Big East basketball conference games are their own animal, but in the non-conference, it’ll also be a must-watch.
What makes the Big East great is how competitive the teams are during conference play. However, after only getting three teams into the 2024 NCAA Tournament, there’s a lot at stake out of conference play this season. Big East basketball will need to come together in the non-conference to showcase why the league deserves more respect.
If you’re a Big East hoops fan, expect yourself to be glued to the television all November and December. There are countless games to mark in your calendar, and trimming it down to 25 was nearly impossible.
This also doesn’t even count the potential matchups in non-conference tournaments.
No league in college basketball does it quite like the Big East and this non-conference gauntlet proves why.
25. Marquette at Maryland (Nov. 15)
Marquette might have the most loaded non-conference slate of any team in Big East basketball and we start with Maryland. Head coach Kevin Willard knows a thing or two about the Golden Eagles from his time at Seton Hall, so seeing Shaka Smart and Marquette come down to play him should be a treat. Plus, the Terps have five-star Derik Queen, which makes a lot of their early games must-watch.
24. Butler vs. Northwestern (Nov. 28 in Tempe)
I tried to include as many different teams as I could but there’s only room for two Butler games. The Bulldogs play a nearby team in Northwestern, but out in Tempe. The Wildcats no longer have Boo Buie, but they still have a competitive Big Ten roster that should give Thad Matta’s team a good game.
23. Providence vs. Oklahoma (Nov. 27 in the Bahamas)
There’s also room for just one Providence game and it’s Oklahoma. We ranked the Sooners 74th in CBB Rank, so while they might not be tip-top competition, I’m excited to see how the Friars do against some Big 12 competition.
22. Marquette vs. Wisconsin (Dec. 7)
You’ll notice a theme with Marquette’s out-of-conference slate – it’s mostly Midwest college basketball powerhouses. This might be their most even contest, as Wisconsin lost a few players from a team that for the most part, underperformed last season. Both of these teams enter this season with question marks but still have the talent to finish near the top half of their conferences. This will be a good measuring stick early on.
21. Villanova vs. Virginia (Nov. 15 in Baltimore)
A few years ago, this game would’ve been one of the top contests in the entire non-con slate in college basketball. Even though it might not have the same type of pull, having two of the most recent NCAA Tournament champions meet at a neutral site is still a game to mark down. Plus, Kyle Neptune really needs a fast start to the season for Villanova fans to stay patient with the process.
20. Butler at Houston (Dec. 7)
While the Butler-Northwestern game is a more even contest, Houston has been one of the top programs in college basketball in the Kelvin Sampson era. Plus, let’s not forget Thad Matta’s coaching history when he was at Ohio State and Sampson was at Indiana. It might have only been for a few years that the two were pitted against each other, but it should bring back some cool old memories from about 20 years ago.
19. UConn vs. Baylor (Dec. 4)
Baylor and UConn both have two of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country, so it’s only right they play each other in early December. While the Bears haven’t had much tournament success since their title in 2021, they’re still a marquee Big 12 program and it should draw a sold-out and rowdy crowd in CT.
18. Villanova at St. Joseph’s (Nov. 12)
I’m telling you – St. Joseph’s is a team to watch out for. In most years, Villanova and St. Joe’s wouldn’t draw much extra attention, but the Hawks return Erik Reynolds II, giving them a true star. I’m excited to see how great St. Joseph’s can really be this season and their rival down the street will be an awesome test.
17. St. John’s vs. New Mexico (Nov. 17)
St. John’s and New Mexico should deliver a great game because the Lobos have been a consistent winner in recent years. But the intrigue of this game really comes down to Rick Pitino coaching against Richard Pitino. The father-son storyline doesn’t get old and it will make for a fun game to watch, and at times, a fun sideline to watch.
16. Marquette vs. Purdue (Nov. 19)
How will Purdue look post-Zach Edey? It’s going to be interesting to see if the Boilermakers switch up their style of play, and I chatted with a Purdue reporter, Joe Jackson, about this.
But two weeks into the season, it could still be a raw version of what Purdue might play like as the season progresses. Regardless, Marquette poses a good threat at a Boilermakers’ loss and vice-versa. It’s an even game between two programs searching for good early-season wins.
15. Creighton vs. Oregon (Nov. 30 in Las Vegas)
Former Creighton coach Dana Altman gets to go against his old program in Las Vegas. That’s a neat storyline, even if Altman has been at Oregon since 2010. But don’t forget – he was Creighton’s head coach for 16 seasons as well. Both teams could be ranked for this meeting, but even if they aren’t the storyline with Altman’s history coaching at Creighton makes it a fun game within the game.
14. Georgetown at Syracuse (Dec. 14)
For fans of the old Big East, this is a rivalry that never gets old. Unfortunately, the state of Georgetown basketball has been misery and Syracuse hasn’t been much better. But in year two of Ed Cooley and Red Autry, both programs are hopeful that’s about to change. Will it be a game between two ranked teams? Probably not, but don’t be surprised if the two foes are playing some under-the-radar basketball by mid-December.
13. Seton Hall at Rutgers (Dec. 14)
From one rivalry to another, Seton Hall and Rutgers have picked up some steam ever since the Pirates and Scarlet Knights started to revitalize their programs. This season, a lot of eyes are on Rutgers with a star-studded recruiting class. For Seton Hall, it’s an important in-state rivalry, but for Shaheen Holloway and co., taking down such a hyped-up Rutgers team adds all of that extra motivation.
