The Murray State 2008-09 Men's Basketball schedule features three NCAA Tournament teams and a host of top quality opponents.
CLICK HERE FOR PRINTABLE SCHEDULE
The Racers' schedule is heavy on tough non-conference games against Western Kentucky, Arkansas State, Indiana State, and Missouri. MSU has also accepted an invitation to play in the San Juan Shootout where they will face South Florida, Oral Roberts, and Wright State. Rounding out the non-conference portion of their schedule will be a neutral site game versus Niagara to be played as part of the Dr. Pepper Classic in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
“Our non-conference schedule is tough,” Racer Head Coach Billy Kennedy said. “Practically every DI opponent we are facing finished with a strong RPI, so we have our work cut out for us.”
Oral Roberts won 24 games and was the regular season champion in the Summit League and Western Kentucky was the Sun Belt champion with 29 wins. Wright State was a 21-game winner and runner-up in the Horizon League. Niagara won 19 games and finished second in the Metro Atlantic Conference. Missouri and South Florida are Big-12 and Big East opponents.
“I know the fans will be excited to have our game with Western Kentucky,” added Coach Kennedy. “They're a tough opponent but I can't wait to see the atmosphere at the RSEC on November 22nd.”
The Racers will have 14 games at home this year with five of the last six home.
“I'm excited about this year's team,” Kennedy said. “That should put us in a good position to finish the conference race strong.”
Scheduling home games at the Regional Special Events Center continues to prove difficult. The Racers are 119-23 in 10 seasons in the building good for a .838 winning percentage. The Racers were 14-2 at the RSEC last season.
“The reluctance of some opponents to play a program with our championship tradition, coupled with the out-of-sight game guarantees being paid by mid-major programs, is changing the way we have had to approach our scheduling,” said Director of Athletics Allen Ward. “Over the next couple of years, we are going to position ourselves financially to be a player in securing home games and be very aggressive with seeking home/home series several years out.”
The Racers already have series with new OVC member SIU-Edwardsville and UT-Chattanooga under contract. The Western Kentucky contract has two years remaining.
The Racers are an annual pick for network television and this season is no different. This year, as part of the OVC television package, the Racers will host Austin Peay on Jan. 10 and Morehead State on Feb. 26. Both games will air on ESPNU. MSU will also host an ESPNU Bracket Busters game at the RSEC Feb. 21. All MSU home games will again be carried tape delayed at 10 p.m. on MSU TV-11.
“I'm not surprised by the TV coverage,” Ward said. “Last year's game against SEMO on ESPN2 was quite a showcase for the conference and Murray State. I expect that we'll put on another good show this season.”
Here is a breakdown of the entire Murray State 2008-09 schedule.
November
After the Nov. 11 exhibition against Bethel College, the Racers open the season Nov. 15 at home against Lyon College. The Racers will be shooting to push their record in home openers to 19 straight. MSU hasn't lost a home opener since Southern Illinois beat them in Racer Arena in 1989. MSU is 12-2 since 1994.
MSU hits the road Nov. 19 for a game in Jonesboro against Arkansas State. The school sports a new coach and a new mascot; John Brady comes to Arkansas State from LSU and the team nickname is now the Red Wolves instead of Indians.
Circle your calendars! Western Kentucky comes to town on Nov. 22. The meeting will be the 146th between the two teams in a series that dates to 1932. A huge in-state rivalry with the former OVC member always generates an incredible college basketball atmosphere at the RSEC.
After a Nov. 26 game at Indiana State, last years BracketBuster opponent, the Racers return home Nov 29 to host the St. Catharine College Patriots. The Racers will use this game to prepare for the opening of the OVC schedule just a few days later.
December
This season's early OVC games will take the Racers to “Death Valley”. They face Eastern Kentucky on Dec. 4 and Morehead State on Dec 6. MSU has split the trip in three of the last four seasons.
After a crucial opening weekend in the OVC, the Racers will travel to Columbia to play the Missouri Tigers on Dec 13. The Racers last played the Big-12 foe in 2004 losing by only 4 points.
December 20 marks Murray State's return to the San Juan Shootout in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Racers last played in the classic in 1997. This year's field includes South Florida, Oral Roberts, and Wright State.
After returning from the Caribbean, The Racers will play Niagara Dec. 29 in Chattanooga, Tenn. at the Dr. Pepper Classic. The Racers agreed to this neutral site game in order to begin a home-and-home series next year with UT-Chattanooga starting in Murray.
January
The OVC schedule will be in full swing beginning with a Jan. 5 tilt against UT Martin.
The Racers play Tennessee State and Austin Peay at home Jan. 8 and 10, respectively. The APSU game at the RSEC will be aired by ESPNU with an early 2 pm tip-off.
MSU plays at Jacksonville State on Jan. 15 and at Tennessee Tech on Jan. 17, before a much needed three-game home stand with Eastern Illinois (Jan. 22), Southeast Missouri (Jan. 24), and UT Martin (Jan. 31).
February
In early February, the Racers travel to play Tennessee State (Feb. 4), Austin Peay (Feb. 7), and Eastern Illinois (Feb. 9).
The Racers will finish with five of their last six at home. Tennessee Tech and Jacksonville State face the Racers on Feb. 12 and 14 before the Racers travel to SEMO (Jan. 17) prior to hosting the ESPNU BracketBuster Feb. 21.
The Racers' final home stand includes a television game against Morehead State (tip-off 8 pm) Feb. 26 before rounding out the conference slate against Eastern Kentucky Feb. 28.
March
The OVC Tournament begins with the top four seeds hosting quarterfinal games on campus March 3, before the semifinalists move on to the Sommet Center in Nashville for games on the 6th. The OVC Tournament championship game is March 7 and will be aired on ESPN2, after the semifinal games air on ESPNU.
