ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Valley Conference has announced the dates and locations of all league men’s basketball games set to take place in the upcoming 2011-12 season.
After posting a 3-15 mark in the MVC in 2009-10, Evansville showed great improvement last season, going 9-9. With the strides taken last season and a solid nucleus returning, head coach Marty Simmons is looking for more in 2011.
“We are excited to finally get our schedule done. I feel like the league will be as strong as it has ever been from top to bottom,” Coach Simmons said. “We have a lot of quality teams and players in the Missouri Valley Conference and it should prove to be an exciting season.”
Last season, the MVC was one of the most competitive leagues in the country with six of the ten programs in the conference advancing to postseason play. League champion Indiana State played in the NCAA Tournament while Missouri State and Wichita State were invited to the NIT. Evansville participated in the CBI, marking the second time in three seasons that UE played postseason ball.
Joining UE in the CBI was Creighton, who was edged by Oregon in a best of three series for the CBI championship. Northern Iowa was also invited to postseason play, making an appearance in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.
The Purple Aces, who are set to begin play in the newly built Ford Center, will begin MVC play in its new arena on December 29 as it welcomes in Southern Illinois. Evansville will look to build on its home court advantage a season ago, as it posted a 7-2 mark in MVC games at Roberts Stadium.
Other notable home games include Wichita State on January 4, Indiana State on January 29, Creighton coming to town on February 7 and the home finale versus Missouri State, which is set to take place on February 25.
On the road, the Aces will open up on New Year’s Day at Northern Iowa before traveling to Illinois State and Indiana State on January 7 and 10. The schedule does not get any easier as UE has a January 15 date at Missouri State before traveling to Wichita State on the 25th. The final road contest of the regular season is set to take place on Wednesday, February 21 at Creighton.
Game times are set to be released over the course of the next few weeks, pending potential television appearances. Information regarding televised Evansville contests will also be released as soon as it becomes available.
For information on season tickets for the inaugural season at the Ford Center, log on to www.GoPurpleAces.com or call the Purple Aces ticket office at 812-488-ACES.
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION
12/29/10 vs. Southern Illinois Evansville, Ind.
1/1/12 at UNI Cedar Falls, Iowa
1/4/12 vs. Wichita State Evansville, Ind.
1/7/12 at Illinois State Normal, Ill.
1/10/12 at Indiana State Terra Haute, Ind.
1/13/12 vs. Drake Evansville, Ind.
1/15/12 at Missouri State Springfield, Mo.
1/18/12 vs. Bradley Evansville, Ind.
1/21/12 vs. Illinois State Evansville, Ind.
1/25/12 at Wichita State Wichita, Kan.
1/29/12 vs. Indiana State Evansville, Ind.
2/1/12 at Bradley Peoria, Ill.
2/4/12 at Southern Illinois Carbondale, Ill.
2/7/12 vs. Creighton Evansville, Ind.
2/12/12 at Drake Des Moines, Iowa
2/15/12 vs. UNI Evansville, Ind.
2/21/12 at Creighton Omaha, Neb.
2/25/12 vs. Missouri State Evansville, Ind.
3/1-4/12 State Farm MVC Tournament – St. Louis, Mo.
