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What we know about Nevada basketball's 2023-24 non-conference … – Nevada Sports Net
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by Chris Murray
Schedule guru Rocco Miller dropped another Nevada men's basketball non-conference nugget Tuesday with the Wolf Pack playing UC Davis, which boasts former Nevada player Kane Milling.
That is the ninth reported non-conference game from Nevada's 2023-24 schedule that has been dropped, a list that includes six contests with firm teams plus three to-be-determined opponents in the Diamond Head Classic.
The Wolf Pack can play up to 13 non-conference games, meaning there are four unreported teams on the schedule, which is not yet complete. Nevada will almost certainly play a non-Division I team during the regular season, which has been normal protocol under fifth-year head coach Steve Alford. The Wolf Pack also owes a road game to North Texas, although that could be shifted to next season.
The shape of Nevada's 2023-24 schedule is mostly in place and includes regional teams Sacramento State, Pacific and UC Davis (all at Lawlor Events Center) among a slew of low-major Western-based teams that also include contests with Montana and Hawaii. That's two Big Sky teams (Sacramento State, Montana), two Big West teams (UC Davis, Hawaii) and a West Coast Conference team (Pacific).
Nevada's schedule, as leaked thus far, is headlined by the Pac-12's Washington, albeit a Huskies team that went 16-16 overall and 8-12 in the Pac-12 last season, tying for eighth in the league. The Diamond Head Classic also features a pair of power-conference teams in TCU (an NCAA Tournament team last year) and Georgia Tech (the Yellowjackets finished 13th in the 15-team ACC).
Here's the schedule and dates we know thus far.
Nov. 7: vs. Sacramento State (season opener) — KenPom 228
Nov. 12: at Washington — KenPom 107
Nov. 15: vs. Pacific — KenPom 192
Nov. 29: vs. Montana — KenPom 164
Dec. 6: vs. UC Davis — KenPom 159
Dec. 18: at Hawaii — KenPom 130
Dec. 21-24: at Diamond Head Classic (three TBD games against TCU, Georgia Tech, Portland, Old Dominion, Temple, UMass and one unnamed team)
Assuming Nevada adds North Texas and a non-Division I school to the schedule, that'd leave two more unknown games. Thus far, Nevada's 2023-24 non-league schedule lacks a top-100 KenPom team from last season. Even the Diamond Head Classic's current field includes only one top-100 KenPom team from last season (TCU). Adding North Texas (KenPom of 31 last year) this year would beef up the schedule, but given Nevada has an NCAA Tournament-caliber roster, the schedule does seem to lack one or two marquee matchups, which could still be added with the remaining open dates.
Nevada has put together competitive non-conference strength of schedule marks in recent years. Last season, the Wolf Pack's non-league strength of schedule, per KenPom, was No. 62. The year before, it was No. 64, although that was bolstered by an in-season add of Kansas, the eventual national champions. The Wolf Pack had non-league strength of schedules of No. 106 and No. 113 in Alford's first two seasons with the Wolf Pack. That's an average non-league strength of schedule of No. 86 under Alford, which is better than what the Wolf Pack had during Eric Musselman's four seasons (an average of No. 106), so history says Nevada should emerge with a decent strength of schedule when all is said and done, in large part because it avoids games with sub-200 KenPom teams.
Columnist Chris Murray provides insight on Northern Nevada sports. Contact him at crmurray@sbgtv.com or follow him on Twitter @ByChrisMurray.