On Wednesday the Huskies announced their non-conference schedule for the upcoming 2015-16 basketball season. Some of the games were already announced beforehand, like the Huskies' participation in the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas or the trip to Shanghai to take on Texas. The rest of the slate features a bunch of mid-majors and a whole bunch of home games.
This season's exhibition with feature Seattle Pacific, and will take place on Nov. 5. That will be the first chance anyone will get to see these young Dawgs in action, should you be able to attend. Eight days following the exhibition the Huskies will be playing against Texas in Shanghai in what will be one of the few non-conference games away from Alaska Airlines Arena. There is a chance that Washington will play Texas again almost two weeks later in the Bahamas.
The big calling card of the Battle 4 Atlantis in the eyes of Husky fans is going to be the opening round matchup with Nigel Williams-Goss' Gonzaga Bulldogs. All of us, myself included, are going to grin when we see NWG sitting in sweats during the entire game that renews the in-state rivalry. It will take place on Nov. 25 on ESPN.
Outside of the tournament and the trip to China, Washington doesn't play away from Seattle. That means the Huskies don't play any true road games until conference play. It will make the early Pac-12 road games a bit more difficult for the developing Dawgs. Studies are showing that home-court advantage is becoming less and less of a factor in the NBA, but on the college level, on a team full of talented but green freshman, some lumps are going to be taken.
Below is the full non-conference schedule. What do you think?
The Huskies just announced their nonconference men's basketball schedule. pic.twitter.com/PjnkNwFrmn
— Christian Caple (@ChristianCaple) August 12, 2015