Big East's Top 25 NonConference Games [ESPN]

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/blog/_/name/katz_andy/id/6917457/big-east-top-25-nonconference-games

1. St. John's vs. Arizona, Nov. 17, 9 p.m., ESPN2 (2K Sports Classic Benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer semifinal), Madison Square Garden, NYC: St. John's will have one of its youngest teams in years, but this is a home game. Arizona arrives fresh off an Elite Eight appearance but no longer has Derrick Williams. Still, the Wildcats are a legit contender for the Pac-12 title. An upset here by the Red Storm would provide a shelf-life win for months, and perhaps a crutch as they try to find their way in a crowded middle of the pack in the Big East.

6. St. John's at Kentucky, Dec. 1, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2 (Big East/SEC Challenge): The Red Storm continue a solid schedule that will, at the very least, raise their power rating (St. John's plays at Detroit on Dec. 5, a game in which the Titans will honor Dick Vitale). Don't expect the Red Storm to win at Kentucky, but the game will certainly test Steve Lavin's young crew.

24. St. John's at Duke, Jan. 28, noon, ESPN: The annual series returns to Cameron Indoor Stadium. St. John's humbled the Blue Devils last season. The Red Storm will be a much improved team to handle this type of game at this point in the season. Duke will be even stronger by late January, too. Playing Duke is always a plus for your power rating.

25. UCLA at St. John's, Feb. 18, 1 p.m., CBS: The Bruins return the home-and-home series after Lavin and the Red Storm went to Los Angeles last season. This is a perfect time to play the game. UCLA will likely be clicking at a high level after the Wear twins become comfortable playing next to Josh Smith. Sneaking in a road test like this toward the end of the Pac-12 season will only make the Bruins stronger. And this could turn out to be a quality W for whomever can grab it.

So the game against texas pan am didnt make the list???

Just checked the article again and fwiw the list is in order of appearence not what the best/most anticipated games are. Still having four on the list would have been unthinkable with our previous schedule maker.

SJ vs Arizona is #1? Senseless choice.

SJ vs Arizona is #1? Senseless choice.

Ya I would think SJU vs Duke or vs Kentucky would be better.

Florida vs Syracuse should be #1 imo

Quote from: Poison on September 02, 2011, 06:03:14 PM

SJ vs Arizona is #1? Senseless choice.

Ya I would think SJU vs Duke or vs Kentucky would be better.

Florida vs Syracuse should be #1 imo

Games are in order of appearance not in "best game" order.

St. Johns v. Kentucky is the game that I am most looking forward to.

St. Johns v. Kentucky is the game that I am most looking forward to.

Me too and I'm pumped to be going to there for the 1st time for a game

One non conference game on national TV against historic powerhouses during every month of this season! Excellent job by SJU.

Consistent national exposure will stock our shelves for years to come. Last season we showed up and punched teams in the mouth early in BE
play for a change but tanked 2 ugly non conference Sshows that were topical within Bracketology debates from inception through Selection Sunday.


1.With nominal experience, how will our new batch of Johnnies handle the hype that will no doubt surround with Arizona, Kentucky, and even upstart Day Trois? (especially if we enter the Dickie V show with steam)

2. Unrealistic to think we can go 3-0 during this stretch?

3. Are you content with 1 win and 2 losses so long as the W is v. Arizona or Kentucky?


Huge early contests that will gift us high pressure situations in preparation for BE play regardless of outcome. Any favorable box scores would be f ing large for Johnnies 2.0 L series

Must be some nice scheduling by the national champions if the best they could come up with to make the top 25 is Harvard