2011's Top-20 Must Watch Non-Conference Matchups

With only one day remaining until the first official tip of the 2011-2012 college basketball season (William & Mary at St. John’s at 7pm, Nov. 7th), it’s time to roll out Swoosh Nation’s compilation of the top-20 non conference battles you must watch this season.

And why wouldn’t you? Unless you know something that I don’t, it looks like we won’t be able to watch much NBA basketball before Christmas. So, unless you’re cool with settling for forced collections of NBA stars playing pickup games in front of a couple thousand fans, there is no reason not to circle these dates on your calendar and enjoy the best teams and the most fascinating matchups this college hoops season has to offer.

If I’m missing any or you think the order is out of whack, feel free to leave a note below:

20. Arizona at Florida, Dec. 7th:

This is an intriguing matchup of two preseason top 25 teams that are equals in talent but not experience. A tough road environment for Sean Miller’s young Wildcat backcourt might, especially only one month into the season, gives the Gators an edge here.

19. Vanderbilt at Marquette, Dec. 29th:

John Jenkins and Darius Johnson-Odom, two of the best pure scorers in the country, face off in this clash of two teams that figure to be in the top-tier of their respective leagues. Games like this one are giant seed-boosters on Selection Sunday.

18. Butler at Gonzaga, Dec. 20th:

This might not seem like a top-20 caliber matchup at first glance, but take a step back and try to appreciate the storyline here: the original giant-slayer (remember way back when mid-majors winning first round Tournament games was a big deal?) versus the team that shattered traditional expectations for smaller schools by reaching consecutive Final Fours. Sound like fun?

17. Michigan v. Memphis, Nov. 21st:

Not only will this game be played in the lovely and always thrilling basketball setting of Maui, but it is a first-round contest. Yes, the preseason tournament is so loaded this season that two fast-rising top-20 programs are playing each other in an opening round clash. Hooray for Feast Week.

16. Gonzaga v. Arizona, Dec. 17th:

I’m always a sucker for a nice little West Coast battle, and I don’t expect this game to disappoint me. This “Battle for Seattle” is played at Key Arena, so technically this is a “neutral” contest. For the still maturing Wildcats, every mile away from the intimidating Kennel in Spokane helps. ‘Zona is more talented than the ‘Zags, so I expect Sean Miller’s team to come away with this one.

15. Texas A&M at Florida, Dec 17th:

The Aggies are my pick to win the Big 12 this season. If Texas A&M is as good as I and many others think they are, they will come away from the Swamp with a victory. As good as Florida’s backcourt will be, its frontcourt depth remains a concern. Patrick Young won’t be able to match the production of Khris Middleon and David Loubeau alone.

14. Florida State at Florida, Dec. 20th:

Quite a few snazzy non-conference home matchups for the Gators this year, huh? Billy Donovan always challenges his squad, and this rivalry game might be the steepest test of them all. Florida State, confident and energized after its Sweet 16 run last spring, should be plenty motivated in its chance to prove the Seminoles are the Sunshine State’s elite college basketball team. Expect a defensive slugfest.

13. Gonzaga at Xavier, Dec 31st:

For a team that is not considered a true national contender this season, Gonzaga is sure on my list a lot. But as a former mid-major athlete, I’m not sure I love anything more in college basketball than when powerhouse mid-majors agree to face each other. A win here looks fantastic come March as well, especially if one of these teams slips up in its conference tournament. Tu Holloway and Mark Lyons should overwhelm an inexperienced ‘Zags backcourt in this match.

12. Xavier at Vanderbilt, Nov. 28th:

Who wants more Musketeers! This game was notable because it was supposed to be Vandy star big man Festus Ezeli’s first game back suspension. Now that the All-American candidate has sprained the MCL and PCL his right knee, he might not appear in this monster A-10-SEC clash either. Xavier will easily be the Commodores’ greatest test to date, so you can imagine Kevin Stallings would like to have his roster at full strength by the 28th.

