Oklahoma basketball announces 2022-23 non-conference schedule

Year two of the Porter Moser era at Oklahoma will be underway this November. With several starters returning as well as a few star transfers coming in, the Sooners are primed for a possible return to the NCAA Tournament. In order to do that, they’ll need to power through their non-conference schedule, which they announced Monday.

Here it is, as announced by the team themselves:

Oklahoma 2022-23 non-conference schedule

*home game unless otherwise denoted*

Oct. 25: Oklahoma City (Exhibition)

Nov. 7: Sam Houston

Nov. 11: Arkansas Pine Bluff

Nov. 15: UNC Wilmington

Nov. 18: South Alabama

Nov. 24: Nebraska (Orlando)

Nov. 25: Memphis or Seton Hall (Orlando)

Nov. 27: TBD (Orlando)

Dec. 3: @ Villanova

Dec. 6: UMKC

Dec. 10: Arkansas (Tulsa)

Dec. 17: Central Arkansas

Dec. 20: Florida (Charlotte)

Jan. 28: Alabama

Recap

After a few cupcake contests to open the season, that non-conference slate gets pretty serious for the Sooners. Anything less than a 4-0 start would be a bad sign for things to come in the rest of the calendar year.

Because they then head to Orlando for the ESPN Events Invitational, which has a fairly strong field. Now, the Sooners lucked out by drawing Nebraska, perhaps the power five team with the worst record over the last three years. However, threatening foes such as Seton Hall and Memphis await in the second and third games of that event.

Life only gets harder once the Sooners return from the Sunshine State — and much colder. Oklahoma travels from Disney World one weekend to frigid Philadelphia the next to face blue blood power Villanova in their first true road game of the year.

After the ‘Nova matchup, the last three non-conference games of note are all against SEC teams. Two on neutral sites where OU faces Arkansas in Tulsa and Florida in Charlotte, then they host Alabama in January for the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.

Oklahoma upset Arkansas a year ago, but the Razorbacks are far too talented to expect the same result. Though a win is very possible. And Florida is about an equal opponent to the Sooners. But could be a crucial result for two potential bubble teams down the line. And the Alabama matchup could go a hundred different ways given the Tide’s volatile style of offense.

So a very strong slate outside the Big 12 for Oklahoma this season. The Sooners will be put to the test from late November through December.