By Patrick DorseyThe Daily Northwestern

#5Nov. 21, vs. Brown (10-17, 6-8 Ivy League last year)

-It will be NU’s second game against an Ivy League opponent since Carmody left Princeton in 2000 (the season-opening home game against Cornell on Jan. 10 was the first), but this one is a little more personal. Ex-Cats assistant Craig Robinson now is the Bears’ head coach.

#4Nov. 28 vs. Miami (16-15, 7-9 ACC)

-Televised on ESPN2 as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, this game against the ‘Canes is the biggest home match of the non-conference season, and it comes against a vulnerable ACC opponent that, like NU, lost its two leading scorers (Robert Hite and second-round NBA pickGuillermo Diaz).

#3Nov. 17, at Stanford (16-14, 11-7 Pac-10)

-The Cardinal has fallen a bit since Mike Montgomery left to coach the NBA’s Golden State Warriors (he since has been dismissed), but this member of the trinity of major-conference, major-academic schools – along with Duke and NU – still provides an intimidating test on anintimidating court.

#2Feb. 7, vs. Illinois (26-7, 11-5 Big Ten)

-Dee Brown is gone. James Augustine is gone. But the Illini brings back nearly everybody else, and it still is the closest thing to a rival NU has. Plus, remember that food-throwing incident two years ago? Maybe someone will toss pizza live on ESPN2 this year.

#1Jan. 24, vs. Ohio State (26-6, 12-4 Big Ten)

-It’s all about the Oden. A sure-fire No. 1 overall draft pick in most minds, the NBA’s “next great center” might not be at 100 percent (he underwent right wrist surgery in June and is expected to be out until at least December) when he comes to Evanston. But greatness – or hype – like this comes along only once in a great while.