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Non-conference scheduling studs and duds: The Pac-12
Since most of this coming season's non-conference schedules have finally been released, it's a good time to assess whose slates are the most daunting and who didn't challenge themselves enough. Yahoo Sports will go league-by-league the next two weeks. Up next: The Pac-12.
Toughest non-league schedule: UCLA
What's the ideal non-conference schedule for a UCLA team that nearly missed the NCAA tournament last season and then lost maybe its two best players this past spring? Well, it's probably not one that includes a minimum of three preseason top 10 teams.
The Bruins host the Kentucky team that embarrassed them last season, visit the Gonzaga team that eliminated them from the NCAA tournament and also face the North Carolina team that could be this year's preseason No. 1. As if that's not enough, UCLA also will take part in the prestigious Maui Invitational, where it will face UNLV in the opening round and could meet Kansas, Indiana, Vanderbilt or Wake Forest later in the tournament.
For UCLA to stay afloat against such a daunting schedule, the Bruins will need other scorers to emerge in support of Bryce Alford. Thomas Welsh, Tony Parker and redshirt freshman Jonah Bolden should anchor UCLA's frontcourt, while incoming freshman Aaron Holiday should allow Alford to spend more time off ball.
Easiest non-league schedule: Oregon State
If this is going to be the year Oregon State ends its quarter-century NCAA tournament drought, it will have to be in spite of a very modest non-league schedule. Aside from a difficult game against Kansas in Kansas City, the Beavers don't any other matchups against name-brand opponents.
The best teams Oregon State faces besides the Jayhawks are Valparaiso and Tulsa, the former one of the nation's strongest mid-major programs next season and the latter an NCAA tournament contender from the American Athletic Conference. The Beavers have filled out the rest of their schedule with a collection of mid-majors — UC Santa Barbara, Iona, Nevada and LMU probably providing the greatest challenge.
It's a shame Oregon State didn't challenge itself a bit more because the Beavers boast as much talent next season as they've had in years. Standouts Gary Payton II, Malcolm Duvivier and Langston Morris-Walker are all back from last year's overachieving 17-win team and Wayne Tinkle welcomes a decorated recruiting class that features three Rivals 150 prospects..
Team that took the biggest risk with its schedule: Arizona State
Newly hired Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley appears intent on upgrading the Sun Devils' non-conference scheduling habits. Arizona State will play three true road games, several quality home games and a challenging tournament even though it's likely headed for a rebuilding year in Hurley's debut season.
Preseason top-five Kentucky is the toughest of the Sun Devils' road games, but Creighton and UNLV will be favored to beat Arizona State as well. Hurley's team will also be an underdog at the Legend's Classic, where it will open with NC State and then face either Marquette or LSU the following day.
Even some of the home games — Texas A&M and mid-major powers Stephen F. Austin and Belmont — aren't easy. It's a daunting slate that probably isn't well suited for next year's Arizona State team but could pay dividends down the road as Hurley replenishes the program's talent supply.
Three Pac-12 non-conference games to watch:
1. Arizona at Gonzaga, Dec. 5: Two of the West Coast's premier programs will meet for the third straight season, this time in Spokane. Arizona routed Gonzaga in the NCAA tournament two years ago and edged the Zags in Tucson last season, but the Wildcats may have a hard time extending that streak this season after the loss of four starters to graduation or the NBA draft.
2. Cal vs. San Diego State, Nov. 26: This Las Vegas Classic semifinal will be the first barometer for how good Cal truly is. The Bears add two five-star recruits to a roster that includes three returning double-digit scorers in the backcourt, but whether Cuonzo Martin can get the talent to mesh together will determine if Cal can challenge for the Pac-12 crown.
3. Utah vs. Duke, Dec. 19: The last time Duke and Utah met, the Blue Devils escaped with a five-point win in the Sweet 16 last March. The Utes will try to gain some revenge in New York this December, though they have graduated star guard Delon Wright and the Blue Devils have said goodbye to their four top players from last year's national championship team.
Game that should have been scheduled but wasn't: Gonzaga-Oregon
Gonzaga has embraced every chance to schedule a home-and-home series with quality Pac-12 opponents. Oregon has for now eclipsed Washington as the Pacific Northwest's second-best program behind the Zags. This is a series that could be a lot of fun, whether it's a home-and-home or alternates back and forth between Portland and Seattle.
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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
