UK's non-conference opponents

Huskies, Heels, Hoosiers, Cards and more

Robert Willett / MCT

North Carolina's Marcus Ginyard, who missed last season as a medical redshirt, returns for his senior year to help lead the Tar Heels' defense of their 2009 national championship.

Morehead State

Last season: 20-16 (12-6 Ohio Valley Conference). After beating Alabama State 58-43 in the play-in game, the Eagles lost to Louisville 74-54 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Final RPI of 135 was 94 points better than the final RPI of the previous season.

Outlook: The loss of leading scorer Leon Buchanan (15.1 ppg) complicates what Morehead State will do for an encore. But the return of the other four starters, including the OVC's leading rebounder, Kenneth Faried, and 1,000-point scorer Maze Stallworth (12.1 ppg) make the Eagles the favorite to win the league. An ongoing NCAA investigation into alleged recruiting violations hampers the momentum coming off the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance in 25 years.

Miami (Ohio)

Last season: 17-13 (10-6 Mid-American Conference East Division). Miami failed to receive a post-season bid for the first time in five years. Coach Charlie Coles survived four surgeries, including one to reshape his heart, and received a three-year contract extension.

Outlook: Coles, who needs two MAC victories to set a record for conference wins, touts fifth-year senior point guard Kenny Hayes (13.9 ppg) as a MAC Player of the Year candidate. The league's best recruiting class (according to The Sporting News) includes freshman forward Drew Kelly, who was Tennessee's Class AAA Mr. Basketball last season. Past players to win that award include Terrico White of Mississippi, Lee Humphrey of Florida and Jamont Gordon of Mississippi State. Miami will need the freshmen to contribute, because five seniors are gone from last season.

Sam Houston State

Last season: 18-12 (12-4 Southland Conference West Division). The Bearkats have been seeded first, second or third in the conference tournament four straight years. Three of their four conference losses last season were by a combined seven points.

Outlook: Four starters return, including what Coach Bob Marlin calls the league's best guards: Ashton Mitchell (12.5 ppg, 6.9 apg) and Corey Allmond (15.3 ppg). Allmond made a school record 99 three-pointers last season. Mitchell led the league in assists. Lance Pevehouse, Allmond's backup at shooting guard, made 50 three-pointers last season. Marlin hopes three transfers — Marco Cooper, Gilberto Clavell and Trevon Charles — can help his team improve defensively. Clavell was the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year.

Rider

Last season: 19-13 (12-6 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference). Coach Tommy Dempsey completed his first three seasons at the school with 58 victories and two post-season tournament appearances. The Broncs lost in the first round of the College Basketball Invitational last March.

Outlook: Rider returns four starters and a lot of experience. Four freshmen and eight underclassmen were among the top 10 players last season. Senior guard Ryan Thompson (18.0 ppg) is a conference Player of the Year candidate. He ranked among the conference's top 10 in six categories: minutes, scoring, three-point accuracy, assists, overall shooting and free-throw accuracy. The Broncs also return three other double-digit scorers in forward Mike Ringgold (11.4 ppg), wing Novar Gadson (10.8 ppg) and guard Justin Robinson (10.4 ppg). Rider will be seeking its first NCAA Tournament bid since 1994.Cleveland State

Last season: 26-11 (12-6 Horizon League). Cleveland State won at Syracuse during the regular season. Then with its first NCAA Tournament bid in 23 years, the Vikings beat Wake Forest 84-69 in the first round before losing to Arizona in the second round.

Outlook: Only two starters return. Among the four seniors gone are Cedric Jackson, who had a league record 112 steals last season, and forward J'Nathan Bullock (15.2 ppg). Guard Norris Cole (13.3 ppg) returns after making noticeable improvement last season. A converted point guard playing shooting guard, Cole will look to improve his 30.5-percent three-point shooting. In six games against major-conference teams, he averaged 17.3 points and made 46 percent of his shots. Cleveland State hopes Aaron Pogue, a 6-9, 275-pound sophomore who sat out last season, can be a force around the basket.