Hawkeyes schedule a doozy in Kennesaw State

There's a reason why so many major-college basketball teams have winning records come March, and that's because of who they play in November and December.

Friday starts this season, and there's at least a dozen crumby games for every decent one. Iowa is opening with a crumby one.

Kennesaw State is the opponent. Quick, what's the capital of Kennesaw?

The best — the best record the Owls have had in their 11 years as a Division I program was 13-18 in 2006-07. Their overall D-I record is 96-242.

If you're paying to see an 8:30 p.m. Kennesaw State-Iowa game, no one can ever question your devotion to the Hawkeyes.

However, the Owls do come to town with momentum, having won an exhibition game against the Georgia Southwestern State Hurricanes last Saturday, 60-58.

Last year, Kennesaw State lost by 38 points to Arizona State, by 33 points to West Virginia, by 37 points to Louisville, and by 27 points to Indiana.

No one can say the Owls are afraid to take beatings for paychecks. No one can say major-college basketball powers are afraid to be brazen enough to charge fans to see such non-competitive contests.

But fear not, Kennesaw State can be the bully Monday night when it plays its home opener against ... Brewton-Parker.

In the meantime, here is the complete D-I history of Kennesaw State basketball:

2005-06: 12-17

2006-07: 13-18

2007-08: 10-20

2008-09: 7-22

2009-10: 13-20

2010-11: 8-23

2011-12: 3-28

2012-13: 3-27

2013-14: 6-25

2014-15: 10-22

2015-16: 11-20