The Nevada basketball team released its 2019-20 non-conference schedule Tuesday afternoon, with a pair of home games against Pac-12 teams highlighting the slate.
In addition to those contests against Utah and USC, the Wolf Pack also will play Saint Mary's in a neutral-site game in the Golden State Warriors' new arena as part of the Al Attles Classic.
The Wolf Pack opens the season at home against Utah on Nov. 5 before home games with Loyola Marymount (Nov. 9), Texas-Arlington (Nov. 12) and USC (Nov. 16). The Wolf Pack's first road game is at Davidson on Nov. 19. That is one of two true road contests for the Wolf Pack, which also plays at BYU on Dec. 10.
Nevada plays three games in the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands starting Nov. 22 against Fordham. Two games against to-be-determined opponents follow. Home contests with Santa Clara (Dec. 4) and Texas Southern (Dec. 18) round out the 12-game non-conference schedule. The Wolf Pack could have played a 13th non-league contest but opted against that.
“This schedule is both challenging and exciting,” first-year coach Steve Alford said in a news release. “We have a non-conference schedule that will prepare our team for Mountain West play. I’ve been very encouraged by how our young men have approached their summer workouts. I cannot say thank you enough for the incredible welcome our staff has received from the people of Reno. We are anxious to build our culture and put a product on the court that our fans are proud to support.”
Last season, the average NET ranking of Nevada's non-conference opponent was 133 with six top-100 teams and zero top-50 teams. The season prior, the average NET ranking of Nevada's non-conference opponent was 113.5 with five top-100 teams and four top-50 teams. Using last year's NET rankings, this year's non-conference schedule has an average opponent of 132.3 with four top-100 teams and one top-50 team. That doesn't include the two to-be-determined opponents in the Paradise Jam.
Here is the team's full non-conference schedule. Nevada's Mountain West schedule was released earlier this season. That's here.
Nevada's 2019-20 non-conference schedule
Nov. 5: vs. Utah
Nov. 9: vs. Loyola Marymount
Nov. 12: vs. Texas-Arlington
Nov. 16: vs. USC
Nov. 19: at Davidson
Nov. 22: vs. Fordham (at Paradise Jam, U.S. Virgin Islands)
Nov. 23/24: vs. Valparaiso or Grand Canyon (at Paradise Jam, U.S. Virgin Islands)
Nov. 25: vs. Illinois State, Cincinnati, Bowling Green or Western Kentucky (at Paradise Jam, U.S. Virgin Islands)
Dec. 4: vs. Santa Clara
Dec. 10: at BYU
Dec. 18: vs. Texas Southern
Dec. 21: vs. Saint Mary's (at Chase Center)
