Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Men's Basketball unveils 2014-15 non-conference schedule
07/14/2014 | 12:00:00 | Men's Basketball
July 14, 2014
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Saluki Basketball announced its non-conference schedule on Monday -- a 13-game slate that features long-time regional rivals Saint Louis, SEMO and Murray State.
The regular-season begins on Nov. 15 at Saint Louis -- a program that won 27 games and qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season. The Salukis will remain on the road the following week with a trip to Ohio Valley Conference opponent Tennessee State on Nov. 18, followed by a three-day tournament hosted by Kent State (Nov. 21-23) that includes Yale and UIC, in addition to the host Golden Flashes.
Southern plays its first regular-season home game on Nov. 29 versus NAIA Olivet Nazarene, before traveling to SIUE on Dec. 3. Five of the next six games will be at home with dates against Austin Peay (Dec. 6), Chicago State (Dec. 14), a second game versus Tennessee State (Dec. 16), New Orleans (Dec. 19) and Murray State (Dec. 22). The Salukis also play at SEMO (Dec. 10).
"With six freshmen and three sophomores on our roster, we've put together a schedule that will challenge our team heading into the conference season," said third-year head coach Barry Hinson, who returns All-Conference guard Anthony Beane and two other starters from last year's team that finished tied for fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference. "We're also playing twice in the Saint Louis area, plus games in Cape Girardeau and Nashville, that will allow our fans in those areas a chance to see us play."
This is the final year of a four-year contract to play both SIUE and Chicago State. The Salukis are a combined 5-1 against those teams during the past three seasons. SIU has not played OVC foes SEMO since 2010 and Tennessee State since 2004. The last time the Salukis played UIC of the Horizon League was in 2009. They played New Orleans, which is transitioning to the Southland Conference, twice in 2012, but have never played Yale or Olivet Nazarene.
"Last year, we only played five regular-season home games, so adding a sixth home game, in addition to our conference games, makes for an attractive schedule for our fans," Hinson said.
