Bus seats and airport terminals will be as much a fixture of the UMass men’s basketball team’s nonconference schedule as hardwood floors and hoops.
The Minutemen only play five true home games in the 12-game slate to open the season. That balances with just two true road games (at South Florida Nov. 29 and Harvard on Dec. 2) and five games at neutral sites.
UMass will open the season Nov. 7 at the Mullins Center against Central Connecticut State as part of a doubleheader with the women’s team. Towson then will visit Amherst on Nov. 10.
The Minutemen’s first trip will be to the Myrtle Beach Invitational to face Colorado Nov. 17. Their remaining two opponents in South Carolina will be determined by the performance of the field. Either Murray State or Texas A&M awaits in the second game, while Boise State, Charlotte, new Atlantic 10 foe Loyola Chicago and Tulsa are on the other side of the bracket. UMass will play three games between Nov. 17 and 20.
The Broncos, Racers and Ramblers made the NCAA Tournament last season.
That leads into UMass’ road stretch before home games against Albany (Dec. 5) – coached by former UMass and Amherst Regional guard Dwayne Killings – and UMass Lowell (Dec. 8).
Two shorter neutral site trips follow. UMass will face Hofstra at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn as part of the Hall of Fame Invitational (Dec. 11) and North Texas at the Hall of Fame Classic at the MassMutual Center in Springfield (Dec.17).
Dartmouth rounds out the nonconference slate at the Mullins Center on Dec. 20.