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The Memphis Tigers could be a top team in college hoops in the 2013-14 college basketball season. They will also have one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the nation, so who will they lose to first?
That very well could come in the second game of the season when the Tigers take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Cowboys will be returning three players who averaged 14 or more points per game last season. They will also have that one player named Marcus Smart. Smart has the potential to be a top 10 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
Related: Memphis Tigers Player Profile: Joe Jackson
The Cowboys could enter the season by being ranked in the top 10. To make matters even worse, Memphis will play this game on the road.
If the Tigers do get by the Cowboys, they could run into them again in the Old Spice Classic (starts on Nov. 28).
If Memphis makes it out of the Old Spice Classic alive and still does not have a loss on the season, its next toughest matchup will be played against the Florida Gators. The Gators will be talented enough to be ranked in the top 10 all season long. Plus, they have made the Elite Eight three seasons in a row.
Regardless, I doubt Memphis will be undefeated when it plays Florida.
Memphis may have won 31 games last season, but it needs to show the college hoops world that it can be elite under Josh Pastner. This could finally be the season that the team makes a deep run in the dance, but the Tigers’ schedule is very, very tough.
I predict Memphis will lose against the Cowboys on Nov. 19, but the Tigers could easily prove me wrong.
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