The Texas A&M men’s basketball program released its 2015-16 non-conference schedule Friday, revealing the grueling road the Aggies will take before entering conference play.
“This schedule is challenging to say the least, but we feel it’s going to prepare us for SEC and postseason play,” said Head Coach Billy Kennedy. “We’ve got a great group of seniors and veteran players. I’ve been impressed with their leadership this spring and summer as well as how they’ve set the tone for our young guys who have hit the ground running.”
The group of seniors Kennedy speaks of is made up of the trio of Alex Caruso, Jalen Jones and Danuel House, all of whom were All-SEC selections last season. In addition to the returning Aggies, A&M has brought in, via transfer, senior guard Anthony Collins from South Florida.
The season officially begins for the Aggies on Nov. 13 when they welcome USC Upstate to Reed Arena. The season opener will be one of nine home games A&M will compete in during the pre-conference stretch of the season.
During the week of Thanksgiving, the Aggies will take a trip to Paradise Island, Bahamas and Atlantis to enter into the ‘Battle 4 Atlantis’ where they will face a group of stout competition. Joining A&M at the destination venue will be Charlotte, Connecticut, Gonzaga, Michigan, Syracuse, Texas and Washington.
Beginning on Dec. 12, for the first time in program history, three teams from power conferences will come to College Station to face the Aggies. First will be Kansas State followed by Baylor and Iowa State.
The Bears as well as the Cyclones have been considered to be preseason top 25 teams with Iowa State projected to breach the top 10.
Following the Jan. 30 match up with the Cyclones, the Aggies will enter into another exciting year in SEC play. The SEC league schedule is expected to be released in August.
TEXAS A&M MEN’S BASKETBALL
2015-16 NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Date Day Opponent Site
Nov. 13 Fri. USC UPSTATE REED ARENA
Nov. 16 Mon. SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA REED ARENA
Nov. 19 Thurs. TAMU-CORPUS CHRISTI REED ARENA
Nov. 21 Sat. UNC-ASHEVILLE REED ARENA
Nov. 25 Wed. ! TBD – Battle 4 Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas
Nov. 26 Thurs. ! TBD – Battle 4 Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas
Nov. 27 Fri. ! TBD – Battle 4 Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas
Dec. 2 Wed. FLORIDA GULF COAST REED ARENA
Dec. 5 Sat. at Arizona State Tempe, Ariz.
Dec. 12 Sat. KANSAS STATE REED ARENA
Dec. 19 Sat. BAYLOR REED ARENA
Dec. 29 Tues. CAL POLY REED ARENA
Jan. 30 Sat. ^ IOWA STATE REED ARENA
! – 2015 Battle 4 Atlantis (Paradise Island, Bahamas)
^ - Big 12-SEC Challenge
*Schedule via 12thman.com*
