Marshall University Athletics
@HerdMBB Announces 2016-17 Non-Conference Schedule
8/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall coach Dan D'Antoni announced the Thundering Herd's 2016-17 men's basketball non-conference schedule on Friday.
The out-of-conference schedule is highlighted by seven home games in the Cam Henderson Center and trips to Ohio State, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.
For the second straight season, the Thundering Herd will host two exhibition games before opening its 13-game non-conference schedule. This season the Herd will play West Virginia State (Nov. 3) and University of Charleston (Nov. 6).
Marshall opens up its regular season schedule at home for the first four games, as the team hosts North Carolina Central (Nov. 12), Morehead State (Nov. 15), Western Carolina (Nov. 19) and Jackson State (Nov. 21). The Marshall-Morehead State game will be the 98th all-time meeting, while it will be the 43rd meeting between the Herd and Western Carolina. Marshall has played against North Carolina Central and Jackson State only once before.
The first road contest of the season comes against Ohio State on Nov. 25 at the Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center. The last meeting between the Herd and Buckeyes was during the 1977-78 season. Ohio State went 21-14 (11-7 Big Ten) last season and made it to the second round of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
Marshall will then return home for the 101st meeting against long-time rival Ohio (Nov. 30) before a two-game road swing at Eastern Kentucky (Dec. 3) and Chattanooga (Dec. 6). Last season the Herd defeated EKU at "The Cam", 96-72. Austin Loop had 26 points and a career-high eight 3-pointers.
The Thundering Herd will reunite with two former Mid-American Conference (MAC) opponents in December. Marshall hosts the Toledo Rockets on Dec. 10, while visiting Akron on Dec. 17. Akron made the NIT, but was defeated in the first round by Ohio State.
After a game against Division II opponent West Virginia Wesleyan on Dec. 19, the Herd closes out its non-conference schedule by traveling to Cincinnati of the American Athletic Conference (AAC) on Dec. 22 and Pittsburgh of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) on Dec. 28. The last meeting against the Bearcats was during the 2012-13 season, while the Herd played Pittsburgh in the 1992-93 season. Cincinnati and Pittsburgh both made it to the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament.
Marshall finished with a 17-16 (12-6 C-USA) record last season and earned the third seed in the C-USA Tournament, the highest in Herd history. The Thundering Herd defeated sixth-seeded UTEP in the quarterfinals before falling to second-seeded and eventual champions Middle Tennessee in the semifinals. The Herd returns four starters from last season in seniors Ryan Taylor, Austin Loop, Stevie Browning and junior Jon Elmore.
Season ticket holders can renew their tickets until Sept. 14. Herd fans looking to purchase season tickets can on Sept. 26.
2016-17 Marshall Men's Basketball Schedule
Nov. 3 - West Virginia State (Exhibition)
Nov. 6 - University of Charleston (Exhibition)
Nov. 12 - North Carolina Central
Nov. 15 - Morehead State
Nov. 19 - Western Carolina
Nov. 21 - Jackson State
Nov. 25 - at Ohio State
Nov. 30 - Ohio
Dec. 3 - at Eastern Kentucky
Dec. 6 - at Chattanooga
Dec. 10 - Toledo
Dec. 17 - at Akron
Dec. 19 - West Virginia Wesleyan
Dec. 22 - at Cincinnati
Dec. 28 - at Pittsburgh
Dec. 31 - at FIU*
Jan. 2 - at Florida Atlantic*
Jan. 5 - Old Dominion*
Jan. 7 - Charlotte*
Jan. 12 - at Middle Tennessee*
Jan. 14 - at UAB*
Jan. 21 - WKU*
Jan. 26 - UTSA*
Jan. 28 - UTEP*
Feb. 2 - at Southern Miss*
Feb. 4 - at Louisiana Tech*
Feb. 11 - at WKU*
Feb. 16 - UAB*
Feb. 18 - Middle Tennessee*
Feb. 23 - at Old Dominion*
Feb. 25 - at Charlotte*
March 2 - Rice*
March 4 - North Texas*
March 8-11 - C-USA Tournament (Birmingham, Ala.)
* - Conference USA opponent
Game times with television designation will be announced at a later date.
For all the latest information about Marshall men's basketball, follow @HerdMBB on Twitter and Marshall University Basketball on Facebook.
