Men's Basketball Announces 2015-16 Non-Conference Schedule
8/7/2015 11:10:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nine home contests slated for Mizzou Arena for the 2015-16 campaign
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou Men's Basketball's 2015-16 non-conference schedule will include the Tigers' participation in the highly regarded CBE Hall of Fame Classic (Nov. 23-24) at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri, as well as nine home contests inside Mizzou Arena.
Head coach Kim Anderson's program will take on a challenging slate in its warmup for its 2016 Southeastern Conference schedule, including road contests at Xavier (Nov. 17) and at Arizona (Dec. 13). The Tigers will face North Carolina State at home on Dec. 19, ahead of the 34th Annual Braggin' Rights Game vs. Illinois at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri, on Dec. 23.
"We have once again put together one of the best and most challenging schedules in the country," Anderson said. "Our non-conference opponents will provide a great test for our young team and hopefully prepare them for the rigors of an always tough Southeastern Conference schedule. Last year, we played one of the top schedules in the country and this one is set to match or exceed that."
Mizzou's opening opponent in the CBE event matches the Tigers against former conference foe Kansas State (Nov. 23). The Black & Gold have battled it out in historically even fashion against the Wildcats, with the all-time series at 117-118 to KSU. Kansas State posted a 15-17 (8-10 Big 12) record a season ago.
Mizzou will face either North Carolina or Northwestern in its second game of the event at the Sprint Center. UNC advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2015 NCAA Tournament, finishing the season with a 26-12 (11-7 ACC) overall record. Northwestern compiled a 15-17 (6-12 Big Ten) record last season.
Anderson's group get rolling at home to begin its 2015-16 schedule, first with an exhibition matchup against Missouri Western on Nov. 6. The Tigers begin the season in earnest the following week vs. Wofford (Nov. 13) and vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore (Nov. 15) in a pair of host site games for the CBE Hall of Fame Classic. Wofford (28-7, 16-2 Southern) fell in its opening game of the 2015 NCAA Tournament, dropping a 56-53 result to Arkansas in the second round. UMES posted an 18-15 (11-5 MEAC) overall mark a season ago.
"We are always looking forward to being able to bring our team to great venues across the state with two games at the Sprint Center in Kansas City and the annual Braggin' Rights game at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. Combined with an overall 18-game home schedule, Tiger fans around Missouri will have many opportunities to see us play."
Mizzou hits the road for its contest at Xavier on Nov. 17, before it begins CBE games at the Sprint Center from Nov. 23-24. The Musketeers advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament last season, finishing with a 23-14 (9-9 Big East) mark. The Tigers battled Xavier last season at Mizzou Arena, dropping a 74-58 result on Dec. 13, 2014.
The Tigers return home from the CBE with a three-game home stretch vs. Arkansas State (Dec. 1), vs. Northern Illinois (Dec. 4) and vs. Omaha (Dec. 9). The Red Wolves went 11-18 (6-14 Sun Belt) last season, while Huskies posted a 14-16 (8-10 MAC) record. The Mavericks compiled a 12-17 (5-11 Summit) overall record a season ago. Mizzou holds a combined all-time record of 7-0 against the three opponents. The Tigers most recently took down Northern Illinois by a score of 97-61 on Dec. 27, 2010.
Anderson's team heads to the McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona, on Dec. 13, to face Arizona, an Elite Eight squad from a season ago. The Wildcats posted a 34-4 (16-2 Pac-12) overall record last season, spending the majority of their campaign ranked within the nation's Top 5.
Mizzou's Dec. 19 contest vs. N.C. State pits the Tigers against potentially its fourth opponent that advanced to last season's Sweet 16. The Wolfpack posted a 22-14 (10-8 ACC) overall record in 2014-15.
Mizzou closes its non-conference slate with two games over the holiday break, first facing Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Dec. 29) and followed by Savannah State (Jan. 2). The Golden Lions posted a 12-20 (9-9 SWAC) overall record a season ago, while the SVSU Tigers went 9-20 (5-11 MEAC) in 2014-15.
