The Most Difficult Conference Game for Every AP Top 25 NCAA Basketball Team

If Wednesday’s college basketball games proved anything, it is that playing a conference schedule can be incredibly difficult, especially with so many road games.

No. 2 Duke found itself trailing at Wake Forest with only a few minutes left, No. 11 Maryland lost at Illinois, No. 12 Kansas escaped a trip to Baylor with a one-point victory and No. 19 Seton Hall lost at Xavier.

All that came on the heels of overtime victories by No. 1 Kentucky against Ole Miss and No. 22 Ohio State against Minnesota Tuesday.

For as difficult as an entire conference schedule can be, there are certain games that stand out for each team. Here is a look at the hardest remaining conference showdowns for each team in the Associated Press Top 25.

25. Old Dominion: At UTEP, Feb. 14

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Admittedly, the Conference USA is not exactly the Big 12, but Old Dominion will be challenged on Valentine’s Day with a trip to UTEP.

The Miners proved their mettle in three closer-than-expected losses to Washington, Colorado State and Arizona and appear to be the best team in the conference outside of Old Dominion. Vince Hunter leads the offense as a double-double machine and will be a problem for Old Dominion, especially on the road.

It is difficult to win any game when the other team has a monster on the boards, and that is exactly what UTEP has in Hunter.

24. St. John’s: At Villanova, March 7

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St. John’s won’t be in the national rankings much longer with its 0-3 start in conference play, but there are still a number of difficult Big East games remaining.

The hardest of the bunch will be the return trip to Villanova on March 7, especially since the Red Storm just lost to the Wildcats by 18 points. Villanova’s offense had its way with St. John’s in the first matchup, and it is difficult to envision it going any differently when the game is actually played in Villanova’s gym.

23. Arkansas: At Kentucky, Feb. 28

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It’s a good thing Arkansas is the only nationally ranked team in the SEC outside of Kentucky; otherwise, you would be reading a number of slides about how the Wildcats are the hardest team remaining on plenty of schedules.

Kentucky may not be invincible (see Tuesday’s near loss to Ole Miss), but it is the best team in college basketball.

There is length all over the floor and a handful of guards who can slash to the rim or drill three-pointers to stretch the defense. Throw in the nation’s top defense with so many rim protectors, and Kentucky is set to challenge for a national title.

22. Ohio State: Vs. Wisconsin, March 8

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Wisconsin is the king of the Big Ten, and if Ohio State hopes to challenge for a conference crown, it needs to take advantage of its one game against the Badgers.

The good news for the Buckeyes is that this game is in Columbus, but fans are going to need to see a better effort out of Thad Matta’s bunch against Wisconsin than they did in nonconference play with losses to Louisville and North Carolina.

Ohio State looks much better after it switched from the zone defense it was playing to man-to-man, and the young freshmen in the rotation, such as D’Angelo Russell, will be even better by the end of the year. Perhaps the Buckeyes can challenge Frank Kaminsky and company.

21. Baylor: At Kansas, Feb. 14

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Baylor nearly upset Kansas at home Wednesday, but staying close will be much more difficult in Lawrence.

There is a reason the Jayhawks win the Big 12 every single season. They rarely ever lose at home in one of the most daunting arenas in all of college basketball, as Baylor will find out once again on Valentine’s Day.

What’s more, Kansas’ swarming defense with rim protectors down low and athletic guards on the outside provide a real challenge for a Baylor offense that is a measly 156th in the country in points per game.

20. VCU: At Rhode Island, Jan. 13

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VCU is the only nationally ranked team in the Atlantic 10, and it is difficult to see any squad in the league really challenging the Rams.

The best bet is Rhode Island on Jan. 13, especially since it already beat Nebraska and stayed relatively close to Kansas, Georgia Tech and Providence. At least Rhode Island has some experience in big games from those nonconference dates and E.C. Matthews as a potentially elite scorer who could put a scare in VCU if he got hot.

