A minimum of 11 games against NCAA Tournament teams, an expanded Big 12 slate and 20 home contests are some of the highlights of the 2011-12 Texas A&M men’s basketball schedule, announced by head coach Billy Kennedy on Thursday.
The Aggies will play at least three games against teams that advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament this past March in Florida and Kansas–and that’s not counting a potential matchup with another Elite Eight squad in Arizona. A minimum of 21 of A&M’s games this year will come against teams with .500 or better records last season.
In addition, every Big 12 team will visit Reed Arena this winter for the first time in history, as the league will feature the only double round-robin format in the nation among the six major conferences.
“We’re excited about this schedule,” Kennedy said. “The trips to New York City and south Florida are some of the tough early tests that will help prepare us for the Big 12. It’s also a huge bonus that we get to play 20 games here in Aggieland in front of our great fans at Reed Arena. I think it’ll be fun for the fans to get to see every Big 12 team in person each year. We are looking forward to November and the start of the season.”
A&M hosts Dallas Baptist in an exhibition on Nov. 3 before officially opening the season the following week, playing host to the opening rounds of the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer at Reed Arena. The Aggies will play their season opener on Monday, Nov. 7 and another game two nights later against opponents to be determined.
Following a home game against Southern (Nov. 13), Texas A&M will travel to New York City and famed Madison Square Garden for the 2K Sports benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer championship rounds. The Aggies will open action against Mississippi State (Nov. 17) before battling either St. John’s or Arizona (Nov. 18). Both games will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
The Aggies then return home for five straight against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Nov. 26), Alcorn State (Nov. 30), SFA (Dec. 3), Sam Houston State (Dec. 7) and Louisiana-Monroe (Dec. 10).
A&M will resume action after finals in the 2011 MetroPCS Orange Bowl Basketball Classic on Dec. 17, facing the Florida Gators at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla. The Aggies will close non-conference play with two more home games, against Rice (Dec. 22) and Arkansas Tech (Dec. 29).
Big 12 play begins on Monday, Jan. 2, when the Aggies head north to face Baylor. Each squad will face an 18-game conference slate for the first time in conference history.
Fans at Reed Arena will get four Saturday Big 12 home games in January, including Iowa State (Jan. 7), Texas Tech (Jan. 14), Oklahoma (Jan. 21) and Oklahoma State (Jan. 28).
February home contests will feature Baylor (Wed., Feb. 1), an ESPN “Big Monday” visit from Texas (Feb. 6), Missouri (Sat., Feb. 18), Kansas (Wed., Feb. 22) and the home finale against Kansas State (Tue., Feb. 28).
The Aggies will be a part of a school-record three “Big Monday” telecasts, with trips to Missouri (Jan. 16) and Kansas (Jan. 23) to go along with the home game against the Longhorns. Other road games include Texas (Jan. 11), Kansas State (Feb. 4), Iowa State (Feb. 11), Texas Tech (Feb. 14), Oklahoma State (Feb. 25) and the regular-season finale at Oklahoma (March 3). Every one of A&M’s 18 conference games this season will be televised by either ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU or the Big 12 Network.
In March, the Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championship will boast a new format, with two first-round games on Wednesday evening, March 7, followed by the quarterfinals, semifinals and title contest in successive days.
The overall home slate will feature 20 games inside Reed Arena. Season tickets are on sale now, starting at just $200, through the Texas A&M Athletic Ticket Office (888-99-AGGIE or online at www.12thmanfoundation.com).
(as of August 4, 2011 – all times Central and subject to change)
November
3 Thu. #DALLAS BAPTIST 7:00 PM
7 Mon. OPPONENT TBD (2K Sports) TBA
9 Wed. OPPONENT TBD (2K Sports) TBA
13 Sun. SOUTHERN 3:00 PM
17 Thu. vs. Mississippi State (2K Sports) 6:00 PM ESPN2
18 Fri. vs. St. John's/Arizona (2K Sports) 3:30/6:00 PM ESPN2
26 Sat. A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI 3:00 PM
30 Wed. ALCORN STATE 7:00 PM
December
3 Sat. SFA 7:00 PM
7 Wed. SAM HOUSTON STATE 7:00 PM
10 Sat. LOUISIANA-MONROE 7:00 PM
17 Sat. !vs. Florida (Sunrise, Fla.) TBA
22 Thu. RICE 7:00 PM
29 Thu. ARKANSAS TECH 7:00 PM
January
2 Mon. *at Baylor TBA ESPNU
7 Sat. *IOWA STATE 3:00 PM Big 12
11 Wed. *at Texas 8:00 PM ESPN2
14 Sat. *TEXAS TECH 12:45 PM Big 12
16 Mon. *at Missouri 4:30 PM ESPN
21 Sat. *OKLAHOMA 3:00 PM Big 12
23 Mon. *at Kansas 8:00 PM ESPN
28 Sat. *OKLAHOMA STATE 3:00 PM Big 12
February
1 Wed. *BAYLOR 8:00 PM ESPN2
4 Sat. *at Kansas State 3:00 PM Big 12
6 Mon. *TEXAS 8:00 PM ESPN
11 Sat. *at Iowa State 3:00 PM Big 12
14 Tue. *at Texas Tech 6:00 PM ESPN2
18 Sat. *MISSOURI 1:00 PM ESPN/2
22 Wed. *KANSAS 8:00 PM ESPN2
25 Sat. *at Oklahoma State 1:00 PM ESPN
28 Tue. *KANSAS STATE 6:00 PM ESPN2
March
3 Sat. *at Oklahoma 3:00 PM Big 12
7-10 Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship (Kansas City)
13-14 NCAA First Round (Dayton, Ohio)
15-18 NCAA Second/Third Rounds
(Portland, Ore.; Albuquerque, N.M.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Louisville, Ky.;
Columbus, Ohio; Omaha, Neb.; Nashville, Tenn.; Greensboro, N.C.)
22-25 NCAA Regionals (Boston; Phoenix; St. Louis; Atlanta)
31-Apr 2 NCAA Final Four (New Orleans, La.)