The largest non-conference game of all WCC basketball teams in the 2024-25 season

The 2024-25 college basketball season begins in less than eight weeks, and most Division I programs have already finalized their non-conference schedules.

As anticipation builds for the new season, a quick look at the Week 1 schedule might take some of the edge off the excitement. There aren’t many matchups that jump out at you, with most of the high-profile games reserved for Feast Week and beyond, as players and coaches spend much of the early part of the season tinkering with lineups and plays before the rigors of conference play begin in December.

That’s especially true given the historic number of player and coaching turnovers the sport saw last season. Not to mention that conference realignment eliminated some opportunities in the top 25 matchups in November and December because some leagues had to add games to their regular season schedule to accommodate more members.

The West Coast Conference has done just that by adding Oregon State and Washington State as affiliate members, meaning the 11 schools will each play 18 games this season instead of 16.

Gonzaga men’s basketball head coach Mark Few noted that the expansion of the WCC has impacted his program’s scheduling, although the Bulldogs still managed to put some top programs on the schedule for the 2024-25 season.

Here’s a look at the most important non-league games for all WCC teams this season.

GONZAGA: VS UCONN; MADISON SQUARE GARDEN (DEC 14)

Mark Few and the Bulldogs face another challenging non-conference schedule this season, with many high-profile matchups played at numerous neutral sites.

The full 2024-25 schedule has yet to be confirmed, but there are currently three games against teams ranked in Bart Torvik’s top 25, all on neutral ground: UConn (No. 12), Baylor (No. 14) and Kentucky (No. 23). Depending on how the Battle 4 Atlantis bracket plays out, the Bulldogs will open with a matchup against West Virginia, followed by a date with either Indiana or Louisville, while a possible meeting with Arizona and Tommy Lloyd looms on the third day. There are also a couple of notable on-campus games against Arizona State (home, Nov. 10) and San Diego State (Nov. 18) to look forward to.

The game to remember, however, is the one against Dan Hurley and the Huskies in the most famous arena in the world.

“It’s the two-time champions in UConn; they’re playing in New York City, under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden,” said former Gonzaga All-American Dan Dickau. “They’ve already got some big challenges ahead of them, it looks like, Baylor, Arizona State, that Atlantis tournament; they’ve already got some really good tests behind them, so … the game on Dec. 14 is maybe the one I’m most excited about.”

SAINT MARY’S: VERSUS BOISE STATE; IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO (DEC 14)

The Gaels’ non-league schedule suggests Randy Bennett wants a chance at another top-five finish in the NCAA Tournament this season, but to do that, Saint Mary’s will need to take advantage of the few road games in November and December.

A neutral-site game against Nebraska, which just qualified for the postseason, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota (Nov. 17) and the Acrisure Classic in Palm Springs, Calif. (Nov. 28-29) are the highlights of the team’s November schedule. The only true road game on the schedule is at Utah (Dec. 7). Saint Mary’s, on the other hand, has eight home games, but only one (against Utah State, Dec. 22) is against a team ranked in the top 100 on Torvik.

That puts extra emphasis on the Dec. 14 game against Boise State in Idaho Falls, Idaho. The Broncos, making their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, are ranked 67th at Torvik and have a starting center back in Tyson Degenhart, the potential favorite for Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year, and O’Mar Stanley, who was named an All-Conference selection.

The loss to the Broncos last season preceded a streak of 21 wins in the next 22 games for the Gaels. With the final test coming about a month away, the next duel with Boise State should once again be crucial for Bennett and Co.

SANTA CLARA: VERSUS BRADLEY; HENDERSON, NEVADA (DEC 14)

Herb Sendek and the Broncos coaching staff have put together a non-league season schedule that’s chock full of potential career-enhancing victories. Right off the bat, two neutral-site games against Saint Louis (Sioux Falls, Nov. 4) and Arizona State (Las Vegas, Nov. 8) open the season for Santa Clara, which will also play a real road game against Nevada (Nov. 16) before the Acrisure Invitational (Nov. 28-29) in Palm Springs, where the Broncos will face a revamped TCU team and either Colorado State or Washington the next day.

The most important game for Sendek’s experienced squad, however, may be against Missouri Valley Conference favorite Bradley on a neutral site in mid-December, two weeks before WCC play begins. Bradley coach Brian Wardle lost leading scorer Connor Hickman and MVC Defensive Player of the Year Malevy Leons, though he brought back Duke Deen and Darius Hannah for another round. Deen was selected by the Blue Ribbon Yearbook as the MVC Player of the Year that season.

If Santa Clara gets at-large approval at all this season, it will be because it has beaten experienced teams like Bradley on the road.

SAN FRANCISCO: VS. CLEMSON; SUNSHINE SLAM (NOV. 25)

The Dons failed to capitalize on the few notable opportunities the team had outside of the league to earn a spot in the standings last season. San Francisco lost all three games against non-league opponents ranked in KenPom’s top 100, despite Chris Gerlufsen and the coaching staff putting together a more challenging schedule as Gerlufsen enters his third year at the helm of the program.