You could argue that VCU’s game against Dayton could be on here, but the Rams do not have to visit the Flyers and only play them at home.

19. Seton Hall: At Villanova, Feb. 16

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Even though Seton Hall already beat Villanova once in overtime this season, the Wildcats are still the cream of the crop in the Big East.

What’s more, they will likely be looking for some revenge when the Pirates make their return trip in mid-February with seeding and potential NCAA tournament bids up in the air in the season’s final month.

Seton Hall has been a much different team on the road this season than at home (1-3 away from home with losses at Wichita State, at Xavier and at Georgia), and going to Villanova will prove too difficult.

18. North Carolina: At Duke, Feb. 18

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The showdowns between Duke and North Carolina are emotionally draining games every single season, and they promise to be even more so this year with both teams nationally ranked and looking like potential ACC contenders.

The Tar Heels’ most difficult remaining game is certainly the trip to Cameron Indoor Stadium to play the annual rivalry clash in front of the Cameron Crazies. It’s not just the environment that will prove taxing for North Carolina, either.

The Blue Devils have elite players in Jahlil Okafor, Tyus Jones, Justise Winslow and Quinn Cook, among others, and could be the best team in the country outside of Kentucky. Best of luck, Tar Heels.

17. Iowa State: At Texas, Feb. 21

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I could have gone Kansas here for Iowa State’s most difficult remaining game, but the defense of Texas will prove to be a unique challenge for the Cyclones.

Iowa State is reliant on a number of different scorers in Georges Niang, Bryce Dejean-Jones, Naz Long, Dustin Hogue, Monte Morris and Jameel McKay. The only way to beat the Cyclones is with a formidable team defense and length all over the floor to bother their shots.

Texas is the No. 10-ranked defense on Ken Pomeroy’s pace-adjusted efficiency rankings and features Myles Turner and Jonathan Holmes down low to control the boards. That combination will prove particularly difficult for Iowa State.

16. Oklahoma: At Iowa State, March 2

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I am looking for a bit of variety in the Big 12 here instead of listing the same team a number of times, but there is a reason the idea of “Hilton Magic” exists when Iowa State is at home.

The Cyclones fans are some of the loudest in the nation, and they will make life very difficult on the visiting Oklahoma Sooners. What’s more, Iowa State features as many as six scorers who could go off at any one time, which makes guarding them difficult for even the strongest defenses.

Oklahoma looked excellent in a blowout win over Texas, but going into Iowa State and knocking off that offense is another story entirely.

15. Wichita State: At Northern Iowa, Jan. 31

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The Missouri Valley Conference could come down to two teams, which makes the showdown between Wichita State and Northern Iowa all the more important.

The Shockers bring out the best from every team in the Missouri Valley Conference just because of their status as the big kids on the block, and the Northern Iowa crowd will bring its A-game on Jan. 31.

The Panthers already have power-conference wins over the likes of Virginia Tech, Northwestern and Iowa and went to double-overtime in their loss at VCU. Nothing about Wichita State will intimidate them in this one.

14. West Virginia: At Kansas, March 3

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The Big 12 is as deep as it has been in years, but the path to a conference crown still goes through Kansas until otherwise noted.

West Virginia will find out why that is on March 3 in front of some of the loudest fans in the nation. Depending on the standings and national rankings by March, this game could have conference championship or serious NCAA tournament-seeding implications, which means the intensity will be even higher for the Mountaineers to deal with on the road.

Between Perry Ellis and Cliff Alexander controlling the boards down low and Kelly Oubre, Wayne Selden Jr. and Frank Mason III hitting shots on the outside, Kansas has weapons at every level. West Virginia will be in for a challenge.

13. Notre Dame: At Duke, Feb. 7

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The most difficult place to play in the ACC is Cameron Indoor Stadium, and Notre Dame will certainly be tested on a visit in early February.

