Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski reacts during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Notre Dame in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015. Duke won 90-60. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Now that the schedule has been released and we know that KU fans only have to wait 151 more days until the exhibition opener for the 2016-17 men’s basketball season — Nov. 1 vs. Washburn at Allen Fieldhouse — let’s dive into the non-con portion of the schedule a little deeper.

As expected — and as always — the non-Big 12 portion of KU’s 2016-17 schedule is loaded with big names and potentially tough games. KU coach Bill Self always has preferred it to be this way because of the challenge the tough schedule poses and the potential for more rapid sink-or-swim type growth that it brings his team.

Every once in a while we get that season when Self says he may have been too aggressive and ambitious with the schedule and wishes he would have pulled back a little, but even then, he rarely eases up the following year. Call it a habit, part of the guy’s DNA, something that just wouldn’t seem right otherwise.

With that in mind, Self and the KU scheduling gurus were back at it again for 2016-17 and now that we know the identity of all of the opponents, we can rank the games from most difficult to easiest.

Keep in mind, many of the non-con games are played in Allen Fieldhouse, giving the Jayhawks a huge advantage right off the bat.

1. vs. Duke, Champions Classic – Even with some other marquee programs on the schedule, I don’t think there’s any debating this selection. The Blue Devils are the likely preseason No. 1 and should enter the 2016-17 season as the favorite to win it all, with their fantastic blend of talented experience and dynamic newcomers. There’s no doubting that Coach K will have this team rolling next season. The question left to answer for Kansas fans is this: Will he have the Blue Devils rolling when they face the Jayhawks in NYC? Either way, this game will be a monster.

2. at Kentucky, SEC/Big 12 Challenge – As usual, the Wildcats will be loaded — they’re bringing in three of the Top 10 players in the Class of 2016 — and, this time, they’ll have revenge on their minds when the Jayhawks come to Rupp Arena in late January. Kansas will have the more experienced team and should not be intimidated in the least to go into that type of environment. But it’ll be hopping and the buzz surrounding Big Blue Nation will make it a tough game.

3. vs. Indiana, Armed Forces Classic – Yogi Ferrell may be gone, but the Hoosiers welcome back sophomore big man Thomas Bryant and guard James Blackmon Jr., who should provide a nice 1-2 punch for a team learning to play a different brand of basketball without the tiny floor general Ferrell leading the charge. KU’s biggest strength, its backcourt, versus an Indiana backcourt trying to find itself early in the season should give the Jayhawks a huge advantage in this one. But the Hoosiers proved during last season’s run to the Sweet 16 that they were more than just Yogi and crew. If this game came later in the season and the UK game was earlier, those two games easily would flip-flop on this list.

4. vs. George Washington, CBE Classic – The defending postseason NIT champions return a deep and big lineup as well as leading scorer Tyler Cavanaugh for what can only be described as an NCAA-Tournament-or-bust type of season for the Colonials. The Jayhawks are not guaranteed to play GW in the CBE Event in Kansas City, but are likely to do so.

5. at UNLV – One of just a couple pre-Big 12 true road games, the Jayhawks will have to not only contend with a UNLV squad led by new head coach Marvin Menzies, but also manage the hype and excitement that comes with playing a game in Sin City.

6. vs. Georgia, CBE Classic – Georgia coach Mark Fox will not be bringing his best team to Kansas City, but he does have athletes and a group that is used to seeing top-level basketball against teams like Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Florida and others in the SEC. Electric forward Yante Maten made huge strides during his second year in the program, jumping from 5 points and 4.3 rebounds in Year 1 to 16.5 points and 8 rebounds per game a year ago. He’ll be the cornerstone of the young UGA squad that also features the return of senior guard J.J. Frazier, who led the team with 5 assists per game. KU will either play George Washington or Georgia in the CBE Classic but not both.

7. vs. Nebraska – Cornhuskers coach Tim Miles has always been a huge fan of Kansas basketball, so you can bet he’ll take the opportunity to coach in Allen Fieldhouse very seriously and won’t want his team to embarrass the game by bringing sub-par effort. In addition to that, the ‘Huskers will bring to Lawrence a veteran team that features former KU sharp-shooter Andrew White III, who, no doubt, will want to put on a show in his return to his former home.

8. vs. Long Beach State – Long and athletic, with eight returners standing between 6-foot-5 and 6-foot-9, the 49ers team that missed an NCAA Tournament berth by four points in last season’s Big West final — and averaged 102 ppg on the season — will be much more experienced and hungry to make a statement with a strong showing against one of college basketball’s blue bloods.

9. vs. Davidson, Jayhawk Classic – He may not have Steph Curry on his roster any longer, but Davidson coach Bob McKillop is still a heck of a leader and he’ll have his team ready to play in a game that the Jayhawks sometimes struggle to get up for, mid-December in Kansas City. In fact, it was a McKillop-led Davidson club that handed the 2012 national runner-up Jayhawks a December loss at Sprint Center in this very event. And, even though both rosters have been completely remade, you can bet the Wildcats’ coach will draw on that experience when getting ready for this one.

10. vs. UNC Asheville – An NCAA Tournament team a season ago, Asheville returns all but two players from last year’s roster, including leading scorer Dylan Smith, a sophomore guard, who, as a freshman, led the Bulldogs with averages of 14 points and 5 assists per game.

11. vs. Stanford – The Cardnial may now be led by former Jayhawk Jerod Haase, but there’s a reason he got the job — last year’s team was not very good. With just a couple of players remaining from the team that upset KU in the NCAA Tournament in 2014 (role players at that) Stanford will be in full rebuilding mode and will be forced to deal with their Pac-12 membership status helping ensure Kansas will get up for the game.

12. vs. UAB, CBE Classic – UAB enjoyed a terrific 26-7 season, Conference USA regular season title and No. 81 ranking in the final RPI poll, but also lost its coach (now current Stanford coach Jerod Haase) in the offseason. That transition, along with the loss of some key players should bring the Blazers back to Earth a little bit. Like George Washington and Georgia, KU is not guaranteed to play UAB in the November event.

13. vs. Siena – The Saints finished the 2015-16 season ranked 123rd in the RPI and eight games above .500 at 21-13. Siena will bring to Lawrence several players who gained valuable experience a year ago and their recent history of playing games at Wisconsin and at Duke will make it easier for them to come into a hostile environment like Allen Fieldhouse than it is for most teams. But the Saints lack size and also said goodbye to one of their key leaders in guard Ryan Oliver.

14. vs. UMKC – The Roos were a wreck a season ago, finishing with an RPI rating of 288 and a 12-19 record while playing in the WAC. UMKC has brought some tough teams into Allen Fieldhouse in the past, but this won’t be one of them.