Some notes and rumors have surfaced regarding the schedule over the past few days. Here is a roundup of what we're hearing so far.
Zach Braziller of the New York Post is reporting that the Big East schedule will be done "relatively soon." He also reports that the focus remains on regular travel. There was a conflicting report that the league was still considering starting the conference season with regular travel then switching to a bubble for the remainder of games, but I can't find the source of that report now (taken down?) so between that and Braziller's report, I'd expect regular travel to be the route that is ultimately taken. Of course, we'll continue to monitor.
Jon Rothstein had reported that the league was targeting December 12-23, however December 11 has been mentioned as well. Braziller has also reported that the league hopes to get 4-5 league games in for each team before the new year which would indicate the earlier side of Rothstein's timeline or the December 11 report.
Finally, Rothstein reports that the scheduled Big East-Big 12 Battle matchup between Villanova and Texas will take place December 6. If that proves true, it appears that all the most high-profile non-conference games for Villanova will be played with the season kicking off with Michigan (and potentially Baylor) at a reworked Empire Classic, the Texas game, and all indications that a way to play the Virginia game will be found.
With that assumption here's what the schedule will look like so far...20 Big East games, Michigan, Baylor/BC, Texas, and Virginia. That would leave Nova with three open dates. If I were to speculate, I'd have to think that Big 5 opponents may be the favored schools to fill those dates. Again, I'm speculating here, but between the ease of travel, the ability of Big 5 schools to be able to match testing and other protocols related to COVID, and Wright's respect for Philadelphia basketball tradition there is a lot working in favor of scheduling Big 5 games in the remaining slots. The safety and logistical ease of Big 5 games is hard to ignore.
Once the Big East schedule is released, we'll be able to speak with much more certainty on the schedule and hard confirmation on the rest of the schedule will likely follow quickly. For now, it looks like a good bet that the most anticipated games of the non-conference will happen as we use the limited information at hand to piece together the situation.
Zach Braziller of the New York Post is reporting that the Big East schedule will be done "relatively soon." He also reports that the focus remains on regular travel. There was a conflicting report that the league was still considering starting the conference season with regular travel then switching to a bubble for the remainder of games, but I can't find the source of that report now (taken down?) so between that and Braziller's report, I'd expect regular travel to be the route that is ultimately taken. Of course, we'll continue to monitor.
Jon Rothstein had reported that the league was targeting December 12-23, however December 11 has been mentioned as well. Braziller has also reported that the league hopes to get 4-5 league games in for each team before the new year which would indicate the earlier side of Rothstein's timeline or the December 11 report.
Finally, Rothstein reports that the scheduled Big East-Big 12 Battle matchup between Villanova and Texas will take place December 6. If that proves true, it appears that all the most high-profile non-conference games for Villanova will be played with the season kicking off with Michigan (and potentially Baylor) at a reworked Empire Classic, the Texas game, and all indications that a way to play the Virginia game will be found.
With that assumption here's what the schedule will look like so far...20 Big East games, Michigan, Baylor/BC, Texas, and Virginia. That would leave Nova with three open dates. If I were to speculate, I'd have to think that Big 5 opponents may be the favored schools to fill those dates. Again, I'm speculating here, but between the ease of travel, the ability of Big 5 schools to be able to match testing and other protocols related to COVID, and Wright's respect for Philadelphia basketball tradition there is a lot working in favor of scheduling Big 5 games in the remaining slots. The safety and logistical ease of Big 5 games is hard to ignore.
Once the Big East schedule is released, we'll be able to speak with much more certainty on the schedule and hard confirmation on the rest of the schedule will likely follow quickly. For now, it looks like a good bet that the most anticipated games of the non-conference will happen as we use the limited information at hand to piece together the situation.