24-25 MBB Schedule

The non-conference MBB is out...a quick look.

I would say it is improved over last year.  There are still 2 non-NCAA games, but there is a P4 opponent as well as tough road matchups against Southern Miss and KC.   We play @Bellarmine, they kicked our butt last year.  And there is one more Sun Belt game to get mixed in.  A brief, cursory look at the schedule is below.  All predictions are from Blue Ribbon.

One other thing.  The MAC schedule came out a little while ago...every team in the MAC plays 7 teams twice and four teams once.  BG plays OU (the favorite) and UA (#2) only once, and both times at home, meaning BG is spared a trip to the JAR House of Horrors and the Convo.  The away games are Miami and CMU, both picked for the middle of the MAC.

November 4:  @Southern Miss MAC-Sun Belt Challenge

This is a legit opener.  Southern Miss was picked #4 in Sun Belt.  Rough year for them last year...Coach had a heart attack, top player wasn't eligible until mid-year and then was out with a concussion.

November 8: Davidson

This is a great home and home for us.  They are picked #11 in the A-10.  Were 10-3 last year when their leading scorer was injured.  Interesting note:  there's no grad school at Davidson, so they can't get grad transfers.

November 11: Taylor

One of two NAIA games on the schedule.  Taylor is in Indiana.  They were 11-18 last year and have a new coach.

November 16:  @Michigan State

Like you need to know about these guys. Picked #6 in Big 10.

November 19: Niagara

One of 6 teams in the country not to return a scholarship player. Picked last in MEAC.

November 23:  @Bellarmine

Return visit.  They beat us by 18 in BG last season.  Was probably our worst loss, as they went on to be 8-23.  Picked #8 in Atlantic Sun.

November 29:  Weber State (Neutral Floor)

Good matchup.  They won 20 last year, and are picked #2 in the Big Sky, the 22nd ranked conference.  (MAC is #24).

November 30:  Pepperdine/New Mexico St. (Neutral Floor)

Pepperdine is picked last in the WCC.

New Mexico State is picked #9 in C-USA. Still reeling from the off-court issues from the guy who replaced Jans.

December 7: Morgan State

Picked #6 in MEAC.

December 14:  Kansas City

BG beat them by 10 last year at the Stroh.  This will be a legit challenge.  They are picked to win the Summit, a conference ranking essentially equal with the MAC.  

December 21, 2024:  St. Thomas

Familiar to BG Hockey fans, the Tommies are D1 and picked #6 in the Summit.  They won 20 last year, winning over WMU and Kansas City...twice.

December 23:  Aquinas College

NAIA team from Grand Rapids, MI.  Were 14-18 last year.

Interestingly, those last two opponents represent Catholic schools named after the same saint.  In fact, together they read St. Thomas Aquinas, a closed-loop canonization loop possibly unprecedented in NCAA history.