Non-con notables

More and more teams are releasing their schedules. Who's among the most noteworthy? Plus, WVU adds another transfer and more.

Author

Tristan Freeman
August 18, 2023

As more and more schedules are released, is it wrong to look at it in one of two ways? Who is looking to build a strong at-large résumé … and who is trying to rack up easy wins in the non-con?

Let’s dive in.

1. Noteworthy schedule releases among busy day

More than 100 teams have released confirmed opponents in the first couple of months. Thursday was the biggest day yet, with 10 programs releasing their non-con schedules. Here are five that caught my eye.

St. John’s (link)

Key opponents: Charleston Classic (3 games), Michigan (N), West Virginia (A)

The one thing that annoyed Red Storm fans in the Mike Anderson era was the notoriously weak non-con schedule, playing usually just one or two top-100 caliber opponents. That number could be as high as seven in Rick Pitino’s first year, depending on if they can get the likes of Dayton and LSU in the Charleston Classic.

The road game at West Virginia on Dec. 1 will be a nice test for both programs, and it’s worth remembering that Boston College might be a sneaky tough game. Also, some of the “buy games” such as Hofstra, Fordham, and Stony Brook could pose a challenge.

BYU (link)

Key opponents: San Diego State (H), Arizona State (N), Utah (A)

The second game of the season will be the most important for the Cougars before Big 12 play, as they take on former Mountain West rival, San Diego State. It may be the lone guaranteed at-large caliber BYU faces, depending on what happens in the Las Vegas Showdown.

The road battle with future Big 12 peer Utah will be a potential résumé builder, but that’s about it. The rest are very winnable games played in the state of Utah that offers more risk than reward. Like Cincinnati’s recent schedule release, it’s the work of a program that knows it has an uphill climb in league play and wants to get as many wins as possible before January.

Seton Hall (link)

Key games: USC (N), Baylor (A), Rutgers (H), Missouri (N)

When you include the potential matchup against either Oklahoma or Iowa in the first-ever Rady Children’s Invitational, the Pirates have a potentially good schedule. However, there isn’t a guarantee that teams like Missouri and regional rival Rutgers will be NCAA Tournament-caliber after losing so much talent from last season.

Don’t overlook the first two games. Coach Shaheen Halloway takes on his former team in Saint Peter’s to open the season. And that’s followed up with Fairleigh Dickinson, known for its historic upset over 1-seed Purdue in the Big Dance. Tricky games? Or just a potential storyline for media types?

Bradley (link)

Key games: UAB (A), Cal (N), Vermont (H), Duquesne (N)

Although they lost Rienk Mast to Nebraska in the transfer portal, Bradley still brings back enough talent to make a case for a top-tier finish in the Missouri Valley. Historically, this is a league that’s good enough for multi-bids. For this team to do that, they’ll have to win against a few projected top-100 opponents on this schedule, including a tasty opening matchup at UAB.

The Braves also travel to play in Akron to play in Duquesne’s annual matchup at St. Vincent-St. Mary’s High School, where current Dukes coach Keith Dambrot coached LeBron James. If Bradley can beat Cal and either Tulane or UTEP in the SoCal Challenge, they can create a résumé that Bracketologists may want to keep an eye on.

Fordham (link)

Key games: Paradise Jam, Tulane (H), North Texas (H), St. John’s (A)

After going 25-8 last season, the Rams are an Atlantic 10 team that can contend. The next step is to beat some teams in the non-con ranked higher than 300, and this schedule is a definite upgrade from last season’s. It includes a rematch against Tulane, whom they defeated in a 95-90 road shootout last season.

Fordham will also experience what it’s like to be the favorite when they play in the Paradise Jam, filled with non-power conference programs. They take on Norfolk State first, followed by San Jose State or Abilene Christian. For the Rams to have any at-large hopes that don’t include upsetting St. John’s, they’ll need to go 3-0 there.

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2. WVU adds EMU transfer Noah Farrakhan

With so many players coming in and out this offseason, it feels as if West Virginia has had 20+ roster transactions. Well, what’s one more?

The 6-2 guard played his first season at East Carolina before transferring to Eastern Michigan. He had a breakout sophomore season, averaging 16.6 ppg on 41% shooting from 3-point range. With former 5-star prospect Emoni Bates joining the team this past season, Farrakhan took a supporting role, seeing his scoring dip to 12.1 ppg.

The junior guard has been in the transfer portal for a while this offseason. One potential reason could be that Farrakhan may not get a waiver. His coach at EMU didn’t leave this offseason and barring a personal reason not known publicly, it’s hard to envision a scenario where he’ll be eligible for next season.

That makes it a risky move for the player, committing and potentially having to sit out for a year for a program that has an interim head coach. But if it works out for everyone, the Mountaineers will have a double-digit contributor waiting in the wings once RaeQuan Battle (assuming he too gets a waiver) leaves after next season.

3. Two moves you hate to see

Not all roster moves this offseason have been good news, as a pair of key players for Gonzaga and Northern Iowa have announced their decisions to leave their respective teams.

Kaden Perry was a former top-60 prospect and a local commit from the state of Washington. He was limited to just eight games as a freshman in the 2021-22 season, before being shut down with back issues. Despite surgery and taking off all of last year, Perry was never able to make a full recovery and won’t play again.

It’s not a small thing for Gonzaga this season. It lost Drew Timme, and Efton Reid transferred to Wake Forest. The team did land Wyoming transfer Graham Ike, who himself missed all of last season with a foot injury. If they’re not able to find another big man at this short notice, look for forwards Anton Watson and Ben Gregg to play some minutes at the five. Watson has experience there as a quality defender, while Gregg can space the floor.

Perry wasn’t the only one making this kind of announcement though.

Austin Phyfe started his career at Northern Iowa in 2017, having played in five seasons (limited to just seven in 2018-19). He missed all of last season due to health issues and did have one more year of eligibility. Instead, he’s elected to end his career with the Panthers.

In the two years as a full-time starter, the 6-9 big man averaged 11.8 ppg and 7.8 rpg. In both years, Phyfe was an All-Missouri Valley Conference performer. Northern Iowa missed his presence in the frontcourt last season, finishing under .500 overall. The one positive is that his absence allowed forwards Cole Henry and Michael Duax to get more playing time, both of whom will be back for next season.

It’s disappointing that we won’t be able to see these two talented players in a college uniform anymore. Best wishes to their long-term health and their professional aspirations in whatever they choose.

Game-changer

If there’s a team that can rival West Virginia for offseason moves, it’s St. John’s. But these were planned moves with the arrival of new coach Rick Pitino. With all the new guys on the roster, how would Rob Dauster and Jeff Goodman grade the Johnnies?

Links as you try to remember who is still left in the transfer portal.

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