I’m sure you’re all familiar with the Twelve Labors of Hercules, for which the Greek muscle man performs tough to-do tasks like Slay the Nemean Lion and Obtain the Girdle of Hippolyta. Not to be outdone, A-State head basketball coach Bryan Hodgson (perhaps a direct descendent of Hercules) has created his own Labors presented in the form of the 2023-24 non-conference schedule.

One of the many things I've taken with me from @nate_oats is his scheduling philosophy!! Challenge yourself in the non-conference. Not much to gain from collecting wins at home against "lesser" opponents. We look forward to the challenges ahead, and we put together what we think… https://t.co/tN9gec939h

— Bryan Hodgson (@CoachBHodgson) August 22, 2023

Playing Alabama may not be as difficult as, say, cleaning the Augean stables in a single day, but dammmmn Coach Hodgson! Wisconsin? Iowa? Louisville? Okay, maybe Louisville is the “slaying the Stymphalian birds” of power scheduling, but it’s not exactly a home game against Lyon either, am I right? Playing Wisconsin in Madison? Iowa in Iowa City? Why not ask Caleb Fields to steal the Mares of Diomedes while you’re at it?

Because the challenge wasn’t steep enough, the Red Wolves will only be making a handful of appearances in Jonesboro during the OOC, which includes hosting UAB and Jackson State. Verily, a schedule this brutal should make the recent SEALs training the team recently underwent a real snap.

If there’s a tougher OOC schedule in the Sun Belt this season, please let me know.

PHOTO CREDIT: Me