Ouachita Baptist men’s basketball coach Charlie Schaef announced Monday the release of the 2008-09 schedule, which features several top NCAA Division II opponents and one legendary NCAA Division I school.
A year removed from opening the season at Big 12 opponent Texas A&M, the Tigers embark on yet another historic trip, this time to nationally-ranked Kentucky Friday, Nov. 7 at Rupp Arena in an exhibition game. Ouachita Baptist’s other exhibition tilt is Sunday, Nov. 9 at McNeese State.
“We’re really excited about our schedule for the upcoming season,” Schaef said. “We feel that our non-conference schedule will really help us get prepared for our conference season and hopefully set us up for another postseason berth. Obviously a trip to Rupp Arena in Kentucky is an early season highlight on our schedule in November. Our players are extremely excited to play in front of 20,000 people on a national stage.”
Ouachita Baptist, which went 20-10 last season and captured the Gulf South Conference West Division Championship, will open the regular season Nov. 15-16 at the St. Edward’s Shootout Classic in Austin, Texas against Texas A&M-International and host St. Edward’s.
The Tigers’ first home contest comes Nov. 18 against LeTourneau, followed by a road trip Nov. 22 to Texas A&M-Commerce. Central Baptist visits Bill Vining Arena Nov. 24 and the Tigers conclude November with a trip to Durant, Okla., on the 29th to meet Southeastern Oklahoma State.
Drury and Texas A&M-Commerce make a trip to Bill Vining Arena to begin December. Ouachita Baptist doesn’t return home against until the beginning of the new year.
The Tigers, who beat Florida Southern in the opening round of the NCAA Division II South Regional last season, take on Northeastern Oklahoma State Dec. 10, Barry Dec. 14 in Memphis, Tenn., and Central Oklahoma and Midwestern State Dec. 20-21 in San Antonio, Texas as part of the St. Mary’s Shootout Classic.
The Tigers open the 2009 portion of the schedule Jan. 8 at home against Rhema. Ouachita Baptist then begins Gulf South Conference action Jan. 10 at Delta State.
