Arizona State has really challenged themselves in Bobby Hurley’s first season in Tempe, as they have one of the tougher non-conference schedules that we’ve seen this season.
The headline games are strong. They are in the Legends Classic with three potential top 25 teams -- LSU, N.C. State and Marquette -and have a four-game stretch in December where they play at Creighton, Texas A&M at home, at Kentucky and at UNLV.
But it gets better, as the mid-major programs that Hurley has scheduled are solid as well. They begin the year with games against a pair of mid-majors that won 20 games last season -- Sacramento State and Belmont -- and also host Stephen F. Austin -- who has made back-to-back NCAA tournaments -- closer to Christmas time.
Here is the full schedule:
Fri, Nov 13: Sacramento State
Mon, Nov 16: Belmont
Wed, Nov 18: Kennesaw State
Mon, Nov 23-24: Legends Classic (N.C. State, then Marquette or LSU)
Sun, Nov 29: UC Santa Barbara
Wed, Dec 2: at Creighton
Sat, Dec 5: Texas A&M
Sat, Dec 12: at Kentucky
Wed, Dec 16: at UNLV
Sat, Dec 19: Houston Baptist
Tue, Dec 22: Stephen F. Austin
Mon, Dec 28: CSU Bakersfield