Tickets for the CBE's championship round games at Sprint Center are available through www.axs.com, www.cbehalloffameclassic.com, by phone at 1-888-929-7849 or in-person at the Sprint Center Box Office.
Game times and network designations for non-conference games will be announced at a later date by the SEC.
Read below for breakdowns of each non-conference opponent for Mizzou:
Missouri Western (Exhibition – Friday, Nov. 6 – Mizzou Arena)
2014-15: 12-15 (8-11 MIAA); RPI: N/A
Mizzou record vs. Missouri Western: 0-0
- Return eight players from last season's squad.
- Former conference rival of head coach Kim Anderson during his time in the MIAA at Central Missouri.
- Griffons head coach Brett Weiberg enters his third season after becoming just the fourth coach at Missouri Western since 1969.
Wofford - CBE Hall of Fame Classic Host Game (Friday, Nov. 13 – Mizzou Arena)
2014-15: 28-7 (16-12 Southern); RPI: 49
Mizzou record vs. Wofford: 1-0
- The Terriers have won 48 total games in the last two seasons and have racked up 27 conference victories.
- Captured both the SOCON regular season title and the SOCON tournament title, clinching an NCAA Tournament berth for the second consecutive season.
- Welcome back all but two players from the 2014-15 roster.
Maryland-Eastern Shore - CBE Hall of Fame Classic Host Game (Sunday, Nov. 15 – Mizzou Arena)
2014-15: 18-15 (11-5 MEAC); RPI: 191
Mizzou record vs. UMES: 0-0
- Collected 18 wins last season after claiming just six victories in 2013-14.
- Head coach Bobby Collins is the defending MEAC Coach of the Year.
- Returning senior big man Devin Martin averaged 14.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per game last season.
At Xavier (Tuesday, Nov. 17 – Cintas Center)
2014-15: 23-14 (9-9 Big East); RPI: 28
Mizzou record vs. Xavier: 2-3
- Unselfish squad that dished out 16.4 assists per game as a team, which ranked 9th nationally.
- Two of Xavier's three starters who averaged more than 10.0 points per game return for the 2015-16 campaign.
- Have made the NCAA Tournament nine times in the last 10 years, reaching the Sweet 16 five times in that span.
Vs. Kansas State - CBE Hall of Fame Classic (Monday, Nov. 23 – Sprint Center)
2014-15: 15-17 (8-10); RPI: 108
Mizzou record vs. Kansas State: 117-118
- Knocked off five ranked opponents in conference play despite finishing with a sub .500 record.
- First meeting since Mizzou joined the Southeastern Conference.
- Second consecutive season Mizzou and Kansas State are competing in the same early season tournament (2014 Maui Invitational).
Vs. North Carolina or Northwestern – CBE Hall of Fame Classic (Tuesday, Nov. 24 – Sprint Center)
UNC in 2014-15: (26-12, RPI 9); NW in 2014-15: (15-17, RPI 130)
Mizzou record vs. UNC: 4-5; Mizzou record vs. NW: 5-3
- UNC returns its top four scorers from last season who accounted for a combined for 49.1 PPG.
- UNC dominated the glass last season, holding a +14 rebounding edge over its opponents in 2014-15.
- Northwestern head coach and former Duke assistant Chris Collins enters his third season leading the Wildcats.
- The Wildcats return All-Big Ten Honorable Mention, 7-0 center Alex Olah and welcome 6-10 Virginia Tech transfer, Joey van Zegeren, forming a sizable frontcourt.
Arkansas State (Tuesday, Dec. 1 – Mizzou Arena)
Arkansas State in 2014-15: 11-18 (6-14 Sun Belt); RPI 278
Mizzou record vs. Arkansas State: 5-0
- Five of the Red Wolves' 11 wins last season came against non-conference opponents.
