Badgers unveil 2024 nonconference men's basketball schedule

Wisconsin will be tested before Big Ten play this season.

Dec 9, 2023; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard John Blackwell (25) talks to Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard during the second half at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Zachary BonDurant-USA TODAY Sports / Zachary BonDurant-USA TODAY Sports

We are under 70 days away from the Badgers men's basketball team kicking off its 2024-25 season at the Kohl Center against Wis.-River Falls. The rest of the Badgers' nonconference schedule is official now, too, with the team revealing its full slate on Thursday.

Non-conference schedule is set 📅🏀

The season opener is set for November 4 at the Kohl Center!

📰 | https://t.co/q0t9vbzwc9
🎟️ | https://t.co/23x1BX4Saz pic.twitter.com/sISD4pi0yC

— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) August 22, 2024

Wisconsin's full nonconference schedule

• Oct. 30 vs. UW-River Falls (exhibition)
• Nov. 4 vs. Holy Cross
• Nov. 7 vs. Montana State
• Nov. 10 vs. Appalachian State
• Nov. 15 vs. Arizona
• Nov. 18 vs. UTRGV
• Nov. 22 vs. UCF (Greenbrier Tip-Off)
• Nov. 24 vs. Pitt or LSU (Greenbrier Tip-Off)
• Nov. 30 vs. Chicago State
• Dec. 7 @ Marquette
• Dec. 14 vs. Butler (Indy Classic)
• Dec. 22 vs. Detroit Mercy

Highlighted by a November home game against Arizona, Wisconsin will also have great tests against four other major conference programs. The Greenbrier Tip-Off over Thanksgiving will include games against UCF then Pittsburgh or LSU. The Badgers will face Marquette on Dec. 7 this season at Fiserv Forum, and then they have a tricky neutral-site game against Butler in Indianapolis on Dec. 14.

Nonconference strength of schedule can play a large role in determining seed line when selection for the NCAA Tournament comes around in March. The Badgers could have as many as five Quad 1 opportunities before conference play even begins.

Despite substantial turnover with transfer-portal shuffling this offseason, Greg Gard and the Badgers showed a willingness to test themselves before they get into the heart of the Big Ten schedule.