Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU Facing Challenging Non-Conference Hoops Schedule In 2015-16
June 26, 2015 | Cowboy Basketball
OSU Could Face 10 Non-Conference Opponents That Finished 2014-15 Inside RPI Top 135
STILLWATER – Matchups against Florida, Minnesota and Auburn, a trip to the Gildan Charleston Classic and Gallagher-Iba Arena showdowns against regional challengers highlight the 2015-16 Oklahoma State non-conference basketball schedule.
Including the Gildan Charleston Classic field, OSU could potentially face 10 non-conference opponents that finished 2014-15 inside the RPI's top 135, including four teams that won games in the postseason.
"We wanted to construct a non-conference schedule that would prepare us for the rigors of the Big 12, and I feel like this schedule does just that," said OSU head coach Travis Ford. "This schedule is extremely challenging, with games against tradition-rich programs that will put our team to the test. We'll leave Stillwater to take on Florida, Minnesota and Auburn, on top of playing in the Charleston Classic, but we're just as excited to welcome great programs like Tulsa, UT Martin, Long Beach State, Missouri State, Longwood and UMKC into Gallagher-Iba Arena."
The Cowboys are making their first appearance in the Gildan Charleston Classic, which could pit OSU against Virginia, Ole Miss, Bradley, Seton Hall, George Mason, Long Beach State or Towson. The 12-game bracket will be announced at a later date. All games will be hosted at TD Arena in Charleston, S.C., on Nov. 19, 20 and 22.
As announced earlier this week, OSU will take on Florida at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla., as a part of the Orange Bowl Classic on Dec. 19. This is Oklahoma State's first appearance in the Orange Bowl Classic, which will also feature Florida State taking on Florida Atlantic.
Minnesota and Oklahoma State will renew a series that dates back to 1931 when the two programs meet at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Dec. 12. The Golden Gophers have a slight 3-2 edge in the series that was last played in 1986. A resurgent squad under new head coach Richard Pitino, the Gophers won 18 games last year, including at Michigan State in February. This will be the sixth Division I basketball game hosted by the Sanford Pentagon in the last two seasons.
The Big 12/SEC showdown pits Oklahoma State against Auburn, which made an improbable run to the SEC Tournament semifinals in Bruce Pearl's first year at the helm. These two programs last met at a neutral site tournament in 2006-07 when OSU got its first win in three tries against the Tigers. That game is slated for Jan. 30 at Auburn Arena.
Tulsa finished second in its inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference under first-year head coach Frank Haith last year, and will be at Gallagher-Iba arena on Dec. 2. The Golden Hurricane won 23 games in 2014-15, advanced to the second round of the NIT and finished the season ranked No. 50 in the RPI. OSU is 70-37 all-time against Tulsa, and will be looking for win No. 40 against the Golden Hurricane in Gallagher-Iba Arena.
OSU will open the 2015-16 season at home against UT Martin, which posted the fourth-best turnaround in the country last season. The Skyhawks went 21-13, which was a 13-win improvement over the previous year.
The Cowboys will also play host to Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Nov. 16), Long Beach State (Nov. 27), Missouri State (Dec. 5), Longwood (Dec. 15) and UMKC (Dec. 29).