12. Marquette at Dayton (Dec. 14)
Dayton is our pick to win the Atlantic 10 and nearly a top 50 team in CBB Rank. Meanwhile, Marquette has been a consistent finisher in the top half of the Big East, but after losing a lot of last year’s squad, comes into 2024 with some question marks. Regardless, both teams are powerhouses in the Midwest and it should make for a fun meeting between teams that don’t always play each other.
11. Marquette at Iowa State (Dec. 4)
It’s the same story as above – two midwest foes meeting on the basketball court in December. The difference is Iowa State’s ceiling of being a Final Four team and how awesome it is playing in Ames. The Big 12 has some cool venues and Marquette will get to experience Hilton Coliseum. Speaking from experience, that’s a bucket list college hoops venue. And for this matchup, it makes it all the much better.
10. St. John’s vs. Baylor (Nov. 21 in the Bahamas)
St. John’s doesn’t have as many marquee non-conference games as most of the Big East, so a November game against Baylor is a crucial one for their resume. But it’s also going to be important to prove themselves to the college basketball world. Bringing in Deivon Smith and Kadary Richmond was no small matter, and on Nov. 21, we get to see how that plays out against a perennial Big 12 powerhouse in Baylor.
9. Xavier at Cincinnati (Dec. 14)
Of the rivalry games, this is probably the best one regarding how well each team could be. The Musketeers return Zach Freemantle and the Bearcats are a sleeper team in the Big 12. Given how deep and experienced both teams are, even if it wasn’t a rivalry game, it would still be a top non-con game on both team’s schedules. This rivalry has a lot of grit, and we’ll surely get that on Dec. 14.
8. Creighton vs. San Diego State (Nov. 26 in Las Vegas)
In the 2022 NCAA Tournament, San Diego State beat Creighton by a point. It was an Elite 8 matchup and the game literally came down to the final seconds, with Darrion Trammell sinking the game-winning free throw with a second left.
Not even two years later, these squads meet again, and also at a neutral court in Las Vegas. Creighton still has Ryan Kalkbrenner, and I’m sure he’s got this game circled. This game SCREAMS revenge for the Bluejays.
7. UConn at Texas (Dec. 8)
UConn and Texas played last year at Madison Square Garden but this season they meet in Austin. UConn almost won in Allen Fieldhouse last season, and this will be another similar environment. It’s THE marquee game for the Longhorns and one of many for the Huskies. Both teams should be ranked a month into the season while UConn will be just four days removed from playing Baylor, which gives them a ridiculous five-day stretch.
6. Creighton vs. Texas A&M (Nov. 27 in Las Vegas)
Creighton will be expected to be near the top of the Big East after returning Big East Player of the Year frontrunner Ryan Kalkbrenner. You can make a similar assessment about Texas A&M in the SEC. The Aggies run it back with Wade Taylor IV and other notable names like SMU transfer Zhuric Phelps. Needless to say, both of these teams could make long runs in March.
But in November, they’ll meet in Las Vegas. On paper, it’s one of the best non-conference games in Big East basketball this season and that stage is pretty sweet too.
5. Villanova vs. Maryland (Nov. 24 in Newark)
Speaking about storylines, this game might be the deepest. Maryland head coach Kevin Willard had some memorable battles when he was at Seton Hall, and a good chunk of them came against Villanova. This game happens to be in Newark, making it a bit of a homecoming for Willard.
Jay Wright is no longer at Nova, which makes the coaching battle less important, but seeing Willard back inside the Prudential Center should be a very cool sight.
4. Creighton at Alabama (Dec. 14)
Alabama is a true national championship contender and they’ll host a Creighton team hoping to wreck the party in Tuscaloosa. Alabama has the roster makeup to be a top-ten team in the country and you can’t write off Creighton either. It could be a preview of things to come in March.
3. UConn vs. Memphis (Nov. 25 in Maui)
There may be some better overall matchups, but I’m all in to see Dan Hurley go against Penny Hardaway on the sidelines. I’m also all in to see Hurley in a Hawaiian shirt. Will it calm him down or will he look like even more of a madman on the court? Whatever the case, both teams create a fun matchup that you don’t always see and both coaches just make it that much more fun.
2. Creighton vs. Kansas (Dec. 4)
The Bluejays and Jayhawks might have similar nicknames and both are powerhouses in the Midwest. But on Dec. 4, one shade of blue will reign supreme.
Creighton gets to experience the game of a lifetime, hosting Kansas for some non-conference action. While I believe this year’s Creighton team has some room to grow and might be outmatched by a stacked Kansas squad, the scene for this game will be wild. Creighton fans always shows out, especially when it’s the best of the best coming to town.
1. UConn vs. Gonzaga (Dec. 14 in NYC)
While there are tons of storylines, rivalry games, and games that could be replayed down the line in March, only one Big East non-conference game is in its own stratosphere.
UConn and Gonzaga – two schools where basketball is king – will meet inside Madison Square Garden on Dec. 14. In case you missed the memo, Dec. 14 is set to be a pretty memorable day in college hoops. There are countless games to take you through the whole day, but the Huskies and Bulldogs might be the main event.
Dan Hurley. Mark Few. Final Four caliber programs and teams with aspirations of long runs in March. We’ve heard the rumors of Gonzaga to the Big East before. On December 14, the Bulldogs get a chance to show why they belong, on the court where Big East basketball is home.