Factoid: Upon announcing his commitment to Chris Collins & Northwestern in the Chicago Tribune, key in-state recruit Vic Law (St. Rita) said it's no longer gonna' be "the same old Northwestern" once he & his classmates arrive on campus.
Factoid: No shocker, another strong schedule for the Blue Devils. Coach K even has has two true road games this season.
Duke
1. @ Wisconsin (6)
2. vs. Michigan State (18)
3. vs. Connecticut (22)
4. Toledo (38)
5. vs. Stanford (41) -- projected Coaches vs. Cancer title-game opponent
6. @ Saint John's (67)
Average RPI of Projected Top 6 Opponents: 32
Nonconference Schedule Rankings (28 of 351)
1. Kentucky (22.833) 2. Duke (32)
3. Cincinnati (45.333)
4. Utah (49.666)
5. Creighton (61)
6. Wake Forest (64)
7. SMU (75.333)
8. Chicago State (76.333)
9. Seton Hall (76.833)
10. Grand Canyon (80.333)
11. Old Dominion (83.833)
12. North Dakota (84)
T-13. Brown (85.166)
T-13. Buffalo (85.166)
15. Yale (89)
16. Providence (91.166)
17. Baylor (94.5)
18. UCSB (98.333)
19. Illinois State (99.5)
20. Binghamton (106.333)
21. Washington State (114.5)
22. Navy (120.333)
23. UIC (123.333)
24. Wagner (131)
25. Northwestern (134.166)
26. Kent State (134.833)
27. Army (137.333)
28. Southern Illinois (182)
Nevada
1. Cal (63)
2. vs. Seton Hall (128)
3. @ Pacific (133)
4. @ Long Beach State (166)
5. vs. Old Dominion (170) -- projected Paradise Jam consolation-final opponent
6. Cal Poly (208)
Average RPI of Projected Top 6 Opponents: 144.666
Nonconference Schedule Rankings (32 of 351)
1. Kentucky (22.833)
2. Duke (32)
3. Cincinnati (45.333)
4. Utah (49.666)
5. Creighton (61)
6. Wake Forest (64)
7. Ole Miss (73.166)
8. SMU (75.333)
9. Chicago State (76.333)
10. Seton Hall (76.833)
11. Grand Canyon (80.333)
12. Old Dominion (83.833)
13. North Dakota (84)
T-14. Brown (85.166)
T-14. Buffalo (85.166)
16. Yale (89)
17. Providence (91.166)
18. Baylor (94.5)
19. South Dakota State (97.333)
20. UCSB (98.333)
21. Illinois State (99.5)
22. Binghamton (106.333)
23. Washington State (114.5)
24. Navy (120.333)
25. UIC (123.333)
26. Wagner (131)
27. Northwestern (134.166)
28. Kent State (134.833)
29. Army (137.333) 30. Nevada (144.666)
31. New Orleans (159.5)
32. Southern Illinois (182)
Factoid: Last season the Bulldogs finished with the second-worst RPI (#245) among all Power 6 conference teams.
Mississippi State
1. vs. Saint Louis (27)
2. Florida State (54)
3. @ Oregon State (100)
4. Utah State (116)
5. vs. SC-Upstate (163)
6. Arkansas State (180)
Average RPI of Projected Top 6 Opponents: 106.666
Nonconference Schedule Rankings (35 of 351)
1. Kentucky (22.833)
2. Duke (32)
3. Cincinnati (45.333)
4. Utah (49.666)
5. Creighton (61)
6. Wake Forest (64)
7. Ole Miss (73.166)
8. SMU (75.333)
9. Chicago State (76.333)
10. Seton Hall (76.833)
11. Grand Canyon (80.333)
12. Old Dominion (83.833)
13. North Dakota (84)
T-14. Brown (85.166)
T-14. Buffalo (85.166)
16. Yale (89)
17. Marshall (90.833)
18. Providence (91.166)
19. Baylor (94.5)
20. South Dakota State (97.333)
21. FDU (97.833)
22. UCSB (98.333)
23. Illinois State (99.5)
24. Binghamton (106.333) 25. Mississippi State (106.666)
26. Washington State (114.5)
27. Navy (120.333)
28. UIC (123.333)
29. Wagner (131)
30. Northwestern (134.166)
31. Kent State (134.833)
32. Army (137.333)
33. Nevada (144.666)
34. New Orleans (159.5)
35. Southern Illinois (182)
Factoid: The guard-heavy Explorers were among the nation's most disappointing teams in 2013-14, but they have a chance to bounce back in 2014-15 with a strong frontcourt tandem of Jerrell Wright and Steve Zack.
