Wes Flanigan's first nonconference schedule as UALR's men's basketball coach is a 13-game slate that includes six home games and five games against in-state schools.
What it won't include is a matchup against his former boss.
UALR MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
DATE;OPPONENT;TIME
Nov. 12;Central Baptist;TBA
Nov. 14;Univ. of the Ozarks;TBA
Nov. 18;Idaho;TBA
Nov. 21;Lone Star Showcase;TBA^
Nov. 22;Lone Star Showcase;TBA^
Nov. 23;Lone Star Showcase;TBA^
Nov. 29;at Central Arkansas;TBA
Dec. 3;Tulsa;TBA
Dec. 8;Arkansas-Pine Bluff;TBA
Dec. 10;Central Arkansas;TBA
Dec. 14;at Northern Arizona;TBA
Dec. 19;at Oral Roberts;TBA
Dec. 21;at Florida;TBA
Dec. 31;Louisiana-Monroe;TBA*
Jan. 2;Louisiana-Lafayette;TBA*
Jan. 7;at Appalachian State;TBA*
Jan. 9;at Coastal Carolina;TBA*
Jan. 14;Arkansas State;TBA*
Jan. 21;South Alabama;TBA*
Jan. 23;Troy;TBA*
Jan. 28;at Louisiana-Lafayette;TBA*
Jan. 30;at Louisiana-Monroe;TBA*
Feb. 4;Coastal Carolina;TBA*
Feb. 6;Appalachian State;TBA*
Feb. 11;at Texas State;TBA*
Feb. 13;at Texas-Arlington;TBA*
Feb. 18;at Arkansas State;TBA*
Feb. 25;Georgia State;TBA*
Feb. 27;Georgia Southern;TBA*
March 3;at Troy;TBA*
March 5;at South Alabama*
*Sun Belt Conference game
^The Lone Star Showcase will be played in Cedar Park, Texas and include Central Michigan, Pepperdine, St. Bonaventure, Sam Houston State and Southern Illinois.
UALR released its 2016-2017 nonconference schedule Thursday, which includes a Nov. 12 season-opener against Central Baptist College, and home games against the University of the Ozarks, Idaho, Tulsa, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Central Arkansas.
Missing, though, is a trip to Lubbock, