College basketball schedules 2023-24: Louisville, Cincinnati among teams with easiest slates this season

I assumed hard and long this week about how I would possibly write the turn facet of my time table collection. Last week I started with the varsity hoops teams going through the maximum difficult schedules, and as of late concludes the collection with teams going through the easiest schedules. It’s necessary to strike the appropriate tone, upload the proper caveats and keep away from hurting emotions, lest the mob of social media shall assault. That was once my pondering. 

Then I got here to a realization: Do I wish to name it like I see it or name it like I think others would adore it known as in order to not ruffle feathers?

I choose the previous.

So, as of late, emotions be damned, I’m again to complete my time table collection with a have a look at 5 teams that significantly face, ahem, cushy(ish) schedules within the 2023-24 season. If you might be unfamiliar with this two-part collection, a handy guide a rough reminder ahead of we soar in: This collection isn’t based totally in metrics corresponding to energy of time table or how analytics web sites venture time table problem. It may be tilted in opposition to nonconference schedules with convention time table problem taking part in just a minor position. Teams have a robust say in who they time table out of convention — that isn’t the case in league play, so you have to account for that.

So, now that I’ve already damaged my promise of no caveats, let’s transfer on and get into it. 

Notable video games

Schedule ideas: Cincinnati’s saving grace in its 2023-24 time table is, in fact, the most obvious: the Bearcats will, for the primary time ever, be taking part in as a member of the Big 12 after transitioning out of the American Athletic Conference. That does not utterly conceal the unsightly this is littered about its non-league time table, despite the fact that, highlighted by way of its nonconference finale on Dec. 29 vs. Evansville — a workforce ranked 332 at KenPom and projected to complete remaining within the MVC.

Notable video games

Schedule ideas: Louisville misplaced to Division II Kentucky Wesleyan on Monday (!!!), so calling any a part of its time table simple feels a little bit oxymoronic. I am getting it. But whilst unhealthy as that exhibition loss was once, or even as unhealthy as Louisville may well be (once more) this season, it is nonetheless price noting that its nonconference time table would possibly as smartly be pictured subsequent to the phrase “cupcake” within the dictionary. The simplest video games price an eye fixed will likely be vs. Texas on Nov. 19 within the Empire Classic and vs. Kentucky — a part of an annual collection with its rival — on Dec. 21. The majority of the video games are snooze-fests. UMBC is picked to complete close to the ground of the America East and the Coppin State sport on Nov. 15 approach Louisville will face a workforce projected to be in competition for the fewest wins among all school hoops teams this season. Yuck!

Notable video games

Schedule ideas: Not the ugliest time table, however now not probably the most difficult, both. Oregon opens its season on a impartial courtroom Nov. 6 vs. Georgia within the Hall of Fame collection ahead of launching into 4 consecutive video games in opposition to teams ranked 150 or decrease in KenPom’s preseason metrics. There’s a superb opportunity the Ducks cross in to Pac-12 play at 10-0 relying on what occurs vs. UGA within the opener and what occurs vs. Michigan on Dec. 2. Don’t be fooled into pondering it approach a lot if that occurs. This time table is laughably cushy to open the 12 months.

Notable video games

• vs. Le Moyne (Nov. 7)
• vs. Holy Cross (Nov. 11)
• vs. American (Nov. 19)
• vs. Merrimack (Nov. 29)
• vs. Coppin State (Dec. 12)

Schedule ideas: First-year trainer Ed Cooley has so much to show round at Georgetown, and he has ensured himself a cushy begin to his tenure with a time table that are meant to be somewhat forgiving in his first season. Four of the workforce’s nonconference video games are in opposition to teams ranked 331 or worse in KenPom’s preseason scores, together with a gap sport vs. Le Moyne, which may well be in competition with Coppin State (every other workforce at the time table!) because the worst workforce within the game. Cooley will get a slight move right here, this being his first 12 months and all, however this cake stroll of a time table at a traditionally proud program like Georgetown may not fly transferring ahead. 

Notable video games

Schedule ideas: Tilts vs. Colorado State (Nov. 29) and Miami (Dec. 10) are not unhealthy solo video games, however the bulk of Colorado’s non-league time table isn’t nice! Outside the ones two, no opponent ranks most sensible 100 at KenPom ahead of convention play kicks up on Dec. 29. This Colorado workforce may wonder as an actual danger given the ability Tad Boyle has introduced again and taken in, but it surely does not really feel like we’re going to be informed a lot about this workforce till the beginning of 2024.