Ranking The Oklahoma State Basketball Non-Conference Games

Guys, we are talking about college basketball in July and not because we think the head man should be canned! OSU released its official 2016 non-conference basketball schedule recently (with Jeffrey Carroll curiously in a throwback uni, might I add), and I have thoughts.

But first, Underwood.

“Our goal was to build a non-conference schedule that would prepare our team for the rigors of the best basketball conference in the country,” Underwood said about OSU’s 2016 slate.

This sounds a lot (!) like what Travis Ford said last year.

“We wanted to construct a non-conference schedule that would prepare us for the rigors of the Big 12, and I feel like this schedule does just that,” said Ford in 2015.

Anyway, back to Underwood

“I think this schedule will not only do that, but will give our fans a chance to see us take on elite competition. In putting this schedule together, we’ve also begun talks to bring top quality opponents to Gallagher-Iba Arena in the coming seasons. We’re looking forward to once again making GIA the rowdiest arena in the country.”

Here is the full schedule.

https://twitter.com/coachhuddleston/status/751174222857187329

Let’s rank ’em.

1. Maui. If OSU does not play Chaminade in Round 1, it will play either UConn, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Oregon or Georgetown. I’m already excited about this. It will give Underwood a real idea of where he stands in Year 1. Of those teams, only Georgetown and Tennessee are not in Gary Parrish’s preseason Top 25.

2. Maryland. Speaking of Parrish’s Top 25, he has Maryland in the top 20. Melo Trimple is back. College Park rocks. I hope OSU exchanges home-and-homes with more teams like this in the near future.

3. Wichita St. This should have happened five years ago.

4. Arkansas. This should have happened 10 years ago. Oklahoma State and Arkansas should play non-conference in every sport that is not football, and they should play in football every 4-5 years.

5. Tulsa. Finished a full 43 spots ahead of OSU in Ken Pom’s final rankings last year. Also beat OSU last year. Playing Tulsa in hoops is different than football because you don’t have as much to lose. So I’m fine with it. But it’s still not the most enjoyable experience.

6. Texas A&M Corpus Christi. It drops off in a hurry after Tulsa.

7. Central Arkansas. Stephen F. beat them by 21 last year with Underwood. What will Oklahoma State do to them with Underwood?

8. Campbell. Had the 246th most efficient offense and 322nd most efficient defense in D1 basketball last year.

9. New Orleans. Thankfully Buddy Hield and Anthony Davis will not be involved.

10. Arkansas Pine-Bluff. We are playing all of the Arkansas teams. Real argument to be made that they were the worst D1 team last year. We beat them by 14. Army … Army (!) beat them by 21. They went 8-25 and had the No. 346 most efficient offense in D1 play. Also lost multiple games to Alabama A&M.

11. Rogers State. ?