For those new to the blog or who need a reminder, in the summer, I try to piece together the upcoming basketball schedules from various sources. It usually is a combination of Rocco Miller on X, looking at certain team's releases and conference release of UT Arlington's current home.
This year has been really quiet in that regard. I have yet to see UTA on anyone else's schedule. No guarantee games at a larger school, no certified home and home releases. I can speculate on who is a second game from a previous home-and-home, but like Oral Roberts showed, there was a year between the two games contract so nothing is set in stone.
With that said, the only official release I have is from the United Athletic Conference. This week, they released the conference slate and the former Western Athletic Conference turned UAC is doing away with what they have done the last few years.
And I'm on board with it.
As expected, the UAC did away with the three-game slate against every school in the conference. That was done to complete a full schedule with only six WAC opponents. It was known to be a one-year gimmick.
The men's team will host every UAC school while visiting each. Two major changes occur in the format this year. The second I'll get into later, but the first is the men and women are not playing the same school on the same day but in opposite cities. Before, when the women hosted Tarleton State, the men were in Stephenville. I'm not sure how I feel about that, but it does intrigue me. Especially since the second point is possible only because of this change.
The men open UAC play at home against Central Arkansas on January 6th, followed by Austin Peay at College Park Center on the 13th. Former WAC rival Abilene Christian is the first road trip on the 16th. On January 20th, the Mavs travel to West Georgia. The final game of the road trip is at North Alabama on the 23rd. Little Rock returns to Arlington on the 27th while ACU is the first team to UTA sees again at CPC on the 30th.
The men start February with a two-game road trip, first to Eastern Kentucky on the 3rd and APU on the 6th. Tarleton State makes its first appearance on 13th when they come to Arlington. I'm glad to see this later in the year as the rivalry is getting increasingly chippy. UWG 17th on the and UNA on the 20th complete the longest home stand in conference play. UTA plays in Arkansas for the first time against former Sun Belt Conference foe Little Rock on the 24th. On the 27th, UTA goes to Stephenville.
Two games occur in March. The first is on the March 3 at Central Arkansas. The Mavs close out the season at home against EKU on the 6th.
Looking at last year's schedule, Missouri State was a home-and-home contract. Outside of their conference schedule, the Bears have released on game, a guarantee at Iowa State.
UTA hosted Stephen F. Austin and I fully expect SFA to host UTA this year. There's no schedule release on the Lumberjack website.
Finally, UTA played at Edinburgh last year and there's a real chance UT Rio Grande Velley will come to Arlington this year.
That's it as near as I can tell at this point. As usual, when I find more, I will add it to the comments section.
Transitioning to the ladies, the story is the same. I only know of the conference schedule, which is as follows:
The home slate for the ladies start with ACU on the 6th of January, APU on the 23rd, UWG on the 27th, UNA on the 30th, UCA on February 13th, EKU on the 17th, TSU on March 3rd and Little Rock on the sixth.
The road UAC test for UTA starts on January 13th at Central Arkansas, then Little Rock on the 16th and at TSU on the 20th. In February, UTA visits EKU on the 3rd, APU on the 6th, ACU on the 10th, UWG on the 24th and UNA on the 27th.
UTA will not travel in March until the conference tournament.
Speaking of the conference tournament, the "Credit Union of Texas Events Center" in Allen, Texas will be the host site. I haven't seen a release about the event yet, but the UTA site shows that as the site. Two days ago, it did not, so that is a very recent occurrence.
I'm going to discuss the second major format change but want to give you an opportunity to look over the schedules and see if you see it.
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With the change in playing the same team in opposite venues comes men and women doubleheaders. I'm very happy about this. I rented a suite for the first time last year and basketball games are just too faced paced to really sit and enjoy it. At under two-hours, it sometimes becomes a time/cost analysis. Being able to see both teams at once really gives me a chance to prioritize that day.
There will be five doubleheader games at CPC this coming season. I doubt there will be any in the non-conference, but it isn't impossible. The doubleheaders are set for January 6th, 27th, 30th, February 13th, 17th and March 6th. I love that the season ends this way.
For the ladies non-conference, the best I have is the same as their male counterparts: speculation. UTA hosted Missouri State, Tennessee State, Texas Southern and Wyoming last year. SWAC schools tend to travel on the road a lot and take any kind of guarantee game, so they may not get a return game, but I'd expect road trips to the other three. I believe the Houston contract is filled and don't expect the Cougars to play in Arlington. UTA played in Beaumont last year, but UTA and Lamar have been playing each other quite a bit lately. If I was forced to make a wager, I would bet Lamar will be in Arlington in a few months. UTA had a home and home scheduled with Little Rock, but obviously that changes. Bummer for UTA that they were in Arkansas last year. Thems the breaks. Rice is the only question mark. As an American Athletic Conference school, the Owls could have paid UTA to come last year, but that would have put UTA on the short end of a lot of guarantee games. I'd also bet Rice will come to Arlington.
As mentioned, any new updates will be added to the comments. Feel free to add your own games if you have knowledge of them and I haven't listed them.
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