The perfect schedule

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Now we know why Memphis’ men’s basketball program is going through a shakeup: There are allegations of “widespread potential rules violations in the program,” per Pat Forde of SI.com.

These violations reportedly occurred in 2020 and 2022 and involved the recruitment of two players, along with allegations of academic violations in 2023-24. The NCAA is aware of the letter, but the allegations have not been independently substantiated.

The school and program had no comment.

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1. Auburn will be awesome. Will its record reflect it?

Developing a non-conference schedule is a fine art. Some programs have always overloaded November and December with challenges (think Gonzaga or Michigan State), but for different reasons (the Zags need to burnish before WCC play, while Tom Izzo is seemingly just a glutton for punishment has no fear).

It varies by power conference teams. Big-name schools usually have marquee matchups (Duke is even playing away from Cameron!), but you don’t want to overdo it before conference play begins, especially if you’re a Big 12 or SEC team. There are rarely breaks in those leagues.

Maybe that’s why I’m fascinated by Auburn’s non-conference schedule. This, my college hoops-loving friends, is an excellent schedule.

Vermont always wins the America East. That’s a perfect home opener. Then a likely Top 10 showdown vs. Houston before a pair of Top 200 teams in Kent State and North Alabama before heading to Maui where Auburn faces another Top 10 team in Iowa State (and likely two more if it wins that game).

Then it’s Duke at Cameron, Richmond and Ohio State before sandwiching Purdue around a couple 200+ programs.

That’s a schedule that includes 6-7 Top 25 matchups (depending on Ohio State and if Auburn wins its Maui opener), and no sub-300 programs. And that’s before SEC play begins.

Maybe that’s why Barttorvik projects the Tigers as No. 7 next season — but with an 18-10 record. They’re gonna take some losses, so don’t overlook them if they don’t boast a gaudy record. (Reminds me of Alabama last season when the Tide lost five non-conference games and entered the NCAA Tournament with 11 losses. Seemed to work out.)

Besides, as Jeff Goodman and Matt McCall discuss in our Offseason Grades series, the Tigers have enough talent and the right pieces to emerge with plenty of wins.

I’m in agreement that Johni Broome will be awesome. Like, All-American and NPOY-worthy awesome. And with a reliable, experienced point guard at the helm in JP Pegues, this is a squad that’ll challenge Alabama in the SEC.

They’ll certainly have been battle tested.

2. No shortage of schedule updates

Auburn wasn’t alone in releasing its schedule on Wednesday.

UConn, Arizona State, Penn State and Iowa all dropped non-conference schedules, while several other programs unveiled their full 2024-25 slates. Here’s a primer.

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