an SEC Challenge trip to Auburn, a Final Four team a season ago.

49. Texas Longhorns

*MTE: 2K Empire Classic Benefiting Wounded Warrior Project

Home Games (8) Neutral-Site Games (3) Road Games (2)
Home Games (8) Neutral-Site Games (3) Road Games (2)
50. LSU^ 84. Georgetown* 7. Purdue
133. UAB 3. Duke or 62. Providence#
152. Central Michigan 162. California* # - Big East Battle
168. Cal Baptist* 51. Texas A&M$
191. Northern Colorado $ - Fort Worth
239. High Point
283. Prairie View A&M*
326. McNeese State
^ - SEC Challenge

Texas Chronological

Date (Rank) Opponent Event/Venue 2018-19 Meeting (1-1)
Date (Rank) Opponent Event/Venue 2018-19 Meeting (1-1)
Nov. 5 191. Northern Colorado
Nov. 9 7. Purdue UT 72-68 (H)
Nov. 12 168. Cal Baptist 2K Empire Classic Benefiting Wounded Warrior Project
Nov. 15 283. Prairie View A&M 2K Empire Classic Benefiting Wounded Warrior Project
Nov. 21 84. Georgetown 2K Empire Classic Benefiting Wounded Warrior Project (New York)
Nov. 22 3. Duke or 162. California 2K Empire Classic Benefiting Wounded Warrior Project (New York)
Nov. 30 326. McNeese State
Dec. 3 133. UAB
Dec. 8 51. Texas A&M Lone Star Showdown (Fort Worth, Tex.)
Dec. 14 152. Central Michigan
Dec. 21 62. Providence Big 12/Big East Alliance PC 71-65 (H)
Dec. 30 239. High Point
Jan. 25 50. LSU Big 12/SEC Challenge

The Longhorns’ 2018-19 non-conference schedule, which featured wins over both North Carolina and Purdue, wasn’t enough to get the eventual NIT champions into the Big Dance, not after a poor 2-6 stretch doomed the Horns to the three-letter tournament. So, Shaka Smart will be feeling some pressure from November all the way through Selection Sunday 2020. And while there are six winnable home games on this schedule, none of them will do much to move the meter when it comes to postseason evaluation. Instead, it will be the SEC challenge visit from LSU, pair of games at the Garden for the 2K Empire Classic, the first meeting with Texas A&M in four years, and road contests against the Boilermakers and Providence that will indicate whether Texas is a contender or pretender.

74. West Virginia Mountaineers

*MTE: Cancun Challenge

Home Games (7) Neutral-Site Games (3) Road Games (3)
Home Games (7) Neutral-Site Games (3) Road Games (3)
73. Rhode Island 35. Ohio State$ 92. St. John's#%
82. Missouri^ 140. Northern Iowa* 111. Pittsburgh
135. Akron 28. Wichita State or 308. Youngstown State!
180. Austin Peay 58. South Carolina* # - Big East Battle
191. Northern Colorado* $ - Cleveland % - Madison Square Garden
241. Boston University* ! - Covelli Center, Youngstown
292. Nicholls State
^ - SEC Challenge

West Virginia Chronological

Date (Rank) Opponent Event/Venue 2018-19 Meeting (2-1)
Date (Rank) Opponent Event/Venue 2018-19 Meeting (2-1)
Nov. 8 135. Akron
Nov. 15 111. Pittsburgh WVU 69-59 (H)
Nov. 18 191. Northern Colorado* Cancun Challenge
Nov. 22 241. Boston University* Cancun Challenge
Nov. 26 140. Northern Iowa Cancun Challenge (Cancun, Mexico)
Nov. 27 28. Wichita State or 58. South Carolina Cancun Challenge (Cancun, Mexico)
Dec. 1 73. Rhode Island URI 83-70 (N)
Dec. 7 92. St. John's Big 12/Big East Battle (Madison Square Garden)
Dec. 12 180. Austin Peay
Dec. 14 292. Nicholls State
Dec. 21 308. Youngstown State Covelli Center, Youngstown WVU 106-72 (H)
Dec. 29 35. Ohio State Cleveland Classic (Cleveland)
Jan. 25 82. Missouri Big 12/SEC Challenge

The Mountaineers’ run of four consecutive seasons with 25-plus wins ended with a thud, as Bob Huggins’ squad went 15-21 in 2018-19. This schedule should get West Virginia off to a decent start as it attempts to return to its winning ways. While the Mountaineers will be challenged in their exempt event in Cancun, St. John’s isn’t a bad draw for the Big East Battle, even if the game is at MSG, while WVU could have done worse in drawing Missouri for the SEC event in January. The other road games, at Backyard Brawl rival Pittsburgh and Horizon strugglers Youngstown State, aren’t terrifying, while Rhode Island are the strongest visitor to Morgantown by some distance, at least until Big 12 play begins.

