SAN ANTONIO – UTSA head men’s basketball coach Steve Henson announced the team's non-conference schedule for the upcoming 2023-24 season on Wednesday, marking his eighth year at the helm of the Roadrunners.
The non-conference slate includes 13 games, seven of which will be played at the Convocation Center, three road games within the borders of Texas and three more outside the state, including marquee matchups at Minnesota and Oregon State
"We worked to have a nice mix of games this year in the non-conference. We are excited to host our own event again this year in the Convo. The stretch where we play four straight road games was not intentional, but it will be really good for us. We are excited to have Army in town for our last game before Christmas. Certainly, the objective is to head into league play healthy and with some confidence from the non-conference slate."
Steve HensonUTSA Head CoachFollowing exhibitions at home against a pair of NCAA Division III programs in San Antonio’s Trinity University (Oct. 24) and McMurry University (Oct. 30) out of Abilene, UTSA will open the 2023-24 campaign with a single home contest against Western Illinois on Nov. 6. The Leathernecks finished 16-14 last season.
From there, the Roadrunners will take on a four-game road stretch that crosses much of November, heading to Minneapolis to face Minnesota (Nov. 10) in the program’s second appearance at "The Barn", Williams Arena, followed by three in-state games in seven days at Lamar (Nov. 14), Texas State (Nov. 17) and Houston Christian (Nov. 20). UM went 9-22 last year under second-year head coach Ben Johnson. Also entering his third season, Lamar alum Alvin Brooks went 9-22 in 2022-23 and face UTSA twice in renewing a 36-game series that dates to 1982. Though the Roadrunners defeated TXST, 61-56, last November and the Bobcats went on to a 16-19 record, they are just one season removed from consecutive Sun Belt titles and a trip to the NIT. Facing UTSA for the 11th time, HCU was 10-22 a year ago under Ron Cottrell – the second-longest tenured DI coach.
The Roadrunners return to action just beyond Thanksgiving hosting the Roadrunner/Cardinal Classic tournament at the Convocation Center and facing off Jacksonville State (Nov. 24) and then UIW (Nov. 25). Meeting UTSA for the first time, the JSU Gamecocks were 13-18, while the cross-town Incarnate Word Cardinals finished 12-19. UTSA topped the Cardinals, 68-62, in last year’s 210 San Antonio Shootout.
Meeting for the second time this year, the Roadrunners welcome Lamar to the Convo to close out the month on Nov. 30.
Marking December’s first competition on the 10th, UTSA hosts DII opponent Arkansas-Fort Smith for the first time, after the Lions posted a 12-16 record in 2022-23. UTSA then heads to The Natural State for the first meeting since 1991 with the Trojans of Little Rock (Dec. 13), which ended 2022-23 at 10-21 under former Arkansas assistant and NBA player and coach Darrell Walker.
Just four days later, the Roadrunners will make the program’s third appearance at Gill Coliseum to face the Oregon State Beavers (Dec. 17). With Wayne Tinkle leading OSU in his 10th year, the Beavers are just three years removed from a Pac-12 Tournament Championship and a trip to the Elite Eight. Bookending the holidays, Army West Point (Dec. 21) and Prairie View A&M (Dec. 28) visit the Convo. The AWP Black Knights make their first appearance against UTSA coming off a 17-16 season and entering 2023-24 with Kevin Kuwik in his first year at the helm. Led by ninth-year head coach Byron Smith, the PVAMU Panthers return to the Convo in back-to-back years, with the Roadrunners walking away from the 2022-23 Fansgiving game triumphant in an 82-75 win.
The American Athletic Conference recently announced league pairings for the coming conference slate, but the specific dates will not be released until later this fall. For UTSA's first season in The American, every team will play 18 league games, including five of its 13 conference opponents twice and the other eight one time – four at home and four on the road. Starting this season, The American will have 14 teams compet-ing in men's basketball with the six additions; UAB, Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas and Rice, aside from UTSA – joining continuing members, East Carolina, Mem-phis, South Florida, SMU, Temple, Tulane, Tulsa and Wichita State.
Opening week for the first conference play dates will be January 2-4, 2024, and will run through March 10. The 2024 American Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Championship will expand to a 14-team tournament and be held at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, March 13-17.
|
2023-24 UTSA Non-Conference Games |
|
Oct. 24 – Trinity (Exhibition) |
|
Oct. 30 – McMurry (Exhibition) |
|
Nov. 6 – Western Illinois |
|
Nov. 10 – at Minnesota |
|
Nov. 14 – at Lamar |
|
Nov. 17 – at Texas State |
|
Nov. 20 – at Houston Christian |
|
Roadrunner/Cardinal Classic Nov. 24 – Jacksonville State Nov. 25 – UIW |
|
Nov. 30 – Lamar |
|
Dec. 10 – Arkansas-Fort Smith |
|
Dec. 13 – at Little Rock |
|
Dec. 17 – at Oregon State |
|
Dec. 21 – Army West Point |
|
Dec. 28 – Prairie View A&M |
2023-24 UTSA American Athletic Conference Opponent Schedule
Home Only: UAB, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Tulane
Home and Away: Charlotte, Rice, South Florida, Temple, Tulsa
Road Only: Memphis, North Texas, SMU, Wichita State
Heading into the eighth year under Henson, the Roadrunners have an exciting oppor-tunity before them with an almost completely new roster. Coming off last year’s 10-22 finish, the Roadrunners have reloaded the squad with 10 newcomers, including four DI transfers, four junior college transfers, one high school guard and another familiar face returning to San Antonio after a year in another program.
- UTSA -