- Led by All-Sun Belt forward Anthony Livingston, who was one of 18 Division I players to average a double-double in 2014-15 (15.9 PPG, 10.0 RPG).
- Mizzou has beaten the Red Wolves by a combined 101 points in the two schools' five total meetings.
Northern Illinois (Friday, Dec. 4 – Mizzou Arena)
Northern Illinois in 2014-15: 14-16 (8-10 MAC); RPI 188
Mizzou record vs. Northern Illinois: 1-0
- Leading scorer Aaric Armstead returns after averaging 11.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per game last season.
- Ranked 46th in the nation in steals per game (7.5) in 2014-15.
- Saw six players average more than 20 minutes played per game last season. Three of the six (Armstead, Travon Baker and Darrell Bowie) are set to be on the 2015-16 roster.
Nebraska-Omaha (Wednesday, Dec. 9 – Mizzou Arena)
UNO in 2014-15: 12-17 (5-11 Summit); RPI 299
Mizzou record vs. UNO: 1-0
- Finished the 2014-15 non-conference slate with a 6-6 record.
- Secured a road upset in early November at Marquette last season, stunning the Golden Eagles, 97-89.
- Won final three games of the season, narrowly missing out on qualifying for the Summit League tournament.
At Arizona (Sunday, Dec. 13 – McKale Center)
Arizona in 2014-15: 34-4 (16-2 PAC 12); RPI 4
Mizzou record vs. Arizona: 1-2
- Despite losing its core of T.J. McConnell, Brandon Ashley, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Stanley Johnson, Arizona reloads with the fourth-best recruiting class in the nation.
- The Wildcats have failed to make the NCAA Tournament just once since 1984.
- Lost only nine games over the last two seasons.
North Carolina State (Saturday, Dec. 19 – Mizzou Arena)
N.C. State in 2014-15: 22-4 (10-8 ACC); RPI 32
Mizzou record vs. N.C. State: 2-2
- A giant killer during its 22-14 season, downing three Top 15 opponents during the regular season (Duke, UNC and Louisville) before upsetting top-seeded Villanova in the NCAA Tournament.
- Ranked 16th in the nation in blocks per game last season, swatting 5.3 shots per contest.
- Top returnee is junior Anthony Barber, who averaged 12.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game last season.
Illinois (Wednesday, Dec. 23 – Scottrade Center)
Illinois 2014-15: 19-14 (9-9 Big Ten); RPI 74
Mizzou record vs. Illinois: 16-29
- Mizzou has won four of its last six games against border rival Illinois.
- The Fighting Illini will be led by juniors Malcolm Hill and Kendrick Nunn, as the pair combined for 25.5 points, 8.3 rebounds 3.2 assists per game last season.
- Head coach John Groce has guided Illinois to 62 wins through his first three seasons at the helm.
Arkansas - Pine Bluff (Tuesday, Dec. 29 – Mizzou Arena)
UAPB in 2014-15: 12-20 (9-9 SWAC); RPI 298
Mizzou record vs. UAPB: 4-0
- UAPB ended the 2014-15 season on a high note, winning nine of its last 14 games
- Return both Jovaughn Love and Ghiavonni Robinson; Love averaged 11 points and five boards per game and Robinson added 8.3 points per game while playing in all 32 contests.
- Ranked eighth in the nation in steals per game in 2014-15 with 8.8
Savannah State (Saturday, Jan. 2 – Mizzou Arena)
Savannah State in 2014-15: 9-22 (5-11 MEAC); RPI 330
Mizzou record vs. Savannah State: 2-0
- Five players averaged more than 20 minutes per game last and four of those five return for the 2015-16 campaign (Alante Fenner, Javaris Jenkins, Saadiq Muhammad and Brian Pearson).
- Will have only one senior on the roster this season, as eleven of Savannah State's 15 players on last season's squad were either freshmen or sophomores.
- In Mizzou and Savannah State's only two meetings, Mizzou has won by a combined score of 164-94.
