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http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab...--american-athletic-conference-134243673.html
Toughest non-league schedule: UConn
In the two-plus years since the fragmentation of the Big East forced UConn to the American Athletic Conference, the Huskies have employed an interesting scheduling strategy. They have loaded their non-league slate with elite opponents to compensate for playing in a conference whose lower tier is notoriously weak.
This year's schedule epitomizes that strategy as UConn could play as many as seven preseason top 40 teams in non-conference play. The Huskies will host perennial NCAA tournament teams Georgetown and Ohio State, visit Big 12 power Texas and face Big Ten favorite Maryland on a neutral floor in New York. They'll also participate in next season's most challenging holiday tournament, the Battle 4 Atlantis, which also features Gonzaga, Syracuse, Michigan, Texas, Texas A&M, Washington and Charlotte.
Is this challenging a schedule wise for a UConn team that failed to make the NCAA tournament last season and graduated leading scorer Ryan Boatright? A lot will depend on the impact made by Seton Hall transfer Sterling Gibbs and returning wings Daniel Hamilton and Rodney Purvis. If Gibbs can emerge as a go-to threat, Hamilton can enjoy a breakout sophomore season and Purvis can score more efficiently, the Huskies have a chance to be formidable.
Toughest non-league schedule: UConn
In the two-plus years since the fragmentation of the Big East forced UConn to the American Athletic Conference, the Huskies have employed an interesting scheduling strategy. They have loaded their non-league slate with elite opponents to compensate for playing in a conference whose lower tier is notoriously weak.
This year's schedule epitomizes that strategy as UConn could play as many as seven preseason top 40 teams in non-conference play. The Huskies will host perennial NCAA tournament teams Georgetown and Ohio State, visit Big 12 power Texas and face Big Ten favorite Maryland on a neutral floor in New York. They'll also participate in next season's most challenging holiday tournament, the Battle 4 Atlantis, which also features Gonzaga, Syracuse, Michigan, Texas, Texas A&M, Washington and Charlotte.
Is this challenging a schedule wise for a UConn team that failed to make the NCAA tournament last season and graduated leading scorer Ryan Boatright? A lot will depend on the impact made by Seton Hall transfer Sterling Gibbs and returning wings Daniel Hamilton and Rodney Purvis. If Gibbs can emerge as a go-to threat, Hamilton can enjoy a breakout sophomore season and Purvis can score more efficiently, the Huskies have a chance to be formidable.