The Fighting Irish have one of the best players in the country leading the way from the backcourt in Jerian Grant, but Duke poses a problem because of Justise Winslow. Grant is a 6’5” guard who can explode past almost any defender on the way to the rim, but Winslow is an athletic 6’6” forward who is fast enough to keep up and long enough to bother Grant’s perimeter shots.

If Winslow is able to keep Grant in check, it is difficult to envision Notre Dame pulling off the upset on the road here.

12. Kansas: At Iowa State, Jan. 17

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We have talked about how difficult the Big 12 is this season and how imposing a trip to Iowa State can be for any team, but the Hilton crowd always seems to have an extra gear when Kansas comes to town.

The Cyclones have been flirting with a Big 12 title for years now, and this season may be their best chance to finally knock the Jayhawks from the mountaintop. The crowd will recognize the importance of this game from before the opening tip, and it should be deafening inside by the second half.

The young Jayhawks will have their hands full if they hope to walk away with a victory.

11. Maryland: Vs. Wisconsin, Feb. 24

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The Maryland Terrapins may be the new kids on the block in the Big Ten, but they could challenge for a conference crown in their first year in the conference if they find a way to knock off Wisconsin.

The good news for the Terrapins is that they don’t have to travel to the Kohl Center, which is one of the most intimidating venues in the whole country. Instead, Wisconsin will have to travel to Maryland for the only game between the Big Ten’s highest-ranked teams.

The Terrapins have plenty of talent, led by Dez Wells, but Wisconsin brought back the vast majority of its core from last season’s Final Four team. The talent and experience edge go to the Badgers almost every time they take the floor.

10. Texas: At Oklahoma, Feb. 17

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Texas draws Oklahoma as its most difficult game remaining instead of Kansas, West Virginia or Iowa State because of what happened on Monday.

The Longhorns hosted their archrivals and got their doors blown off to the tune of a 70-49 beatdown. It was a shocking loss for a Texas team that has Big 12 title aspirations this season, and it proved just how difficult of a matchup Oklahoma can be this year.

The Sooners are No. 4 in Pomeroy’s defensive rankings and overwhelmed the Longhorns with their size and speed on that end of the floor. If that is what happened in Austin, things may not turn out so well for Texas in the return trip to Norman.

9. Utah: At Arizona, Jan. 17

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The showdowns between Arizona and Utah won’t only be some of the best basketball out West this season—it will be some of the best basketball in the entire country.

These are two top-10 teams, and the Wildcats understand that the Utes represent their biggest challengers in the Pac-12. Expect Arizona to come out with a higher level of intensity than normal in the opening minutes at home to get the crowd into it and send a message to the underdog Utes.

With T.J. McConnell setting everyone up from the point guard spot and Stanley Johnson, Brandon Ashley and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson finishing around the basket and controlling the boards, Arizona is one of the best teams in the country. It is certainly the best team remaining on Utah’s schedule.

8. Villanova: At Georgetown, Jan. 19

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With all the changes the Big East has undertaken in the past few years, there is something to be said for the traditional rivalry between Villanova and Georgetown. There is something nostalgic about it that games between Xavier and Creighton simply can’t capture.

Expect the players and crowd to feel the same way when the Wildcats visit the Hoyas on Jan. 19.

Georgetown may not be ranked, but it beat Florida and Indiana and gave Wisconsin and Kansas everything they could ask for in heartbreaking losses. When the Hoyas are playing at the top of their game, they can hang with almost anyone, and Joshua Smith and company will look to pull off an upset at home in this one.

7. Arizona: At Utah, Feb. 28

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I already went into the importance of the Arizona and Utah games in the Utah slide, but Arizona’s most difficult contest will be the return trip to the Utes.

This game will prove to be all the more difficult for Arizona because it will technically be the team with more pressure. The Wildcats are supposed to win the Pac-12 and contend for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, while the Utes are more of the challengers with nothing to lose.

