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ASU Women’s Basketball: Non-conference schedule analysis

By Adam Noel

TEMPE, AZ - AUGUST 28: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot, "Sparky" performs during the college football game against the Weber State Wildcats at Sun Devil Stadium on August 28, 2014 in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils defeated the Wildcats 45-14. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ - AUGUST 28: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot, "Sparky" performs during the college football game against the Weber State Wildcats at Sun Devil Stadium on August 28, 2014 in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils defeated the Wildcats 45-14. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Headlined with games against Baylor and Louisville, ASU women’s basketball will face many tests in non-conference play.

As coach Charli Turner Thorne gears up for her 22nd season at the helm of the team, the Sun Devils will look to continue their reputation as one of the most consistent programs in the nation.

To begin this season the Sun Devils host Incarnate Word on Tuesday at Wells Fargo Arena. The game tips off at 8:30 pm, directly after the ASU men’s basketball team season opener.

Following the opener, the team travels to Fort Defiance, Arizona to take on the Baylor on Nov. 11. The game will be televised by ESPN2 and honors both Native American basketball and Vietnam veterans. The Bee Holdzil Fighting Scouts Event Center, a 6,500 seat arena, will host the game.

The Bears currently sit fourth in the preseason AP women’s basketball rankings and are the toughest opponent the Sun Devils face in non-conference play.

From that point on, ASU will be on the road taking part in the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout, which will be hosted in Las Vegas. There, the team faces off with fifth-ranked Louisville and Southern Illinois over Thanksgiving weekend.

The Cardinals come off a trip to the Final Four, with a narrow loss to Mississippi St. in the national semifinals. It will be the second top-five matchup the Sun Devils face in the month of November.

Dec. 1 marks the first true home game since the opener for ASU and will kick off the opening day of the ASU Classic. The weekend tournament will feature an opening matchup with Louisiana Tech, and includes both Alabama and Tulsa. The Sun Devils swept both Buffalo and UC Riverside in last year’s ASU Classic.

The team continues their homestand on Dec. 7 facing off with Southern University before traveling to Fort Collins to square off with Colorado State. The Rams played in last year’s WNIT losing in the second round to South Dakota.

Following a week off, ASU will return to the road to take on Kansas State on Dec. 16. The Wildcats finished last season 18-16 overall and will be the final non-conference away game for the Sun Devils.

To conclude the non-conference schedule ASU takes on Mountain West opponent, Fresno St. at Wells Fargo Arena. Last season, the Sun Devils traveled to Fresno and defeated the Bulldogs 81-49.

Next. ASU Women’s Basketball: Players to watch this upcoming season. dark

Despite two top-five ranked opponents, ASU should enter conference play with a strong record and plenty of experience with adversity. This should help the development of the team’s talented freshmen group and come conference play the team will be more than ready.