Kansas Jayhawks: Non-Conference Basketball Schedule Is Brutal

The Kansas Jayhawks may have a young, inexperienced roster, but they will be tested early and often with a brutal non-conference schedule.

No one can accuse Bill Self of padding his schedule. Last season, Kansas had the hardest schedule in the country by a huge margin, according to CBSSports.com. This season will be more of the same.

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The Jayhawks will face national powerhouses, like the Kentucky Wildcats and Florida Gators. They also have a chance to face the Michigan State Spartans, if both schools advance to the finals of the Orlando Classic over Thanksgiving weekend.

Kansas also has games against schools with a strong historical pedigree, including the Georgetown Hoyas, Utah Utes, Temple Owls, and UNLV Running Rebels. They could also meet the Tennessee Volunteers, if both teams advance to the semi-finals in the Orlando Classic.

The Kentucky match-up is the second real game of the year, and is part of the Champions Classic. Kansas will play Georgetown in Washington, D.C., and will travel to Philadelphia to face Temple.

They will host Florida and UNLV, and will play Utah in the Sprint Center.

From the Kansas City Star, here is the non-conference basketball schedule for the Kansas Jayhawks for the 2014-2015 season:

• Nov. 4, Tuesday, vs. Washburn (exh.) in Lawrence

• Nov. 11, Tuesday, vs. Emporia State (exh.) in Lawrence

• Nov. 14, Friday, vs. UC Santa Barbara in Lawrence

• Nov. 18, Tuesday, vs. Kentucky at Champions Classic in Indianapolis

• Nov. 24, Monday, vs. Rider in Lawrence

• Nov. 27, Thursday, vs. TBA at Orlando Classic in Florida

• Nov. 28, Friday, Orlando Classic semifinal round in Florida

• Nov. 30, Sunday, Orlando Classic championship round in Florida

• Dec. 5, Friday, vs. Florida at SEC/Big 12 Challenge in Lawrence

• Dec. 10, Wednesday, at Georgetown in Washington, D.C.

• Dec. 13, Saturday, vs. Utah at the Sprint Center

• Dec. 20, Saturday, vs. Lafayette in Lawrence

• Dec. 22, Monday, at Temple in Philadelphia

• Dec. 30, Tuesday, vs. Kent State in Lawrence

• Jan. 4, Sunday, vs. UNLV in Lawrence

It will be tough for the young Jayhawks to navigate such a slate, but Head Coach Bill Self will surely get them in a position to win more than they lose. If nothing else, it will be fun to see so many marquee match-ups.

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Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article357152/KU-basketball-announces-nonconference-schedule-for-2014-15.html#storylink=cpy