Butler basketball nonconference schedule released

Kamar Baldwin brings the ball down the court during a game last season. The Butler men’s basketball team will begin 2019-20 regular season play on Nov. 6 against IUPUI. Collegian file photo.

CHRIS BROWN | SPORTS EDITOR | cbbrown@butler.edu

The Butler men’s basketball team on Monday released its nonconference schedule for the 2019-20 season. The 15-game schedule features 10 home contests and is highlighted by seven power conference opponents.

The Bulldogs will open the regular season at home against IUPUI on Nov. 6, and the final game before the beginning of Big East play will be Dec. 28 against Louisiana-Monroe, at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Notable home matchups include a Nov. 12 contest against Minnesota as part of the Gavitt Tipoff Games, and a game against Florida on Dec. 7. The team will also host Wofford on Nov. 16 and Morehead State on Nov. 22 in the Hall of Fame Classic.

The Bulldogs will travel to face Ole Miss on Dec. 3 and Baylor on Dec. 10 as part of its road schedule.

Butler head coach LaVall Jordan said he believes the challenging nonconference slate will help the team greatly in preparing for conference play.

“We have high-quality opponents coming to Hinkle Fieldhouse combined with several true road games and great match-ups on neutral courts,” Jordan said in a statement. “We always want to prepare our guys for the BIG EAST season by playing tough, talented teams. We checked all the boxes that we wanted to with this non-conference schedule.”

In all, the Bulldogs will face at least six 2019 NCAA Tournament teams during the nonconference schedule, with the possibility of playing a seventh as well.

Butler will kick off the 2019-20 season with home exhibition matchups against IU-Kokomo and the University of Indianapolis on Oct. 26 and Nov. 1, respectively.

You can see the entire non-conference schedule below:

Oct. 26 – vs. IU-Kokomo (Exhibition)

Nov. 1 – vs. University of Indianapolis (Exhibition)

Nov. 6 – vs. IUPUI

Nov. 9 – vs. New Orleans

Nov. 12 – vs. Minnesota (Gavitt Tipoff Games)

Nov. 16 – vs. Wofford (Hall of Fame Classic; on-campus)

Nov. 22 – vs. Morehead State (Hall of Fame Classic; on-campus)

Nov. 25 – vs. TBA (Hall of Fame Classic; Kansas City, Mo.)

Nov. 26 – vs. TBA (Hall of Fame Classic; Kansas City, Mo.)

Dec. 3 – at Ole Miss

Dec. 7 – vs. Florida