UT Arlington men's basketball coach Scott Cross has assembled the most challenging nonconference schedule of his tenure for the 2015-16 season. The Mavericks' slate includes games against Ohio State, Texas, Memphis, UTEP and Louisiana Tech.
"It will definitely be one of the most challenging schedules we've had up to this point," Cross said. "It is loaded with teams that are in great conferences."
Seven Division I conferences are represented in the schedule: Conference USA (UTEP, North Texas, Louisiana Tech and Rice), Big 12 (Texas), Big Ten (Ohio State), American (Memphis), Atlantic 10 (Fordham), Missouri Valley (Bradley) and SWAC (Grambling).
Ohio State, Texas, LA Tech and UTEP each won at least 20 games last season and reached a postseason tournament. OSU and UT were in the NCAA Tournament, while UTEP and LA Tech made the NIT field. Memphis went 18-14.
The Mavericks start the season with the Homecoming Game on Nov. 14 against Fordham at College Park Center. Tipoff is 7:30 p.m. in the first-ever meeting between the schools, bringing to a close the weeklong Homecoming celebrations around campus and Arlington.
"We open up with Fordham, which will be a great home game for us," Cross said. "They've got a pretty recognizable name and program, so that should be exciting for Homecoming."
UTA embarks on a daunting three-game road trip at Louisiana Tech (Nov. 17), Ohio State (Nov. 20) and Memphis (Nov. 23) as part of the Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational. The Mavericks have faced the Bulldogs 32 times, the last two coming during the 2012-13 season when both programs were in the WAC. UTA is 0-2 against both Ohio State and Memphis. The Mavs played the Tigers in their only trip to NCAA Tournament in 2008.
"As part of our exempt tournament (Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational), we'll be on the road - LouisianaTech, Ohio State and Memphis - obviously those games will be extremely challenging," Cross said. "Louisiana Tech has been Conference USA champion. Obviously everyone knows Ohio State. They've been one of the top teams in the Big Ten the past couple of years. Memphis year in and year out is one of the top basketball programs in the country.
"The last game will be the home game that we get as part of that exempt tournament and that will be Grambling before Thanksgiving. It will be good to get a nice home game before everyone goes home and eats a little turkey."
UT Arlington does return home against Grambling on Nov. 25 before hitting the road again for in-state visits to Rice (Nov. 29) and Texas (Dec. 1). The Mavericks are 1-3 against Grambling. UTA is 2-2 vs. Rice, having last played in 1979. The Owls are scheduled to play at CPC next season. The Mavs and Longhorns, led by first-year head coach Shaka Smart, are meeting for the fourth consecutive season.
The Metroplex rivalry with North Texas is renewed Dec. 3 at College Park Center. The two area programs, which haven't faced off since 2012, are playing every season through at least 2017-18. Cross is 5-2 in his career against the Mean Green.
"That's probably the game we're are all most excited about because that's been our biggest and best rival, and now they're coming back to our place," Cross said. "They'll have a very good basketball team."
UTA squares off against UTEP for only the second time ever on Dec. 5 in El Paso. The last meet occurred Dec. 2, 1967, less than two years removed from then-Texas Western's historic national championship. Cross' brother Kevin is the women's soccer coach at UTEP.
The Mavericks wind up nonconference at home with games against Bradley (Dec. 8) and Sul Ross State (Dec. 21). UTA won at Bradley last season, 86-75, and is 3-2 all-time against Sul Ross.
The 20-game Sun Belt Conference schedule, which was previously released, opens against defending league champion Georgia State at College Park Center on Dec. 30. The SBC season also ends at CPC with Troy's visit March 5. The Sun Belt Championship opens in New Orleans on March 10.
Season tickets for men's and women's basketball go on sale Sept. 14 at UTATickets.com. Individual game tickets go on sale Oct. 1. For more information on season ticket options, please contact the College Park Center box office at 817-272-9595.
The Mavericks are also taking part in a foreign tour beginning Wednesday in the Bahamas. UTA will play four exhibition games during its stay through Aug. 25.
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