Three Non-Conference Opponents UVA Basketball Should Schedule In the Future

Facing strong, like-minded programs helps prepare Cavaliers for the NCAA tournament.

Mar 9, 2019; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Virginia Cavaliers associate head coach Jason Williford cuts down the net after the Cavaliers clinched a share of the ACC regular season championship after their game against the Louisville Cardinals at John Paul Jones Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

No one can accuse Virginia's men's basketball coach Ryan Odom of dodging anyone this season.

He'll test his veteran squad with nonconference games against Arkansas, Maryland, Kentucky, UConn, Marquette and Xavier in addition to the gauntlet of ACC opponents. Those voluntary out-of-league matchups should prepare the Cavaliers well for the NCAA tournament, where they haven't advanced past the second round since winning the 2019 national championship.

With the tournament expanding to 76 teams, strong programs shouldn't be afraid of absorbing a few nonconference losses. And after the ACC trimmed its league slate from 20 to 18 games last year, teams have two more opportunities per season to seek challenging competition.

In that vein, here are three nonconference schools the Cavaliers should try to schedule in the near future:

1. Vanderbilt

Yes, the Cavaliers will scrimmage the Commodores for the second straight season on Sept. 27 on an outdoor court in Charleston, S.C. that should give both teams an early line on their prospects. But why not make it official?

These are two like-minded programs with strong academic reputations which have invested heavily in athletics in recent years, as if to prove you don't have to sacrifice one to excel in the other. It's a relatively short trip for either team (550 miles, certainly less than a flight to Stanford, Cal, SMU or even Miiami).

Both teams are coming off strong seasons, with each earning a spot in ESPN.com's Way-Too-Early preseason rankings: Virginia (30-6 a year ago) at No. 12 and Vandy (27-9) at No. 24.

And Commodores coach Mark Byington has connections to Virginia. He served as a graduate assistant (1999-2001) under Pete Gillen and director of operations (2004-05) under Dave Leitao.

Believe it or not, these teams have met just seven times in all, and only once since 1995 (in 2017). It's past time to reconvene.

2. Georgetown

John Thompson, the Hoyas' late Hall of Fame coach, was notorious for loading his nonconference schedule with cupcakes like Bethune-Cookman and Maryland-Eastern Shore.

Ed Cooley, the new man in charge, is taking a different tack. Georgetown faces North Carolina, Texas, Maryland, Clemson and either UCLA or St. Mary's (Md.) this fall before jumping into Big East play.

If Nashville is driveable, Washington is even closer. This is another school with a sterling academic reputation. And as with the Commodores, Georgetown has an in with the Cavaliers: assistant coach Jason Willford played forward for Virginia in the 1990s and was one of Tony Bennett's trusted aides.

The Cavaliers and Hoyas last met in 2002. Seems like a rivalry worth renewing.

3. Michigan State

This one would scratch a lot of itches: a perennial power, strong TV ratings and every Virginia fan's desire for revenge.

The Cavaliers are 0-5 against the Spartans, including NCAA tournament losses that eliminated two of Bennett's best teams in 2014 and '15. (That doesn't include a scheduled meeting in the 2001-02 ACC/Big Ten Challenge that was canceled due to a slippery floor at the Richmond Coliseum.)

Virginia fans would like to beat Tom Izzo at least once before he hangs up his whistle.