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Not only are the Crusaders playing the defending National Champion North Carolina, but they've also added National Runner-up Michigan State to the schedule this year. It looks like Drew really does want to keep this streak of playing the No. 1 team in the country going for a sixth straight year.

Without Kansas or Kentucky on the schedule this season, I think it will be hard to get the No. 1 team again, but at least one national publication (Sports Illustrated) has the Spartans as the top preseason team.

Here is what Drew had to say about some of the games on the upcoming schedule...

On opening the season on the road against Ball State (11/13)...

"It's a good interstate rivalry and with their coaching staff, they just keep getting better and better every year. We love to play them because they are an interstate team."

"Going to Butler is always a good venue for the fans. Our games are always close and very entertaining and they've been down to the wire at both places. I don't feel like we're getting it out of the way by any means. They are going to be tough to play regardless of when we play them."

On the lack of a big-name opponent on the non-conference home schedule this year...

"It's very difficult to get someone to come in (and play us). The Horizon League is one of the top mid-majors in the country and I think this year, the Horizon League could be the best it has been as far as the balance goes and we might even be able to overtake the Missouri Valley as the best mid-major conference in the country."

"It's a nice thing to be able to put a game in where all the players have a chance to get in and play. You can never take anyone lightly, but we'll try to get everyone involved in those games."

On a brutal stretch in Horizon League play which has the Crusaders going to UIC/Loyola one weekend and then Milwaukee/Green Bay the next...

"You'd always like to be able to do your own (conference) scheduling where you could do two home, two away, two home, two away and so on, but the nice thing is that over a period of four years, everything evens out. With 17 road games, by that point of the season, hopefully we're prepared to play on the road."

"There is a stat that you only win 35 percent of basketball games on the road. If you look at baseball, soccer, football and then look at basketball, it's the hardest of anyone of those sports. It might be good that we have so many away games, so by the time conference play starts, we'll be ready."

Well, there you have it with the schedule. A common theme in my conversation with Drew was that the Crusaders are playing 17 road games next season. It seems that each year there is a common theme that works against Valparaiso. Two years ago it was that there was eight freshmen/sophomores on the roster. Last year it was that so many players left the program or were hurt. This year, it's the amount of road games. I don't mean to imply anything other than this could be a long year with lots of travel for the Crusaders. 

On the topic of the three games that are TBA on the schedule from Nov.27-29, Drew couldn't say much other than they were apart of the Legends Classic. The Crusaders are actually playing Michigan State as part of the Legends Classic, and then while the Spartans travel to New Jersey to take on the likes of Florida, Rutgers and UMass, Valparaiso will travel down to Georgia to take on a series of opponents that Drew doesn't even know yet. The Gators are playing Georgia Southern during their home leg of the Legends Classic, so perhaps that is an opponent/host for the second portion of the "tournament." I still find it funny that even if the Crusaders beat Michigan State, the Spartans are the ones that advance to the Legends Classic semifinals.

As for the team itself, the players are starting to roll back onto campus following a two-week break after the second summer session. Sophomore Cameron Witt was in the gym by himself today while freshman Tommy Kurth was shooting around earlier in the week. Once school starts, the coaching staff can work with the players in groups of four or less for two hours a week on the basketball floor. Additionally, the coaching staff can spend two hours a week on footwork/conditioning and four more hours a week in the weight room until October 17 when practice officially beings. -- Paul Oren

Nov. 1 vs. Indianapolis (exhibition), 4 p.m.
Nov. 13 at Ball State, TBA
Nov. 15 at North Carolina, TBA
Nov. 19 vs. IU-South Bend, 7:05 p.m.
Nov. 22 at Michigan State, TBA
Nov. 27 TBA
Nov. 28 TBA
Nov. 29 TBA
Dec. 5 at Butler, 1 p.m.
Dec. 9 at Purdue, TBA
Dec. 12 vs. Toledo, 2 p.m.
Dec. 19 vs. Concordia (Wis.), 7:05 p.m.
Dec. 22 at IPFW, 6 p.m.
Dec. 27 at Akron, 4 p.m.
Dec. 31 vs. Milwaukee, 7:05 p.m.
Jan. 2 Green Bay, 7:05 p.m.
Jan. 7 at Detroit, 6 p.m.
Jan. 9 at Wright State, 6 p.m.
Jan. 14 vs. Youngstown State, 7:05 p.m.
Jan. 16 vs. Cleveland State, 7:05 p.m.
Jan. 21 at UIC, 7 p.m.
Jan. 23 at Loyola, TBA
Jan. 29 at Milwaukee, 7 p.m.
Jan. 31 at Green Bay, 1 p.m.
Feb. 4 vs. Wright State, 7:05 p.m.
Feb. 6 vs. Detroit, 7:05 p.m.
Feb. 8 vs. UIC, 7:05 p.m.
Feb. 11 at Cleveland State, TBA
Feb. 13 at Youngstown State, TBA
Feb. 17 vs. Loyola, 7:05 p.m.
Feb. 20 at ESPNU Bracketbuster, TBA
Feb. 26 vs. Butler, TBA
Mar. 2 to Mar. 9 - Horizon League Championships, TBA