Non-conference scheduling studs and duds: Mountain West
Since most of this coming season's non-conference schedules have finally been released, it's a good time to assess whose slates are the most daunting and who didn't challenge themselves enough. Yahoo Sports will go league-by-league the next two weeks. Up next: The Mountain West.
Toughest non-league schedule: UNLV or San Diego State
In a league in which many teams try to pile up non-conference wins against suspect competition, UNLV and San Diego State continue to be the obvious exceptions. The Rebels and Aztecs aren't afraid to test themselves every November and December against some of the nation's marquee programs.
The highlights of San Diego State's schedule this year are a home game against perennial Big 12 champ Kansas, a road game at Pac-12 contender Utah and Las Vegas tournament featuring three potential NCAA tournament teams. The Aztecs open with resurgent California and face either West Virginia or Richmond the second day.
UNLV's non-league schedule is even tougher. There are road games at national powers Wichita State and Arizona. There are games in Las Vegas against Pac-12 foes Arizona State and Oregon. And looming Thanksgiving week is the Maui Invitational, where the Rebels open with UCLA and could see Kansas, Indiana, Vanderbilt or Wake Forest later in the tournament.
Of the rest of the Mountain West, the team whose schedule is uncharacteristically formidable is Boise State. A visit from Oregon, a road game at Arizona and the Wooden Legacy tournament in Anaheim ought to provide the Broncos with plenty of early challenges.
Easiest non-league schedule: Wyoming
Few teams have it any harder than Wyoming when it comes to persuading quality opponents to agree to a home-and-home series. Between bad weather, the lack of an airport in Laramie and the Cowboys' 60-15 record at home the past four seasons, name-brand programs continue to believe that the risks of scheduling Wyoming outweigh the rewards.
Those issues undoubtedly contributed to Wyoming's latest lackluster schedule this season. Aside from a Dec. 5 home game against Cal, the Cowboys don't play a single major-conference opponent. Their other most significant non-conference games are visits to Indiana State and New Mexico State and a tournament featuring Marshall, Houston and Grand Canyon.
That's a soft schedule for any Mountain West program — let alone one that won the league tournament this past season — but it could work in Wyoming's favor in some respects this season. The Cowboys are likely to take a big step backward this year with four of five starters graduating from last year's NCAA tournament team.
Team taking a risk with its schedule: UNLV
Two straight years without an NCAA tournament bid has ratcheted up the pressure on UNLV coach Dave Rice entering the new season. Therefore, Rice is taking a tremendous risk putting together the formidable schedule described above in a make-or-break season for him and his staff.
The good news for Rice is UNLV has the talent to do some damage despite the loss of first-round draft pick Rashad Vaughn and undrafted forward Christian Wood. Anchoring UNLV's frontcourt will be elite incoming freshman Stephen Zimmerman, former Oregon transfer Ben Carter and ex-top 100 recruits Goodluck Okonoboh and Dwayne Morgan. Patrick McCaw is the Rebels' most proven perimeter weapon, but Rutgers transfer Jerome Seagears, sharpshooter Jordan Cornish and incoming freshmen Jaylen Posner and Derrick Jones should offer support.
Rice's scheduling philosophy has resulted in high-profile victories against North Carolina and Arizona during his tenure, but it has also taken a toll in other years too. UNLV will have to hope its newcomers mesh with its returners in time to do some damage in Maui and against some of the tough December opponents.
Three Mountain West non-conference games to watch:
1. Kansas at San Diego State, Dec. 22: The Aztecs will have the attention of the Jayhawks after doing the improbable last year and springing an upset in Lawrence. San Diego State figures to be formidable yet again defensively next season, but it will need a breakout season from Malik Pope and more consistent production from Winston Shepard and Trey Kell to take a step forward offensively.
2. Boise State at Arizona, Nov. 19: Will Boise State challenge San Diego State for the Mountain West crown despite the loss of last year's leading scorer Derrick Marks? This mid-November matchup should provide an early barometer. Arizona lost four of its five starters from last year's Elite Eight team, but the Wildcats will reload behind returners Kaleb Tarczewski and Gabe York and a slew of talented transfers and freshmen.
3. UNLV vs. UCLA, Nov. 23: This compelling opening-round Maui Invitational matchup is critical for both programs. The winner likely gets a no-pressure crack at Kansas the following night and a chance for another quality win on day three. The loser almost certainly draws Division II Chaminade the next day and then will have to wait until day three to see if it can avoid leaving Maui without a single win of significance.
Game that should have been scheduled but wasn't: New Mexico-UCLA.
Steve Alford led New Mexico to four conference titles and three NCAA tournament appearances in his six seasons in Albuquerque, yet the timing of his departure left some sour feelings among Lobos fans. Would he be cheered or jeered in a return to the Pit as head coach at UCLA? It's a question we'll probably never answer because Alford has no incentive to schedule a home-and-home series with the Lobos, especially as long as close friend Craig Neal is still the coach.
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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
