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A scheduling gem
The 'Diamond Cup' will feature some of college hoops' elite programs starting in 2027-28 season. Plus: other scheduling news to know, UNLV's 4-star addition, recruiting news, Will Wade latest international add, and much more.
Samuel Lance
May 21, 2026
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1. Diamond Cup set to elevate future Novembers
College basketball’s non-conference slate may be getting a huge boost in years to come.
According to CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander, an eight-team event called the “Diamond Cup” is being planned for the 2027-28 season, featuring Arizona, Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina and UConn.
The event is designed to elevate the opening month of the college basketball season, and participating schools reportedly are set to receive multi-million dollar payouts, plus equity in the event.
While there are still logistics to work out such as media rights, the games will be played on neutral courts making those broadcasting opportunities more flexible. Per CBS Sports, this is how organizers envisioned the event in their pitch to schools:
"As the first shared-equity alliance in college sports, the Diamond Cup creates deep institutional alignment and reimagines the beginning of the season for college basketball.”
“33 days, six playing dates, three iconic cities, eight blue blood programs, and 16 high-stakes men's basketball games that will reshape the non-conference calendar for years to come. Each school plays four Diamond Cup games (3 regular season/1 exhibition) in pool play format from October thru Thanksgiving Week — in three neutral site cities.”
If this all comes together as planned, we’re in for a heck of an opening month of college basketball for year’s to come.
More scheduling news:
Kansas and Villanova finalized a home-and-home series starting inside Allen Fieldhouse on Nov. 27. The return game at Villanova will be Nov. 2027.
UConn will host Purdue for a preseason exhibition on Oct. 27.
DePaul and Saint Louis are finalizing a home-and-home series. It’s expected to start in Saint Louis on Dec. 12 and end at DePaul in 2027-28.
Gonzaga and Kentucky mutually agreed to end a six-year non-conference series that started in 2022.
The CAA announced its league play opponents.
2. Another day, another LSU commit
We’ve started the past two newsletters discussing Will Wade’s roster build at LSU, which many have dubbed unethical as the Tigers continue to stack former professional talent without eligibility.
Still, that hasn’t stopped Wade from moving forward. His latest pickup is another former pro from overseas.
