The Sun Devils had a rough season last year, going 12-19 and playing generally unimpressive basketball. Their 2011-2012 schedule is reflective of that, featuring a fairly easy non-conference schedule to help the team as Jahii Carson is integrated as the star player.
Here is the out of conference slate:
November 5 @ Grand Canyon (Exhibition)
November 11 vs. Montana State
November 15 vs. Pepperdine
November 18 vs. New Mexico
November 24 vs. Fairfield (Old Spice Classic)
November 25 vs. Dayton/Wake Forest (Old Spice Classic)
November 27 vs. TBD (Old Spice Classic)
December 3 @ Tulsa
December 7 vs. Nevada
December 10 vs. North Dakota State
December 17 vs. Northern Arizona
December 19 vs. Southern Mississippi
December 21 vs. Fresno State
Of course, this isn't as easy as you think. Take a look at what the ASU media department has said about the games on the schedule.
*We will open on the road in league play for fourth straight year...at Stanford in 08-09, at UCLA in 09-10, at Oregon State in 2010-11 and at UA in 2011-12.
*For the third year in the last four, we have five of our first seven conference games on the road.
*New Mexico (Nov. 18) is a pretty solid date. Those coming in for the UA football game next day can watch a New Mexico (22-13 last year) team that will be picked to win the MWC.
*Southern Miss was pretty good last year...22-10 and finished with RPI of 63.
*Tulsa finished 19-13
*Nevada will be much better than last year.
*Fairfield was 25-8 and won MAAC regular season....and has been picked as Final Four sleeper.
Looks like the Devils may have their hands full, but a good non-conference slate should help the team gel together.