COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Texas A&M head basketball coach Mark Turgeon released his team's non-conference schedule on Friday, which features 10 games at Reed Arena and trips to Corpus Christi, Orlando and Dallas.
"We are excited about our non-conference slate and look forward to the challenges it will provide our team," Turgeon said. "It is once again a rigorous schedule, with a number of quality opponents that will prepare us for the always tough Big 12 season. The schedule also provides an opportunity for Aggies in Dallas and Corpus Christi to come out and support us in person, and we look forward to that."
Coming off a 24-win season, a second-place showing in the Big 12 and their fifth-straight NCAA Tournament berth, the Aggies have the potential to face six 20-win teams this winter before Big 12 play begins. Five of those--Cal, Notre Dame, Temple, Wisconsin and Washington--are coming off NCAA tourney berths.
A&M hosts St. Mary's in an exhibition game on Nov. 2 before officially opening the season on Friday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. against Alcorn State at Reed Arena.
Following a home contest against Texas A&M-International, the Aggies will participate in the prestigious Old Spice Classic on Thanksgiving weekend at ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando. The three-game, eight-team field features five NCAA tournament teams--A&M, Cal, Notre Dame, Temple and Wisconsin--along with Boston College, Georgia and Manhattan. The complete Old Spice Classic schedule will be announced at a later date.
The Aggies then return home for four straight against Stephen F. Austin (Dec. 2), Pacific (Dec. 4), Prairie View A&M (Dec. 8) and the renewal of the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series against NCAA Sweet 16 participant Washington (Dec. 11).
Fans in the Dallas area will get a chance to see Texas A&M in action for the second straight season, as the Aggies face old Southwest Conference rival Arkansas on Saturday, Dec. 18 at American Airlines Center. Tip time is set for 6 p.m. A&M will then close out non-conference play with three more home games--Dec. 21 against Wagner, New Year's Eve night against McNeese State and Jan. 3 against Nicholls State.
Television information will be announced at a later date. The Big 12 portion of the schedule is expected to be released in the coming weeks. It was announced Monday that the Aggies would host Texas on ESPN's "Big Monday" at 8 p.m. on Jan. 31.
2010-11 TEXAS A&M MEN'S BASKETBALL NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Tuesday, Nov. 2 ST. MARY'S (TX) (Exhibition), 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 12 ALCORN STATE, 7 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 15 at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 19 TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL, 7 p.m.
Nov. 25-28 Old Spice Classic, Orlando, Fla. (Boston College, California, Georgia, Manhattan, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, Temple, Wisconsin)
Thursday, Dec. 2 STEPHEN F. AUSTIN, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 4 PACIFIC, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 8 PRAIRIE VIEW A&M, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 11 WASHINGTON (Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series), TBA
Saturday, Dec. 18 vs Arkansas (American Airlines Center, Dallas), 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 21 WAGNER, 7 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 31 McNEESE STATE, 7 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 3 NICHOLLS STATE, 7 p.m.
All times Central and subject to change.
