The final pieces to the University of Evansville men’s basketball scheduling puzzle have fit into place with the announcement today of the 18 Missouri Valley Conference games.
Also today, UE announced game times for the two in-state non-conference games. The Aces will tip off at 12 noon CST on Sunday, Nov. 21 at Indiana University, and at 1:00 CST on Saturday, Nov. 27 at Butler.
Five of Evansville’s nine Missouri Valley Conference home games are weekend contests, starting with a New Year’s Day game against Indiana State and ending with the final game ever at Roberts Stadium for the men’s team, on Saturday, Feb. 26 against Illinois State. In between, the Aces host Creighton on Sunday, Jan. 9; Drake on Wednesday, Jan. 12; Bradley on Sunday, Jan. 23; Southern Illinois on Saturday, Jan. 29; Missouri State on Wednesday, Feb. 2; Northern Iowa on Tuesday, Feb. 8, and Wichita State on Tuesday, Feb. 15.
“It will be interesting to see how the Missouri Valley plays out this season,” said Coach Marty Simmons. “Northern Iowa made a great run over the past several years, but they have to replace some key players. So does Illinois State. Wichita State has a tremendous nucleus back. Bradley has a ton of guys returning. So does Missouri State, and Creighton has the big center (Kenny Lawson) returning. I see a lot of balance in the conference this season.
“With us, I know we’re going to be better. The first three days of individual work this week have been the three best days since I’ve been here.”
The Purple Aces will play a total of 31 games leading up to the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament March 3-6 in St. Louis. The two exhibition games are Oct. 30 against DePauw University and Nov. 6 against Kentucky Wesleyan College. The non-conference schedule includes a pair of home games to begin the regular season, against Oakland City University Nov. 13 and Texas-San Antonio Nov. 17, followed by four straight road games: at Indiana, Middle Tennessee, Butler and the Air Force Academy as part of the Missouri Valley Conference-Mountain West Conference Challenge Series.
Then it’s back home for four straight home games, beginning with the highly anticipated game at Roberts Stadium against coach Roy Williams' North Carolina Tar Heels on Dec. 8. The Aces also host Maryland-Eastern Shore, Middle Tennessee and Norfolk State before the 18-game MVC season begins with five games in 12 days.
This will be the Purple Aces' final season at Roberts Stadium, a building that first opened in 1956. The Aces' men's and women's teams are scheduled to move into the new, 11,000-seat downtown arena in time for the 2011-12 season.
Click here for the full schedule