75. TCU Horned Frogs

*MTE: MGM Resorts Main Event

Home Games (9) Neutral-Site Games (3) Road Games (1)
Home Games (9) Neutral-Site Games (3) Road Games (1)
31. Xavier# 22. Clemson* 46. Arkansas^
103. UC Irvine* 74. Colorado or ^ - SEC Challenge
125. Louisiana* 210. Wyoming*
130. Illinois State 59. USC!
150. Winthrop ! - Dickies Arena, Fort Worth
166. George Mason
234. Lamar
247. Air Force
(Non-D1) Southwestern
# - Big East Battle

TCU Chronological

Date (Rank) Opponent Event/Venue 2018-19 Meeting (1-0)
Date (Rank) Opponent Event/Venue 2018-19 Meeting (1-0)
Nov. 7 (Non-D1) Southwestern
Nov. 12 125. Louisiana MGM Resorts Main Event
Nov. 18 247. Air Force
Nov. 21 103. UC Irvine MGM Resorts Main Event
Nov. 24 22. Clemson MGM Resorts Main Event (Las Vegas)
Nov. 26 74. Colorado or 210. Wyoming MGM Resorts Main Event (Las Vegas)
Dec. 3 130. Illinois State
Dec. 6 59. USC Dickies Arena, Fort Worth TCU 96-61 (N)
Dec. 11 150. Winthrop
Dec. 14 234. Lamar
Dec. 22 31. Xavier Big 12/Big East Battle
Dec. 30 166. George Mason
Jan. 25 49. Arkansas Big 12/SEC Challenge

The Horned Frogs are another Big 12 team that stumbled down the stretch, as their 12-1 non-conference mark, highlighted by a SEC Challenge win over Florida, couldn’t make up for an 8-12 run through conference play. Jamie Dixon’s squad will try again with a home-heavy schedule that doesn’t feature a true road game until calendar turns over to 2020. However, TCU will be challenged by several quality mid-majors (Big West champ UC Irvine, Sun Belt power Louisiana, Illinois State, Winthrop), along with a tantalizing pair of games in the Main Event in Vegas, a semi-home game against USC at the new Dickies Arena, and a potentially huge visit from Xavier in the Big East Battle.

115. Kansas State Wildcats

*MTE: Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off

Home Games (6) Neutral-Site Games (4) Road Games (2)
Home Games (6) Neutral-Site Games (4) Road Games (2)
33. Marquette# 37. Mississippi State$ 54. Alabama^
107. Tulsa 111. Pittsburgh* 148. UNLV
169. North Dakota State 64. Northwestern or ^ - SEC Challenge
182. Monmouth* 172. Bradley*
339. Arkansas-Pine Bluff* 153. Saint Louis!
340. Alabama State $ - Newark, N.J.
345. Florida A&M ! - Kansas City, Mo.
# - Big East Battle

Kansas State Chronological

Date (Rank) Opponent Event/Venue 2018-19 Meeting (0-2)
Date (Rank) Opponent Event/Venue 2018-19 Meeting (0-2)
Nov. 5 169. North Dakota State
Nov. 9 148. UNLV
Nov. 13 182. Monmouth Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off
Nov. 19 339. Arkansas-Pine Bluff Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off
Nov. 25 111. Pittsburgh Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off (Fort Myers, Fla.)
Nov. 27 64. Northwestern or 172. Bradley Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off (Fort Myers, Fla.)
Dec. 2 345. Florida A&M
Dec. 7 33. Marquette Big 12/Big East Battle MU 83-71 (@)
Dec. 11 340. Alabama State
Dec. 14 47. Mississippi State Never Forget Tribute Classic (Newark, N.J.)
Dec. 21 153. Saint Louis Wildcat Classic (Kansas City, Mo.)
Dec. 29 107. Tulsa TU 47-46 (@)
Jan. 25 54. Alabama Big 12/SEC Challenge

While the Wildcats won a share of the Big 12 crown and earned a four seed in the NCAAs, a First Round loss to UC Irvine left Bruce Weber’s squad hungry for more heading into 2019-20. This schedule should give K-State plenty of opportunities to celebrate this fall, thanks to a trio of sub-300 home games and a very winnable exempt tournament in the Fort Myers Tip-Off. The most difficult games follow the Cats’ trip to Southwest Florida, as Marquette visit for the Big East series, with a game in Newark against Mississippi State following four days later. Then, Atlantic 10 Tournament champ Saint Louis will serve as the opposition for Kansas State’s annual Kansas City game, while the pre-Big 12 slate closes with a visit from a Tulsa team that defeated the Wildcats 47-46 last December. K-State’s third most interesting non-conference game may be January 25th’s SEC Challenge date at Alabama, depending on how Nate Oats fares in his first few weeks in charge in Tuscaloosa.

