Key games for Washington men’s basketball team

• At Saint Louis (Nov. 20):

This matchup doesn’t look particularly daunting on paper, but it’s the Huskies’ first road game of the season. How Romar’s young team responds to being away from home will tell a lot about its character.

• Duke at Madison Square Garden (Dec. 10): The second of two games the Huskies play during a week-long trip to New York. The game against Marquette – four days prior – is big in its own right, but victories against high-profile teams like Duke have eluded the Huskies in recent years. If they’re intent on proving they belong, this would be a good one to get.

• UCLA (Feb. 2): The Bruins were picked by the media to win the Pac-12. Huskies haven’t lost at home to UCLA since 2004. And since this game follows a road contest against Arizona, it could be pivotal in determining the top half of the conference standings.