The crowd will be raucous, and Delon Wright will be ready to prove to the nation why he is criminally underrated. Expect a slugfest in the Pac-12.

6. Gonzaga: Vs. BYU, Feb. 28

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Gonzaga and St. Mary’s are typically the biggest rivals in the West Coast Conference, and there is something to be said for those showdowns, but BYU is the biggest challenger for the Zags this year.

The Cougars already battled Gonzaga once this season and lost a close one by seven points. They also only lost to Utah by four and San Diego State by five in double overtime and won’t be intimidated by a trip to Gonzaga late in the season.

What’s more, the Cougars lead the nation in points per game, and any time an underdog has a solid offense that could catch fire at any time, an upset is a possibility.

5. Louisville: At Virginia, Feb. 7

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Louisville’s only game against Duke this season is at home, so let’s go with the trip to Virginia as the most difficult game remaining on the schedule.

The Cavaliers are a unique challenge for the Cardinals because they both play stifling defense. In fact, Louisville is No. 2 and Virginia is No. 5 in Pomeroy’s defensive rankings, so expect a low-scoring affair in this one with lengthy and physical defenses.

However, the Cavaliers are No. 5 in Pomeroy’s offensive rankings, which is much more than can be said about the No. 66 Cardinals. Virginia may take its time, which impacts the overall scoring numbers, but it is very efficient when it does shoot. The Cardinals will be up against one of the best teams in the nation at both ends of the floor.

4. Wisconsin: At Ohio State, March 8

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I could have gone with Maryland here, but the thought is that Ohio State will be the second-best team in the Big Ten by season’s end.

There are a number of young contributors on the Buckeyes who will continue to grow up as the Big Ten schedule progresses. What’s more, Thad Matta finally switched out of the vulnerable zone defense and has his team playing man-to-man, which makes Ohio State much more dangerous than it was before.

The Buckeyes beat Wisconsin last year, albeit with Aaron Craft leading the way on defense, and will have a loud home crowd behind them for this one. Seeding for the Big Ten tournament could be on the line.

3. Virginia: At Louisville, March 7

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Much like Louisville, Virginia does not have to travel to Duke this season. Therefore, let’s give the Cavaliers the Cardinals as their hardest remaining game as well based on the venue.

Louisville is one of the loudest arenas in the nation, and it will be all the more intense in the last game of the season if a potential No. 1 seed in the ACC or NCAA tournament is on the line. I already mentioned how daunting of an opponent Virginia is on both sides, but the Cardinals defense has the tendency to overwhelm the other team at home when the crowd is behind them.

Look for plenty of that in the regular-season finale.

2. Duke: At Virginia, Jan. 31

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There is only one team on paper that can match up with Duke talent-wise in the ACC, and that is Virginia. That makes the trip to Virginia the most difficult game on the schedule for a Blue Devils team that will be tested by the opponent’s best shot every night.

Virginia can physically wear out an opponent, and this game comes on the heels of road trips to Louisville, St. John’s and Notre Dame in three of the previous four contests for Duke. At that stage, the young Blue Devils will likely be somewhat emotionally spent, which makes dealing with one of the best defenses and most efficient offenses all the more difficult.

If there is a coach in the country who can prepare his team for a stretch like that, it is Mike Krzyzewski, but even he will have his hands full.

1. Kentucky: Vs. Arkansas, Feb. 28

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You’ve heard it all already.

Kentucky has a chance to go undefeated not only because it is absolutely loaded with future NBA talent, but the SEC is also terrible at basketball. Arkansas at least offers some resistance in the form of 6’11” Bobby Portis, who is a walking double-double and one of the few players in the nation capable of dealing with Kentucky’s overwhelming size down low.

It will be refreshing to see an opponent who can stand up to the rim protectors on the Wildcats and perhaps put up some impressive numbers of his own in the game. How Kentucky responds to that remains to be seen.