2013-14 K-State Men’s Nonconference Basketball Released

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The 2013-14 Kansas State Men’s Basketball Non-Conference Schedule has been released and several enticing games appear on the schedule. Although not a gauntlet loaded with heavyweights, a rematch with 2013 NCAA tournament #1 seed Gonzaga and possible rematch with Michigan in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off headline the itinerary.

The Puerto Rico Tip-Off features eight teams that all qualified for the NCAA or NIT Tournament, including powerhouses Georgetown, Michigan, and VCU:

Northeastern (CAA, 20-13) Charlotte (Atlantic 10, 21-12), Florida State (Atlantic Coast, 18-16), Georgetown (Big East, 25-7,), Kansas State (Big 12, 27-8), Long Beach State (Big West, 19-14), Michigan (Big Ten, 31-8) and VCU(Atlantic 10, 27-9, NCAA).

The schedule begins with an exhibition game against Pitt State. The game against Long Beach State will remind fans of 2011 when the Wildcats broke onto the scene after defeating the 49ers to win the Diamond Head Tip-Off and break into the top 25. Other games to look forward to are Ole Miss and George Washington. Ole Miss finished 27-9 and won the SEC tournament by beating Florida. The Rebels also defeated Wisconsin in the NCAA tournament before falling to nemesis La Salle.  George Washington finished 7-9 in the Atlantic 10 last year, and the Colonials are always competitive in one of the nation’s best conferences with St. Louis, VCU, Butler, La Salle, and Xavier among the league’s leaders. The full nonconference schedule:

Friday Nov. 1: PITTSBURG STATE (Exh.)
Friday Nov. 8: NORTHERN COLORADO
Wednesday Nov. 13: ORAL ROBERTS
Sunday Nov. 17: LONG BEACH STATE
Thursday Nov. 21-Sunday Nov. 24; Puerto Rico Tip-Off (Coliseo Rueben Rodriguez, San Juan, P.R.)
Sunday Dec. 1: CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Thursday Dec. 5: OLE MISS (Big 12-SEC Challenge)
Tuesday Dec. 10: SOUTH DAKOTA
Sunday Dec. 15: TROY
Saturday Dec. 21: vs. Gonzaga; Wichita Wildcat Classic (INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, Kan.)
Saturday Dec. 28: vs. Tulane; Brooklyn Hoops Winter Festival Presented by Honda (Barclays Center, Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Tuesday Dec. 31: GEORGE WASHINGTON