La Salle
1. Villanova (5)
2. vs. Virginia (8)
3. @ Towson (95)
4. @ Quinnipiac (105)
5. vs. Temple (175)
6. vs. Rutgers (192) -- projected Barclay's Center Classic consolation-final opponent
Average RPI of Projected Top 6 Opponents: 96.666
Nonconference Schedule Rankings (38 of 351)
1. Kentucky (22.833)
2. Duke (32)
3. Cincinnati (45.333)
4. Utah (49.666)
5. Creighton (61)
6. Wake Forest (64)
7. Ole Miss (73.166)
8. SMU (75.333)
9. Chicago State (76.333)
10. Seton Hall (76.833)
11. Grand Canyon (80.333)
12. Vermont (80.666)
13. Old Dominion (83.833)
14. North Dakota (84)
T-15. Brown (85.166)
T-15. Buffalo (85.166)
17. Yale (89)
18. Marshall (90.833)
19. Providence (91.166)
20. Baylor (94.5)
21. Central Arkansas (96.333) 22. La Salle (96.666)
23. South Dakota State (97.333)
24. FDU (97.833)
25. UCSB (98.333)
26. Illinois State (99.5)
27. Binghamton (106.333)
28. Mississippi State (106.666)
29. Washington State (114.5)
30. Navy (120.333)
31. UIC (123.333)
32. Wagner (131)
33. Northwestern (134.166)
34. Kent State (134.833)
35. Army (137.333)
36. Nevada (144.666)
37. New Orleans (159.5)
38. Southern Illinois (182)
Factoid: It's not very often one gets to host the defending national champion in a nonconference game, but that's what the Cardinal will do Jan. 17 when they welcome UConn to Maples Pavilion.
Stanford
1. vs. Duke (9) -- projected Coaches vs. Cancer title-game opponent
2. Connecticut (22)
3. @ BYU (31)
4. @ Texas (36)
5. vs. UNLV (108)
6. @ DePaul (154)
Average RPI of Projected Top 6 Opponents: 60
Nonconference Schedule Rankings (41 of 351)
1. Kentucky (22.833)
2. Duke (32)
3. Cincinnati (45.333)
4. Utah (49.666)
5. UC-Irvine (56.333) 6. Stanford (60)
7. Creighton (61)
8. Wake Forest (64)
9. Florida State (69.5)
10. Ole Miss (73.166)
11. SMU (75.333)
12. Chicago State (76.333)
13. Seton Hall (76.833)
14. Grand Canyon (80.333)
15. Vermont (80.666)
16. Old Dominion (83.833)
17. North Dakota (84)
T-18. Brown (85.166)
T-18. Buffalo (85.166)
20. Yale (89)
21. Marshall (90.833)
22. Providence (91.166)
23. Baylor (94.5)
24. Central Arkansas (96.333)
25. La Salle (96.666)
26. South Dakota State (97.333)
27. FDU (97.833)
28. UCSB (98.333)
29. Illinois State (99.5)
30. Binghamton (106.333)
31. Mississippi State (106.666)
32. Washington State (114.5)
33. Navy (120.333)
34. UIC (123.333)
35. Wagner (131)
36. Northwestern (134.166)
37. Kent State (134.833)
38. Army (137.333)
39. Nevada (144.666)
40. New Orleans (159.5)
41. Southern Illinois (182)
Bradley
1. @ Memphis (37)
2. @ Kansas State (51)
3. vs. UC-Irvine (111)
4. Robert Morris (129)
5. vs. TCU (212)
6. vs. Mississippi State (245) -- projected Corpus Christi Coastal Classic consolation-final opponent
