ASU Basketball: Three must-watch nonconference games in 2018

It’s no secret that a challenging non-conference schedule helped ASU basketball into the NCAA Tournament. In 2018, the slate doesn’t get much easier.

Despite the overall expectation that the Pac-12 will be stronger next season, Arizona State isn’t taking any chances. With head coach Bobby Hurley entering his fourth year at the helm, the Sun Devils are gearing up for yet another competitive set of non-conference games.

In previous years, past opponents have included some of the most competitive teams in college basketball such as Xavier, Purdue and Kentucky. With several difficult teams on the docket in 2018, here are three must-watch games.

1. Kansas

Without question, the Sun Devils’ victory over the Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse last December stands as the biggest win that the program has had under Hurley.

As part of a home-and-home series, Kansas ventures to Wells Fargo Arena in December 2018.

In CBS Sports’ latest preseason poll, Gary Parrish has the Jayhawks slotted at No. 2 in his offseason rankings.

After losing Devonte’ Graham and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk to the NBA, head coach Bill Self more than filled the voids both players would have created. Returning is big man Udoka Azubuike as well as forward Silvio de Sousa and guard Marcus Garrett.

Among the incoming players is five-star guard Quentin Grimes in addition to eligible transfers Charlie Moore (California) and Dedric and K.J. Lawson (Memphis).

Following a Final Four appearance in 2017, the Jayhawks have reloaded and look to be among the nation’s top teams as they seek a 15th consecutive Big 12 title.

2. Nevada

For a second straight year, ASU was invited to participate in the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic at the Staples Center. Knocking off St. John’s a year ago, the Sun Devils return to Los Angeles to face one of the nation’s hottest up-and-coming teams.

Coached by former ASU assistant coach Eric Musselman, Nevada returns five of its top six scorers on a team that won 29 games and reached the Sweet Sixteen.

Led by guards Cody and Caleb Martin, forward Jordan Caroline and five-star prospect Jordan Brown, the Wolfpack are considered by some to be a trendy pick to make their first Final Four in school history.

The game is scheduled for December 7.

3. Vanderbilt

When Arizona State and Vanderbilt scheduled a home-and-home ahead of the 2017 season, the Commodores were coming off of an NCAA Tournament appearance in head coach Bryce Drew‘s first year.

But when the trajectories of the two schools went in different directions, the meeting in Tempe last December lost some of its luster.

Now, Drew has two five-star recruits in Simisola Shittu and Darius Garland on his roster with the Sun Devils coming to Nashville on December 17.

Next: ASU Basketball: Who will be the next Sun Devil drafted?

Both schools’ ability to secure a top-15 recruiting class makes this a high-profile matchup once more.

Honorable mentions: Mississippi State (neutral site), at Georgia