- The Field of 68 Daily
- Posts
- No schedule savvy
No schedule savvy
Are Big East programs like Xavier, Georgetown and Butler making a mistake with a lack of Quad 1 games during their non-conference slate? Plus: five players ready for a big return in 2025-26, teams in new conferences likely to thrive, a Zags-UCLA date and some NCAA tourney (non) news.
Tristan Freeman
July 11, 2025
In partnership with
Thursday’s biggest news turned out to be no news. More specifically, no NCAA Tournament expansion news.
Statement from NCAA Senior VP of Basketball Dan Gavitt:
“The NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Committees met this week. The topic of expanding the field for each championship was discussed at length but no decision or recommendation was made. The still viable
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta)
9:06 PM • Jul 10, 2025
Based on fan reaction to potential expansion, it was a decision that avoided any backlash. For now. As Gavitt noted, expansion is “still viable.”
Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.
1. Early warning signs for Big East non-con scheduling
Earlier this week, Butler announced its 2025-26 non-conference schedule. And it was filled with Quad 4 games. Thursday brought another Big East team with a less-than impressive slate.
⚔️ | Mark your calendars! The complete non-conference schedule is out.
✍️ | bit.ly/4kyN0Ob
#LetsGoX
— Xavier Basketball (@XavierMBB)
8:09 PM • Jul 10, 2025
At first glance, there are six likely Quad 4 games in the group, while Santa Clara serving as probable Quad 3 game. The two high-major opponents are Iowa and Cincinnati, both of which missed the 2025 NCAA Tournament. There’s also the Charleston Classic, where the Musketeers will face two of Clemson, Georgia, and West Virginia. None of those are Quad 1 locks.
The reality is that this isn’t a strong non-con schedule. Yes, it’s a new roster (10 transfers) and a new coach in Richard Pitino, so going through a gauntlet could be a detriment. But it’s a schedule that doesn’t allow for any non-conference missteps because there isn’t a huge number of Quad 1 games that can bolster an NCAA Tournament resume.
In fact, with Xavier, Butler and Georgetown’s completed schedules, the Big East has three teams that could have wins, but records that won’t impress the NET. The league’s one saving grace so far has been Marquette, whose schedule includes Purdue, Indiana, Maryland, and Wisconsin.
Is it a coincidence that Marquette, St. John’s, Creighton, and UConn are the league’s strongest teams and also feature the strongest schedules? Probably not.
2. Five players more than ready for returns to the court
Gonzaga wing Gonzaga wing Steele Venters was cleared earlier this month for a return to the court. He hasn’t played a game in more than two years — and never at Gonzaga. The former Eastern Washington (and big Sky POY) said there’s still a mental hurdle when it comes to playing after such a long hiatus.
“I think it’s really just trying to visualize me being out on the court,” he told the Spokesman-Review. “I played four years at Eastern, then I’ve had two back-to-back injuries, so just trying to gain that confidence and be positive.”
He’s not the only player ready for a return to the court. Here are five others monitor as the 2025-26 season nears.