Average RPI of Projected Top 6 Opponents: 130.833
Nonconference Schedule Rankings (42 of 351)
1. Kentucky (22.833)
2. Duke (32)
3. Cincinnati (45.333)
4. Utah (49.666)
5. UC-Irvine (56.333)
6. Stanford (60)
7. Creighton (61)
8. Wake Forest (64)
9. Florida State (69.5)
10. Ole Miss (73.166)
11. SMU (75.333)
12. Chicago State (76.333)
13. Seton Hall (76.833)
14. Grand Canyon (80.333)
15. Vermont (80.666)
16. Old Dominion (83.833)
17. North Dakota (84)
T-18. Brown (85.166)
T-18. Buffalo (85.166)
20. Yale (89)
21. Marshall (90.833)
22. Providence (91.166)
23. Baylor (94.5)
24. Central Arkansas (96.333)
25. La Salle (96.666)
26. South Dakota State (97.333)
27. FDU (97.833)
28. UCSB (98.333)
29. Illinois State (99.5)
30. Binghamton (106.333)
31. Mississippi State (106.666)
32. Washington State (114.5)
33. Navy (120.333)
34. UIC (123.333) 35. Bradley (130.833)
36. Wagner (131)
37. Northwestern (134.166)
38. Kent State (134.833)
39. Army (137.333)
40. Nevada (144.666)
41. New Orleans (159.5)
42. Southern Illinois (182)
Factoid: The Fighting Illini have three high-quality neutral-site games separate of their exempt tournament: Villanova (Jimmy V Classic in New York); Oregon (United Center); and Missouri (Braggin' Rights in Saint Louis).
Illinois
1. vs. Villanova (5)
2. vs. Oregon (28)
3. vs. Memphis (37) -- projected Las Vegas Invitational title-game opponent
4. vs. Missouri (49)
5. vs. Indiana State (71)
6. @ Miami-Florida (110)
Average RPI of Projected Top 6 Opponents: 50
Nonconference Schedule Rankings (43 of 351)
1. Kentucky (22.833)
2. Duke (32)
3. Cincinnati (45.333)
4. Utah (49.666) 5. Illinois (50)
6. UC-Irvine (56.333)
7. Stanford (60)
8. Creighton (61)
9. Wake Forest (64)
10. Florida State (69.5)
11. Ole Miss (73.166)
12. SMU (75.333)
13. Chicago State (76.333)
14. Seton Hall (76.833)
15. Grand Canyon (80.333)
16. Vermont (80.666)
17. Old Dominion (83.833)
18. North Dakota (84)
T-19. Brown (85.166)
T-19. Buffalo (85.166)
21. Yale (89)
22. Marshall (90.833)
23. Providence (91.166)
24. Baylor (94.5)
25. Central Arkansas (96.333)
26. La Salle (96.666)
27. South Dakota State (97.333)
28. FDU (97.833)
29. UCSB (98.333)
30. Illinois State (99.5)
31. Binghamton (106.333)
32. Mississippi State (106.666)
33. Washington State (114.5)
34. Navy (120.333)
35. UIC (123.333)
36. Bradley (130.833)
37. Wagner (131)
38. Northwestern (134.166)
39. Kent State (134.833)
40. Army (137.333)
41. Nevada (144.666)
42. New Orleans (159.5)
43. Southern Illinois (182)
South Carolina State
1. @ Virginia (8)
2. @ San Francisco (68)
3. @ Eastern Kentucky (97)
4. @ Washington (104)
5. @ Texas Tech (121)
6. @ Houston (143)
Average RPI of Projected Top 6 Opponents: 90.166
Nonconference Schedule Rankings (45 of 351)
