MONROE, La. – A school-record 16 home games highlight the ULM men's basketball schedule, announced Thursday, Sept. 21 by head coach
Keith Richard.
The schedule features 11 games against opponents that appeared in the 2017 postseason, including three NCAA Tournament participants (SMU, Jacksonville State and Troy) and two National Invitation Tournament participants (TCU and UT Arlington). In total, ULM will play 15 games against opponents that won 20 or more games last season.
The Warhawks open the 2017-18 campaign with back-to-back road games at TCU (Nov. 10) and SMU (Nov. 12). TCU (24-15) and SMU (30-5) compiled a combined record of 54-20 (.730) last season. The Horned Frogs defeated Georgia Tech, 88-56, in the 2017 NIT Championship Game, while the Mustangs posted a perfect 18-0 record in Moody Coliseum.
ULM will play seven of its 11 non-conference games in Fant-Ewing Coliseum, including four contests against in-state opponents: Nov. 16 vs. Southeastern Louisiana, Nov. 21 vs. Northwestern State, Dec. 12 vs. Grambling and Dec. 20 vs. Centenary.
The Warhawks open their 9-game Sun Belt home schedule against Coastal Carolina on Jan. 4. The league slate also features home match-ups against Appalachian State (Jan. 6), Troy (Jan. 25), South Alabama (Jan. 27), Louisiana Lafayette (Feb. 3), UT Arlington (Feb. 15), Texas State (Feb. 17), Little Rock (March 1) and Arkansas State (March 3).
"We are very excited about putting a schedule together with 16 home regular-season games, a first in our program's history," Richard said. "This is also a very travel-friendly schedule, which was important to us after playing all over the country last year. All and all, it's a very good schedule that gives this team a chance to be successful."
The 2018 Sun Belt Men's Basketball Championship will be held March 6-11 at Lakefront Arena in New Orleans.
