Those looking for tough out-of-conference scheduling need look no further than January 3, 2009 when NC State comes down to Gainesville to pay me a visit in a showdown with the Florida Gators. Of course we have yet to see how the conference schedule pans out, but most likely this will be the “tune-up” game leading into ACC play (at the very least leading into the meat of the ACC schedule). Florida returns the visit a year later to the day.
Of interest is the fact that Dan Werner (ring a bell?) suits up for the Gators. Jai Lucas and Nick Calathes should join him in anchoring the team. Speights might test the NBA waters, other than that the Gators you may be watching in the NIT will be what we see next year. Should be a great road test, and for those who love the RPI (or at least pay attention), this can do nothing but help barring a Michigan State-esque debacle. This game next year also serves the immediate role of mitigating our probable non participation in the ACC/Big 10 challenge.
Additionally, the Wolfpack has also inked a home and home with Arizona for the ’10 and ’11 season.
It’s sad to say, but the ESA/RBC will get its highest profile out-of-conference opponents in the arena’s 11th and 12th year of operation. Wow. So much for those fans who remember NC State Basketball from 1940-1990.