11. Ohio State at Kansas, Dec. 10th:

Those names are just nice to look at next to each other, aren’t they? Each school happens to field a fairly solid basketball team this year as well. Watching Jared Sullinger and Thomas Robinson go at it on the block should be enough to grab your attention, but this game is also an opportunity for the somewhat overlooked Jayhawks to prove they are still Big 12 contenders.

10. Wisconsin at North Carolina, Nov. 30th:

Though they play different positions, obviously, Jordan Taylor and Harrison Barnes will be squaring off in an early-season matchup of player-of-the-year favorites. I’m curious to see how Bo Ryan plans on slowing down Roy Williams’ horses in this one. Bo always has something up his sleeve.

9. Florida at Syracuse, Dec. 2nd:

This is a huge non-conference home game for the Orange while Florida ventures out on the road for an intra-conference clash. Billy Donovan couldn’t have picked a more difficult matchup for his team. The Orange, as usual, are overflowing with long and rangy bigs (they aren’t too shabby in the backcourt either) while the Gators strength, like we mentioned, is in the backcourt.

8. Kansas v. Kentucky, Nov. 15:

This potentially epic game is the conclusion of ESPN’s 24 hours of hoops marathon that will be continuously streaming through my Vizio in a couple of weeks. There is no better stage than Madison Square Garden for a team to announce its arrival to the college basketball world: I think this will be that moment for Kentucky’s group of ridiculously talented freshmen.

7. Duke v. Michigan State, Nov. 15:

Game one of the MSG double-header on the 15th, this will be our first chance to see Austin Rivers tested by a nationally ranked and stout defense. You know Tom Izzo will devise some sort of game plan to test the mettle of the Blue Devils’ confident freshman gunner.

6. Vanderbilt at Louisville, Dec. 2nd:

The main event of the occasionally questionable SEC/Big East Challenge will be worth your time. Top-10 squads separated by a couple hundred miles will battle at the Yum Center. A potential matchup of Peyton Siva and John Jenkins is delicious indeed.

5. Cincinnati at Xavier, Dec. 10th:

Why so high for the Bearcats and Musketeers, you ask? Well, for one the Crosstown Shootout is must-watch TV, regardless of the talent or ranking of the squads involved. With both teams entering this season with fairly similar lofty expectations, this is not only a bitter Cincinnati rivalry, but also a crucial quality matchup with NCAA Tournament implications. Mark your calendars, ladies and gents.

4. North Carolina v. Michigan State, Nov 11th:

This game is being played on a boat. Doesn’t do it for you? Okay … it’s on an aircraft carrier. If you’re one of those hard to please folks, and it’s still not enough for you, how about this: said aircraft carrier was the vessel that buried Osama Bin Laden’s at sea. There is nothing more American than a basketball game on a ship that has recently disposed of one of the most dangerous men in the world. North Carolina and Michigan State aren’t bad theatre either.

3. Duke at Ohio State, Nov. 29th:

Here is your feature ACC/Big Ten matchup. Will Jarred Sullinger plow through the Duke frontcourt like so many did towards the end of last season, or will some combination of Ryan Kelly and the brothers Plumlee (there’s three of them now) bother the Wooden Award candidate into a frustrating game. You need to tune in to find out.

2. Louisville at Kentucky, Dec. 31st:

This is a fiery inter-state rivalry … always has been. John Calipari and Rick Pitino poured a couple dozen gallons of gasoline on that fire with their amusing and increasingly vitriolic verbal back and forth this summer/fall. Who’s down for New Year’s Eve in Lexington?

1. North Carolina at Kentucky, Dec. 3rd:

Duh. The only team in the nation that can match the Tarheels’ lineup player-for-player is Kentucky. Does North Carolina’s clear edge in experience give it an advantage in this clash even though the game will be in Rupp Arena? For what it’s worth, I say yes. The only way this game could be any bigger is if it took place the first weekend of April in New Orleans … there’s a good chance we’ll see that matchup as well.