Northern Iowa announces non-conference schedule

[Da Coach]

Northern Iowa just released their finalized non-conference schedule for 2012-2013-

http://www.unipanthers.com//ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=26200&ATCLID=205576645

The home games include some games that appear to be easy wins, but also included Iowa and St. Mary's. Their road games include tough matches at George Mason and UNLV, as well as 3 games in the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas. They play their first game against Louisville, then will play either Stanford or Missouri in their second game, and their 3rd game will be against one of the 4 tough teams from the other side of the bracket- Duke, Memphis, Minnesota, or Virginia Commonwealth.

Some early preseason Top 25 rankings include 6 of the teams in the Battle 4 Atlantis- Louisville, Memphis, Missouri, Duke, Minnesota, and VCU.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/18274517/ridiculously-early-top-25-and-one-calipari-kentucky-reload-are-no-1

[Da Coach]

Missouri State finalizes their non-conference schedule-

http://www.missouristatebears.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/081512aaa.html

http://www.missouristatebears.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/mosu-m-baskbl-sched.html

They play a couple easy exhibition opponents, Missouri Western and McKendree, then open their regular season at home against Philander Smith.

They have a tournament at home that hosts 2 of the absolute worst teams in Division I Jacksonville and Alcorn State. But the rest of their non-conference schedule is relatively tough. Especially if compared with ISU's non-conf the past several years.