Non-Conference Schedule Released

Yesterday Xavier released the 2013-14 season non-conference schedule. Featuring prominently are the Crosstown Shootout against Big East power UC on December 14th, as well as an intriguing tilt at Alabama and, of course, the Skip Prosser Classic. Notable on the schedule is the fact that Xavier will play just the one true road game at Alabama. While not quite a Syracusian refusal to leave New York, it is certainly a comment on the power of the program that major non-conference road games need be a part of November and December.

Another large chunk of the non-conference schedule is the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas on Thanksgiving weekend. Evidently, Thanksgiving must be Coach Mack's least favorite holiday because he seems determined not to be home to celebrate it. (Incidentally, this just cements the holiday as our favorite. Trading football, butt fumbles aside, for Xavier basketball is a step up). In the B4A tournament lineup are Kansas, Iowa, Tennessee, USC, Villanova, Wake Forest, and UTEP. Keen observers will note that Tennessee, Villanova, and Wake Forest are already sure Xavier opponents for this season. The thought of meeting Kansas with a massive RPI boost on the line is certainly a nice one.

The entire slate is as follows:

Sat., Nov. 2 vs. Exhibition game TBA
Fri., Nov. 8 vs. Gardner-Webb
Tues., Nov. 12 vs. Tennessee
Fri., Nov. 15 vs. Morehead State
Tues., Nov. 19 vs. Miami (Ohio)
TBD: Battle 4 Atlantis home game
Thur., Nov. 28 vs. Battle 4 Atlantis in The Bahamas
Fri., Nov. 29 vs. Battle 4 Atlantis in The Bahamas
Sat., Nov. 30 vs. Battle 4 Atlantis in The Bahamas
Sat., Dec. 7 vs. Bowling Green
Tues., Dec. 10 vs. Evansville
Sat., Dec. 14 vs. Cincinnati at U.S. Bank Arena
Sat., Dec. 21 at Alabama
Sat., Dec. 28 vs. Wake Forest

Beginning on Friday we will break down every single non-conference opponent.