1. Kentucky (22.833)
2. Duke (32)
3. Temple (34.333)
4. Cincinnati (45.333)
5. Utah (49.666)
6. Illinois (50)
7. UC-Irvine (56.333)
8. Stanford (60)
9. Creighton (61)
10. Wake Forest (64)
11. Florida State (69.5)
12. Ole Miss (73.166)
13. SMU (75.333)
14. Chicago State (76.333)
15. Seton Hall (76.833)
16. Grand Canyon (80.333)
17. Vermont (80.666)
18. Old Dominion (83.833)
19. North Dakota (84)
T-20. Brown (85.166)
T-20. Buffalo (85.166)
22. Yale (89) 23. South Carolina State (90.166)
24. Marshall (90.833)
25. Providence (91.166)
26. Baylor (94.5)
27. Central Arkansas (96.333)
28. La Salle (96.666)
29. South Dakota State (97.333)
30. FDU (97.833)
31. UCSB (98.333)
32. Illinois State (99.5)
33. Binghamton (106.333)
34. Mississippi State (106.666)
35. Washington State (114.5)
36. Navy (120.333)
37. UIC (123.333)
38. Bradley (130.833)
39. Wagner (131)
40. Northwestern (134.166)
41. Kent State (134.833)
42. Army (137.333)
43. Nevada (144.666)
44. New Orleans (159.5)
45. Southern Illinois (182)
Factoid: The Blue Hens will be without the services of do-all would-be senior guard Jarvis Threatt, who this summer was kicked off the team for UD rules violations. Threatt averaged 18 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 5.4 apg, and 2.5 spg. Ouch.
Delaware
1. @ Villanova (5)
2. @ Stanford (41)
3. Saint Bonaventure (89)
4. @ Robert Morris (129)
5. Temple (175)
6. @ Cal Poly (208)
Average RPI of Projected Top 6 Opponents: 107.833
Nonconference Schedule Rankings (46 of 351)
1. Kentucky (22.833)
2. Duke (32)
3. Temple (34.333)
4. Cincinnati (45.333)
5. Utah (49.666)
6. Illinois (50)
7. UC-Irvine (56.333)
8. Stanford (60)
9. Creighton (61)
10. Wake Forest (64)
11. Florida State (69.5)
12. Ole Miss (73.166)
13. SMU (75.333)
14. Chicago State (76.333)
15. Seton Hall (76.833)
16. Grand Canyon (80.333)
17. Vermont (80.666)
18. Old Dominion (83.833)
19. North Dakota (84)
T-20. Brown (85.166)
T-20. Buffalo (85.166)
22. Yale (89)
23. South Carolina State (90.166)
24. Marshall (90.833)
25. Providence (91.166)
26. Baylor (94.5)
27. Central Arkansas (96.333)
28. La Salle (96.666)
29. South Dakota State (97.333)
30. FDU (97.833)
31. UCSB (98.333)
32. Illinois State (99.5)
33. Binghamton (106.333)
34. Mississippi State (106.666) 35. Delaware (107.833)
36. Washington State (114.5)
37. Navy (120.333)
38. UIC (123.333)
39. Bradley (130.833)
40. Wagner (131)
41. Northwestern (134.166)
42. Kent State (134.833)
43. Army (137.333)
44. Nevada (144.666)
45. New Orleans (159.5)
46. Southern Illinois (182)
Comment: This nonconference schedule will look a lot stronger at the end of the season than it does now. Arkansas, Auburn, and Seton Hall all should make significant improvements.