117. Baylor Bears

*MTE: Myrtle Beach Invitational

Home Games (6) Neutral-Site Games (4-5) Road Games (1-2)
Home Games (6) Neutral-Site Games (4-5) Road Games (1-2)
36. Arizona 80. Washington$ 15. Florida^
38. Butler# 158. Ohio* 179. Coastal Carolina
163. Texas State 65. Utah or (or Utah)*
290. Central Arkansas (or Coastal Carolina)* ^ - SEC Challenge
332. Jackson State 6. Villanova/
350. Maryland-Eastern Shore 43. Mississippi State/
# - Big East Battle 113. Middle Tennessee/
240. Tulane*
282. UT Martin!
$ - Anchorage, Ak.
! - Houston

Baylor Chronological

Date (Rank) Opponent Event/Venue 2018-19 Meeting (1-0)
Date (Rank) Opponent Event/Venue 2018-19 Meeting (1-0)
Nov. 5 290. Central Arkansas
Nov. 8 80. Washington Armed Forces Classic (Anchorage, Ak.)
Nov. 15 163. Texas State
Nov. 21 158. Ohio Myrtle Beach Invitational (Conway, S.C.)
Nov. 22 65. Utah or 179. Coastal Carolina Myrtle Beach Invitational (Conway, S.C.)
Nov. 24 6. Villanova/43. Mississippi State/ 113. Middle Tennessee/240. Tulane Myrtle Beach Invitational (Conway, S.C.)
Dec. 3 350. Maryland-Eastern Shore
Dec. 7 36. Arizona BU 58-49 (@)
Dec. 10 38. Butler Big 12/Big East Battle
Dec. 18 282. UT Martin The Battleground 2K19 (Houston, Texas)
Dec. 30 332. Jackson State
Jan. 25 15. Florida Big 12/SEC Challenge

Even with the presence of four sub-250 games, the Bears’ non-conference schedule for 2019-20 is a significant step up from that of 2018-19. And remains true despite the lack of true road games, as Baylor won’t play such a contest until Big 12 play begins—unless they happen to meet Coastal Carolina on day two of the Myrtle Beach Invitational on the Chanticleers’ home floor. But Scott Drew’s club would prefer to meet Utah and either Villanova or Mississippi State there, and those games would add more quality to a schedule that already includes visits from Arizona and Butler, along with an SEC Challenge game at Florida and an early season meeting with Washington in Alaska. If Baylor can perform well against this schedule, they’ll be in line to better last season’s nine seed.

188. Texas Tech Red Raiders

*MTE: Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational

Home Games (8) Neutral-Site Games (3) Road Games (1)
Home Games (8) Neutral-Site Games (3) Road Games (1)
8. Kentucky^ 12. Louisville$ 120. DePaul#
188. Cal State Bakersfield 49. Iowa # - Big East Battle
203. Southern Mississippi 32. Creighton or
228. Tennessee State* 72. San Diego State*
268. UTRGV 309. Houston Baptist!
275. LIU* $ - New York
284. Eastern Illinois ! - Midland, Tex.
319. Bethune-Cookman
^ - SEC Challenge

Texas Tech Chronological

Date (Rank) Opponent Event/Venue 2018-19 Meeting (1-0)
Date (Rank) Opponent Event/Venue 2018-19 Meeting (1-0)
Nov. 5 284. Eastern Illinois
Nov. 9 319. Bethune-Cookman
Nov. 13 309. Houston Baptist Chapparal Center, Midland, Texas
Nov. 21 228. Tennessee State Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational
Nov. 24 275. LIU Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational
Nov. 28 49. Iowa Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational (Las Vegas)
Nov. 29 32. Creighton or 72. San Diego State Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational (Las Vegas)
Dec. 4 120. DePaul Big 12/Big East Battle
Dec. 10 12. Louisville Jimmy V Classic (New York)
Dec. 16 203. Southern Mississippi
Dec. 21 268. UTRGV TTU 71-46 (H)
Dec. 29 188. Cal State Bakersfield
Jan. 25 8. Kentucky Big 12/SEC Challenge

While 2019’s NCAA runner-up still has the Big 12’s worst non-conference schedule, this effort is light years’ better than 2018-19’s version. However, the home slate, which gives fans in Lubbock little to look forward to other than the Big 12 Challenge meeting with Kentucky, drags its ranking down. While the Red Raiders will play quality neutral-site games as part of the Las Vegas Invitational and Jimmy V Classic, the Big East Battle assignment of a road game against DePaul is a bit disappointing. Expect Texas Tech to enter Big 12 play with plenty of wins once again.

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