Continuing my coverage of the Big 12 Conference, I took a look at the top non-conference games for the conference over the next two weeks. While the majority of the Big 12’s teams will attend their holiday tournaments during Thanksgiving weekend, there are several big-time games coming up this week and next.

To read my pre-season preview of the Big 12, please click here. To discuss this article on the BSL board, click here.

Kansas All In To Start the Season

Credit needs to be given to Bill Self, who routinely challenges his team in the early goings of each season. 2016 is no different, as Kansas travels to Honolulu to play Indiana in the Armed Forces Classic. The game will tip-off at 8:00 PM on November 11 and will be televised on ESPN. Kansas is ranked #3 in the AP Poll while the Hoosiers are ranked #11. It will be our first opportunity to see Jayhawks freshman phenom Josh Jackson in live-action. As BSL Analyst Rob Shields wrote about in his Big Ten preview last week, Indiana loses Yogi Farrell but returns James Blackmon, the second-leading scorer from last year’s Sweet 16 team. Just four days later, Kansas flies to New York to participate in the Champions Classic where they will face-off against top-ranked Duke on Tuesday, November 15 at 8:00 PM on ESPN. With these two tough first games, Jayhawks fans will get a true look at how Kansas matches up with other the elite schools across the country.

Tire Pros Invitational (Nov. 17-20 in Orlando, FL)

As I wrote about in my Big East article yesterday, the Tire Pros Invitational was moved from Puerto Rico to Orlando, FL due to zika virus concerns. The Oklahoma Sooners are the Big 12’s representative in the tournament and will hope to get off to a hot start in the post-Buddy Hield era. Oklahoma opens up tournament play Thursday evening against a Tulane team ranked #228 per Ken Pomeroy. They will then face either Northern Iowa or Arizona State on Friday. According to KenPom, the Sooners (27) are the third best team in the Tire Pros field behind Xavier (11) and Clemson (23).

Oregon vs. Baylor (Nov. 15, 2:30 PM)

After an opening evening game against Oral Roberts on November 11, the Baylor Bears host #5 Oregon in a game that will be televised on ESPN2. This is the return game of a home-and-home started last season between the Bears and Ducks, where #25 Oregon “upset” #20 Baylor in a 74-67 game. Baylor will look to seek revenge from that game as they play host to the Pac-12 favorites in Waco. In last year’s tilt, Al Freeman and Johnathan Motley combined for 39 points; Baylor will need that and more in order to take down an even better Oregon team this year.

Chris Bacon
Chris Bacon

A graduate of Xavier University, Chris began his writing career as a Xavier Musketeers Athletic Communications Intern where he wrote previews and post-game recaps for men’s basketball, women’s basketball and other Olympic sports. He has worked in the sports industry in various capacities for over 5 years. Chris is a fan of the Xavier Musketeers, the Baltimore Ravens and the Baltimore Orioles. Other hobbies and passions includes Game of Thrones and, as an Eagle Scout, volunteering as a Boy Scout Troop Assistant Scoutmaster. Chris was born in Baltimore, raised in Baltimore County and currently resides in Canton.

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