Clemson
1. Arkansas (77)
2. vs. Seton Hall (128) -- projected Paradise Jam semifinal opponent
3. vs. Illinois State (134) -- projected Paradise Jam 3rd-place game opponent
4. @ South Carolina (140)
5. Auburn (169)
6. Rutgers (192)
Average RPI of Projected Top 6 Opponents: 140
Nonconference Schedule Rankings (48 of 351)
1. Kentucky (22.833)
2. Duke (32)
3. Temple (34.333)
4. Cincinnati (45.333)
5. Utah (49.666)
6. Illinois (50)
7. UC-Irvine (56.333)
8. Stanford (60)
9. Creighton (61)
10. Wake Forest (64)
11. Florida State (69.5)
12. Ole Miss (73.166)
13. SMU (75.333)
14. Chicago State (76.333)
15. Seton Hall (76.833)
16. Grand Canyon (80.333)
17. Vermont (80.666)
18. Old Dominion (83.833)
19. North Dakota (84)
T-20. Brown (85.166)
T-20. Buffalo (85.166)
22. Yale (89)
23. South Carolina State (90.166)
24. Marshall (90.833)
25. Providence (91.166)
26. Baylor (94.5)
27. Central Arkansas (96.333)
28. La Salle (96.666)
29. South Dakota State (97.333)
30. FDU (97.833)
31. UCSB (98.333)
32. Illinois State (99.5)
33. Binghamton (106.333)
34. Mississippi State (106.666)
35. Delaware (107.833)
36. Boston U (110)
37. Washington State (114.5)
38. Navy (120.333)
39. UIC (123.333)
40. Bradley (130.833)
41. Wagner (131)
42. Northwestern (134.166)
43. Kent State (134.833)
44. Army (137.333) 45. Clemson (140)
46. Nevada (144.666)
47. New Orleans (159.5)
48. Southern Illinois (182)
Comment: This is a rock-solid slate put together my Mark Gottfried. It's easy to respect coaches from 2nd-tier major programs willing to schedule a few home opponents capable of knocking off the home team. ... and not even included here is Richmond.
NC State
1. Cincinnati (21)
2. Tennessee (42)
3. Louisiana Tech (62)
4. Boise State (82)
5. vs. West Virginia (88)
6. @ Purdue (145)
Average RPI of Projected Top 6 Opponents: 73.333
Nonconference Schedule Rankings (49 of 351)
1. Kentucky (22.833)
2. Duke (32)
3. Temple (34.333)
4. Cincinnati (45.333)
5. Utah (49.666)
6. Illinois (50)
7. UC-Irvine (56.333)
8. Stanford (60)
9. Creighton (61)
10. Wake Forest (64)
11. Florida State (69.5)
12. Ole Miss (73.166) 13. NC State (73.333)
14. SMU (75.333)
15. Chicago State (76.333)
16. Seton Hall (76.833)
17. Grand Canyon (80.333)
18. Vermont (80.666)
19. Old Dominion (83.833)
20. North Dakota (84)
T-21. Brown (85.166)
T-21. Buffalo (85.166)
23. Yale (89)
24. South Carolina State (90.166)
25. Marshall (90.833)
26. Providence (91.166)
27. Baylor (94.5)
28. Central Arkansas (96.333)
29. La Salle (96.666)
30. South Dakota State (97.333)
31. FDU (97.833)
32. UCSB (98.333)
33. Illinois State (99.5)
34. Binghamton (106.333)
35. Mississippi State (106.666)
36. Delaware (107.833)
37. Boston U (110)
38. Washington State (114.5)
39. Navy (120.333)
40. UIC (123.333)
41. Bradley (130.833)
42. Wagner (131)
43. Northwestern (134.166)
44. Kent State (134.833)
45. Army (137.333)
46. Clemson (140)
47. Nevada (144.666)
48. New Orleans (159.5)
49. Southern Illinois (182)
Colorado State
1. @ Colorado (34)
2. @ New Mexico State (72)
3. Georgia State (76)
4. vs. Missouri State (85)
5. UTEP (103)
6. vs. UCSB (107) -- projected Great Alaska Shootout title-game opponent
Average RPI of Projected Top 6 Opponents: 79.5
Nonconference Schedule Rankings (51 of 351)
1. Kentucky (22.833)
2. Duke (32)
3. Temple (34.333)
4. Cincinnati (45.333)
5. Utah (49.666)
6. Illinois (50)
7. UC-Irvine (56.333)
8. Stanford (60)
9. Creighton (61)
10. Wake Forest (64)
11. Florida State (69.5)
12. Ole Miss (73.166)
13. NC State (73.333)
14. SMU (75.333)
15. Chicago State (76.333)
16. Seton Hall (76.833) 17. Colorado State (79.5)
18. Grand Canyon (80.333)
19. Vermont (80.666)
20. Old Dominion (83.833)
21. North Dakota (84)
T-22. Brown (85.166)
T-22. Buffalo (85.166)
24. Yale (89)
25. South Carolina State (90.166)
26. Marshall (90.833)
27. Providence (91.166)
28. Baylor (94.5)
29. Central Arkansas (96.333)
30. La Salle (96.666)
31. South Dakota State (97.333)
32. FDU (97.833)
33. UCSB (98.333)
34. Illinois State (99.5)
35. Binghamton (106.333)
36. Mississippi State (106.666)
37. Delaware (107.833)
38. Boston U (110)
39. Washington State (114.5)
40. Navy (120.333)
41. UIC (123.333)
42. Bradley (130.833)
43. Wagner (131)
44. Northwestern (134.166)
45. Kent State (134.833)
46. Army (137.333)
47. Clemson (140)
48. Nevada (144.666)
49. New Orleans (159.5)
50. Southern Illinois (182)
51. Duquesne (195)
Weber State
1. @ Oklahoma (26)
2. BYU (31)
3. @ Utah State (116)
4. vs. Illinois State (134)
5. Utah Valley (144)
6. vs. Old Dominion (170) -- projected Paradise Jam consolation semifinal opponent
Average RPI of Projected Top 6 Opponents: 103.5
Nonconference Schedule Rankings (56 of 351)
1. Kentucky (22.833)
2. Duke (32)
3. Temple (34.333)
4. Cincinnati (45.333)
5. Utah (49.666)
6. Illinois (50)
7. UC-Irvine (56.333)
8. Stanford (60)
9. Creighton (61)
10. Wake Forest (64)
11. Florida State (69.5)
12. Ole Miss (73.166)
13. NC State (73.333)
14. SMU (75.333)
15. Chicago State (76.333)
16. Seton Hall (76.833)
17. Colorado State (79.5)
18. Grand Canyon (80.333)
19. Vermont (80.666)
20. Old Dominion (83.833)
21. North Dakota (84)
T-22. Brown (85.166)
T-22. Buffalo (85.166)
24. Yale (89)
25. South Carolina State (90.166)
26. Marshall (90.833)
27. Providence (91.166)
28. Baylor (94.5)
29. Central Arkansas (96.333)
30. La Salle (96.666)
31. South Dakota State (97.333)
32. Saint Bonaventure (97.666)
33. FDU (97.833)
34. UCSB (98.333)
35. Illinois State (99.5) 36. Weber State (103.5)
37. Texas-Arlington (103.666)
38. Binghamton (106.333)
39. Mississippi State (106.666)
40. Delaware (107.833)
41. Boston U (110)
42. Washington State (114.5)
43. Navy (120.333)
44. UIC (123.333)
45. Bradley (130.833)
46. Wagner (131)
47. Northwestern (134.166)
48. Kent State (134.833)
49. Army (137.333)
50. Clemson (140)
51. Nevada (144.666)
52. New Orleans (159.5)
53. Appalachian State (161.5)
54. Southern Illinois (182)
55. Duquesne (195)
56. Texas State (218.166)