The Sunshine Slam, which begins with a game against Clemson, should be a worthy test for the Dons to start the season. The Tigers are No. 46 on Torvik and have returned most of the starters from last season’s Elite Eight team.

San Francisco also hosts Boise State (November 9) and Saint Louis (December 5). There will also be an away game at Bradley (December 18) and a neutral site game against Memphis (November 21) at Chase Center.

STATE OF WASHINGTON: @ NEVADA (DEC 2)

The Cougars’ nonconference schedule includes two neutral-site games against Iowa (Moline, Ill., Nov. 15) and Boise State (Idaho Central Arena, Dec. 7) and the Acrisure Holiday Invitational in Palm Desert, Calif. (Nov. 26-27). There aren’t many true road games, though; WSU will face hostile crowds twice this season when it plays away at Nevada (Dec. 2) and Washington (Dec. 18).

While the Apple Cup brings back nostalgic memories for many, facing the Wolf Pack this season could prove to be a bigger challenge for the Cougars. Steve Alford’s roster features seven players who are 22 years old or older, and Nick Davidson leads an experienced group that should be competitive in Mountain West play this season.

LOYOLA MARYMOUNT: @ SAINT LOUIS (NOV 16)

It’s difficult to judge a team’s second game of the season, as it’s the most important one on the schedule, but facing Robbie Avila and the Billikens could give Stan Johnson’s group some early momentum if they emerge from Saint Louis with a win.

The Billikens entered the season ranked in the Blue Ribbon Yearbook’s Top 25, thanks in large part to the coach/player combination of Avila and Josh Schertz. Together, the two led Indiana State to 32 wins and a run to the NIT semifinals after being denied a spot in the NCAA Tournament field.

Schertz also convinced Saint Louis’ top returner Gibson Jimerson to return for a fifth year and also acquired Isaiah Swope from Indiana State. The Billikens are ranked 109th on Torvik.

LMU also travels to Colorado State on the road (December 4) before returning home to host Nevada (December 7).

OREGON STATE: DIAMOND HEAD CLASSIC (DEC 22-25)

Wayne Tinkle’s team hasn’t won a single MTE game in the last three seasons. Of course, before WCC play begins, the Beavers could build some much-needed momentum with a strong showing at the Diamond Head Classic, which begins in Honolulu, Hawaii, with a game against Charleston (Dec. 22).

The next day, OSU could face either Loyola Chicago or Oakland, two mid-major schools that have had recent success in the NCAA tournament.

The Beavers also face North Texas on the road (November 25) and will play Oregon at some point during the season.

PORTLAND: @ OREGON (NOV. 12)

Shantay Legans’ young squad will have an opportunity to face a strong conference opponent as soon as November 12 when it faces same-state rival Oregon. The Ducks can call on several key players from last season’s NCAA Tournament squad, including Jackson Shelstad, Jadrian Tracey and Kwame Evans Jr., and have signed TJ Bamba through the transfer portal.

PACIFIC: @ UNLV (DEC. 14)

The Tigers’ non-league schedule in the first year of the Dave Smart era is certainly interesting, as Pacific will play two non-Division I schools in its first three games, followed by back-to-back road games at Arkansas and Missouri just two weeks later. There will also be back-to-back road games at Colorado (Dec. 2) and Illinois State (Dec. 7) before a crucial game against UNLV in Henderson, Nevada (Dec. 14).

That’s actually quite a list for a team that went 6-26 last year, although the Tigers already look very different under the legendary Canadian basketball coach. With a much-improved roster, there’s only one possibility for Pacific in the 2024-25 season. A win over UNLV on a neutral site would give Pacific plenty of momentum heading into WCC play.

SAN DIEGO: VERSUS GRAND CANYON; WEST COAST HOOPS SHOWCASE (DEC 28)

Steve Lavin’s program will get its first look at a future WCC opponent when it travels to Inglewood, Calif., to face Grand Canyon at the Intuit Dome in late December. The Toreros-Lopes game coincides with a high-profile game between Gonzaga and UCLA, which should bring some attention to San Diego.

Grand Canyon has made its second consecutive postseason appearance and will look to compete for the Western Athletic Conference title after returning league Player of the Year Tyon Grant-Foster and three other starters from last season’s 30-win team.

San Diego will also travel to Arizona State on December 3rd.

PEPPERDINE: ARIZONA TIP-OFF (NOV 29-30)

It will take some time before Ed Schilling and the Waves are in a position to challenge for a top spot in the WCC standings, as the head coach spent the entire offseason in his first year rebuilding the roster from scratch.

The Arizona Tip-Off provides Schilling’s team with an opportunity to build some momentum going forward. The MTE begins on November 29 with a game against New Mexico State.