Northwestern's non-conference basketball schedule is out - several months earlier than normal, we normally get the first look at it sometime around the time the first football game is kicking off. And here it is:

Nov. 13: vs. Texas Southern

Nov. 15: vs. Mississippi Valley State

Nov. 18: vs. Fairleigh Dickinson

Nov. 20: vs. Delaware State

Nov. 23/24: South Padre Invitational, Opponents TBA

Nov. 27: vs. Maryland (ACC/Big Ten Challenge)

Dec. 1: vs. UIC

Dec. 4: @ Baylor

Dec. 8: vs. Butler

Dec. 18: vs. Texas State

Dec. 21: vs. Stanford

Dec. 23: vs. Brown

There's a bit of a lack of enterprise on display by only having one true road game. Suffice it to say, it doesn't really look like this is going to ramp up the RPI much. The toughest opponent is likely to be Baylor, who just lost three NBA draft picks, although Butler and Stanford will be interesting tests.

All in all, it doesn't look too dissimilar from a typical Northwestern non-con schedule, which isn't exactly a great thing when thinking about the tournament. Loretta should analyze more later.