Analyzing LSU women's basketball 2023-24 nonconference schedule: Good mix of matchups

As much was made about the strength of LSU women's basketball's nonconference schedule — or the lack thereof — last season, those same critics won't quite be able to berate the same point again in the 2023-24 season.

LSU dropped its full, 12-game nonconference slate Wednesday night and there are a few spots in the first couple of months of the season that should wet women's college basketball fans and pundits' appetite before Kim Mulkey and the Tigers, coming off their first NCAA championship in program history, reach Southeastern Conference play in January.

Things gets started in Sin City as LSU tips the season against Colorado in Las Vegas on Nov. 6 before unveiling its national championship banner at its first home game inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center three days later.

Let's breakdown LSU's nonconference schedule, the first portion in the quest for a repeat.

Final Four rematch vs. Virginia Tech, Colorado highlight tougher slate for LSU women's basketball

The Tigers didn't face a ranked opponent out of conference at all last year. That won't be the case this season as LSU will take on a ranked Colorado squad to open the 2023-24 season in Las Vegas on Nov. 6. The Buffaloes are coming off a Sweet 16 appearance, where it fell to Iowa, the eventual national runner-up. And the Buffs should be better this season as four starters return, including All-Pac-12 performers in guard Jaylyn Sherrod and center Quay Miller.

But the Colorado game will serve as an appetizer for the main, nonconference course for the Tigers when they welcome Virginia Tech to the PMAC for a Final Four rematch on Nov. 30. Georgia Amoore and Elizabeth Kitley are back for the Hokies, who were favored to beat LSU in the national semifinals a season ago. The two teams meet as part of the annual ACC/SEC Challenge, and the matchup will be the headliner of the showcase.

FINAL FOUR REMATCH Final Four rematch. LSU women's basketball, Virginia Tech to play in ACC/SEC Challenge

HAILEY VAN LITH Hailey Van Lith arrives on campus, completes Kim Mulkey's LSU women's basketball squad

In all, the Tigers face six teams that competed in a national postseason tournament last season (Colorado, Kent State at home Nov. 14, at Southeastern Louisiana on Nov. 17, both Niagara and Virginia in the Cayman Islands Classic Nov. 24 and Nov. 25 and Virginia Tech).

Kim Mulkey, Angel Reese going home

For the past few seasons, as recruiting on a national scale has really ramped up for women's basketball, a trend for teams to schedule a game in their players, or coaches', hometowns has surfaced, creating some awesome storylines.

LSU's schedule features a couple of those trips this season, starting with the team's trip to Tangipahoa Parish, the home of Mulkey, for the team's first true road game at Southeastern on Nov. 17.

Then on Dec. 20, LSU star Angel Reese will return home to play in front of her family and friends at Coppin State in Baltimore. It'll be the first time Reese will have played a basketball game in Baltimore since high school.

Big Louisiana flavor on LSU schedule

This season, the Tigers will play four instate schools, a highwater for the program under Mulkey.

Roughly a month after the trip to Southeastern Louisiana, LSU will host three straight in-state teams, starting with Louisiana Dec. 10, followed by McNeese State Dec. 12 then the trio of games rounded out with Northwestern State Dec. 17.

LSU women's basketball nonconference schedule for 2023-24 season

Oct. 26 East Texas Baptist (Exhibition) 7 p.m.

Nov. 1 Loyola-New Orleans (Exhibition) 7 p.m.

Nov. 6 Colorado (Las Vegas) 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 9 Queens (North Carolina) 7 p.m.

Nov. 12 Mississippi Valley State 2 p.m.

Nov. 14 Kent State 11 a.m.

Nov. 17 at Southeastern Louisiana 7 p.m.

Nov. 20 Texas Southern 7 p.m.

Nov. 24 Niagara (Cayman Islands Classic) 12:30 p.m.

Nov. 25 Virginia (Cayman Islands Classic) 4 p.m.

Nov. 30 Virginia Tech (ACC/SEC Challenge) 8 p.m.

Dec. 10 Louisiana 2 p.m.

Dec. 12 McNeese State 7 p.m.

Dec. 17 Northwestern State 2 p.m.

Dec. 20 at Coppin State TBD

Dec. 30 Jacksonville 7 p.m.

Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers and Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU/UL athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Analyzing LSU women's basketball 2023-24 nonconference schedule