By Steven Callahan

Rick Pitino toughens pre-conference schedule (Cindy Rice Shelton photo).
Rick Pitino toughens pre-conference schedule (Cindy Rice Shelton photo).

College basketball programs have a habit of announcing their non-conference schedules right in the middle of the football season. Strategically planned to get the hype machine revved up for the upcoming season.

Appropriate or not, the basketball season is already under way, with the University of Louisville hosting Evansville in the season opener at 7 p.m. this Friday at the KFC Yum! Center. A member of the Missouri Valley Conference, Evansville had a 25-9 record last season.

The pre-conference schedule features some quality non-conference opponents who Coach Rick Pitino believe will help UofL prepare for the rugged Atlantic Coast Conference competition. The Cardinals will have 13 out-of-conference games, including the following:

Purdue, Nov. 30th, KFC Yum! Center

Purdue is the designated opponent for this year’s Big Ten/ACC Challenge, and this matchup is expected to be competitive. Purdue Coach Matt Painter must control the tempo to avoid allowing the game get out-of-hand early. The Boilermakers have a quality front line in Caleb Swanigan, Vince Edwards and Isaac Haas, and is capable of dominating the glass. The bulky 6-foot-9 Swanigan may be a serious candidate for the Wooden Award, and could be a Cavs basketball player next year.

Kentucky, Dec. 21st, KFC Yum! Center

Louisville battling Kentucky for the Commonwealth title is the perfect holiday gift for local college basketball fans. No telling which school needs the win more, but it will be another classic. The yearly matchup that has become the best non-conference rivalry in college basketball.  UK, as usual, will have another impressive freshman class, including point guard De’Aaron Fox.

Indiana Hoosiers, Dec. 31st, Bankers Life Fieldhouse

Applaud the schedule-makers for providing such a quality neutral site game, as the Cardinals finish their non-conference schedule against their cross-state rival the Indiana Hoosiers. This game will be a clash of styles, with UofL pressing defensively to quell one of the best offenses in college basketball. Small forward O.G. Anuoby has been tabbed a pre-season All-American by the Sporting News.

Battle 4 Atlantis, Nov. 24-26, Bahamas

Save room for basketball on Thanksgiving Day when Louisville will play either LSU or Wichita State. The invitational opens the day before with a game against Old Dominion and either Michigan State, Baylor or VCU the day after Thanksgiving.

A rugged pre-season schedule, indeed..

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