Boston College Basketball: Projecting The 2012-13 Non-Conference Schedule

Some basketball scheduling news for your Sunday morning.

We won't get the full 2012-13 Boston College men's basketball schedule for another month or so. But according to a report in the Miami Herald, another non-conference opponent has come into focus.

"The men's basketball home opener is still up in the air, but FIU's non-conference road schedule will include trips to Louisville, Boston College, Florida Gulf Coast, Stetson and Coastal Carolina."

Florida International is coming off a 8-21 season, 5-11 in the Sun Belt. While the Panthers and Eagles have never faced one another, FIU is no stranger to ACC competition. Last season FIU faced both Virginia Tech (a 78-63 loss) and Maryland (a 65-61 loss).

FIU has been one of the worst teams in the Sun Belt for over a decade but the Panthers run of Sun Belt hoops futility will soon be coming to an end. This will be FIU's last season in the Sun Belt as the Panthers, along with North Texas, transition from the Sun Belt to Conference USA. The move becomes official on July 1, 2013.

It's too bad that FIU won't be bringing coach Isiah Thomas along for the trip. Earlier this year, Thomas was fired at FIU after going 26-65 in three seasons, including failing to win more than 11 games in a season. This year's Panthers squad is led by first-year coach Richard (don't call me "Rick") Pitino.

In addition to a home game against FIU, the Eagles will travel to Happy Valley to take on Penn State in the 2012 ACC/Big Ten Challenge. BC will also participate in the 2012 Charleston Classic and face three of Auburn, Baylor, Charleston, Colorado, Dayton, Murray State and St. John's, while series with Holy Cross (home), Providence (home), Harvard (home ... ugh), UMass (road) and Rhode Island (road) will likely continue.

Here's how the Eagles' 2012-13 non-conference schedule is shaping up, noting final 2011-12 Pomeroy rankings. Also note that BC will play two less non-conference games as the ACC moves to an 18-game conference schedule starting this season.

2012-13 Boston College Men's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule (tentative opponents in italics)
44. Harvard Crimson
124. Providence Friars
127. @ Penn St. Nittany Lions
202. @ Rhode Island Rams
227. Holy Cross Crusaders
231. Fla. International Golden Panthers
* Three games in the Charleston Classic
** Three additional non-conference games, opponents TBD

* Three of these seven teams: Baylor Bears (17), Murray St. Racers (45), Dayton Flyers (65), Colorado Buffaloes (74), St. John's Red Storm (152), Auburn Tigers (153), Charleston Cougars (161)