SAN ANTONIO – The second half of UTSA’s 2023-24 men’s basketball schedule came into focus on Friday, as officials from the American Athletic Conference unveiled the complete league schedule for the upcoming season. Featuring a largely new roster, the Roadrunners will take the floor this winter in the inaugural AAC campaign under eighth-year head coach Steve Henson, kicking off on January 2.
While the non-conference slate officially begins November 6 at the Convocation Center with Western Illinois coming to San Antonio, fans will need to wait until January to catch the Roadrunners going head-to-head with their new conference foes.
UTSA opens conference play in The American on Tuesday, January 2 at home, hosting fellow AAC newcomer UAB at the Convocation Center. Entering the fourth year under seasoned veteran coach Andy Kennedy, the Blazers have won at least 20 games in each of the past three seasons, including a 29-10 finish that ended in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) last year – after reaching the NCAA Tournament in 2021-22.
Action continues on January 6, as UTSA heads east on I-10 to face another familiar foe, taking on the Rice Owls (19-16 in 2022-23) at Tudor Fieldhouse, followed up with a huge road matchup at the FedExForum against reigning AAC Tournament Champions, Memphis, who went 26-9 and exited the NCAA Tournament on a loss to Florida Atlantic. The Tigers are again expected in the top tier of the league entering their sixth year under coach Penny Hardaway.
The Roadrunners will return to the Convo on January 13 to host fellow AAC newcomer Charlotte with new coach Aaron Fearne, after the 49ers went 22-14 a year ago and went on to win the postseason College Basketball Invitational (CBI) in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Back on the road on January 17, the Roadrunners will travel to Tulsa’s Reynolds Center, squaring off with a Golden Hurricane squad that finished just 5-25 and 1-17 in AAC play last year under then-first-year head coach Eric Konkol.
The first back-to-back home dates at the Convo follow as UTSA welcomes Florida Atlantic (January 21) and Tulane (January 24) to San Antonio. FAU’s story was hard to miss last season, as the Owls stormed all the way to the Final Four, finishing 35-4 in Dusty May’s fifth season at the helm. The Green Wave went 20-11 under coach Ron Hunter, entering his fifth season in New Orleans.
The Roadrunners will close out the first month of conference play in Tampa, Florida, taking on South Florida at the Yuengling Center. The Bulls went 14-18 a year ago and enter the first season under Amir Abdur-Rahim, who came down to USF after leading Kennesaw State to a 26-9 finish and the program’s first NCAA berth.
The first repeat matchup brings Rice to the Convo on February 3, with the Roadrunners wrapping up the week on February 7 at Wichita State’s Charles Koch Arena, taking on a Shockers team that went 17-15 and head into 2023-24 under new coach Paul Mills – who led Oral Roberts to a 2021 Sweet Sixteen and the 2023 squad to a 30-5 record and back to the NCAA Tournament.
The second home date of the month brings East Carolina to the Convo. With the Michael Schwartz leading the Pirates into his second season, ECU wrapped up 2022-23 at 16-17, reaching the second round of the AAC Tournament.
UTSA’s second double-road week follows, sending the Roadrunners to North Carolina for a rematch with Charlotte on the Thursday after Valentine’s Day (February 15), and then on to the City of Brotherly Love for a Sunday matchup at Temple. The Owls were 16-16 a year ago and head into this campaign under first-year coach Adam Fisher.
South Florida travels to the Convo for the second meeting of the year on February 21, with UTSA’s Saturday game sending the Roadrunners north on I-35 to face North Texas in Denton at The Super Pit on February 24. Associate head coach Ross Hodge was elevated to the top spot this season, as the Mean Green are coming off a 31-7 campaign that ended with an NIT Championship in Las Vegas.
Next up, Tulsa comes to the Convo for their return game on February 28, and UTSA opens the month of March by traveling to the Dallas Metroplex to face SMU at Moody Coliseum on March 2. The Mustangs went 10-22 with a 5-13 AAC record last year and are heading into the second season with Rob Lanier at the helm.
UTSA hosts Temple for the regular season finale at the Convo on March 10. The 2024 American Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Championship expands to a 14-team tournament this season and will be held at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, March 13-17.
The Roadrunners announced their non-conference schedule at the end of August, featuring 13 games and seven at home, logging three in-state road games, and three beyond the state's border that include marquee matchups at Minnesota and Oregon State.
In total, UTSA’s 2023-24 schedule includes 16 games at the Convocation Center. Games not slated for linear television broadcast will be streamed via ESPN+. Full tip times and broadcast schedule will be announced at a later date.
2023-24 UTSA American Athletic Conference Schedule
|
Tues. |
Jan. 2 |
UAB* |
San Antonio, Texas |
|
Sat. |
Jan. 6 |
at Rice* |
Houston, Texas |
|
Wed. |
Jan. 10 |
at Memphis* |
Memphis, Tenn. |
|
Sat. |
Jan. 13 |
Charlotte* |
San Antonio, Texas |
|
Wed. |
Jan. 17 |
at Tulsa* |
Tulsa, Okla. |
|
Sun. |
Jan. 21 |
Florida Atlantic* |
San Antonio, Texas |
|
Wed. |
Jan. 24 |
Tulane* |
San Antonio, Texas |
|
Sat. |
Jan. 27 |
at South Florida* |
Tampa, Fla. |
|
Sat. |
Feb. 3 |
Rice* |
San Antonio, Texas |
|
Wed. |
Feb. 7 |
at Wichita State* |
Wichita, Kan. |
|
Sat. |
Feb. 10 |
East Carolina* |
San Antonio, Texas |
|
Thurs. |
Feb. 15 |
at Charlotte* |
Charlotte, N.C. |
|
Sun. |
Feb. 18 |
at Temple* |
Philadelphia, Pa. |
|
Wed. |
Feb. 21 |
South Florida* |
San Antonio, Texas |
|
Sat. |
Feb. 24 |
at North Texas* |
Denton, Texas |
|
Wed. |
Feb. 28 |
Tulsa* |
San Antonio, Texas |
|
Sat. |
March 2 |
at SMU* |
Dallas, Texas |
|
Sun. |
March 10 |
Temple |
San Antonio, Texas |
|
Wed.-Sun. |
March 13-17 |
American Athletic |
Fort Worth, Texas |
- UTSA -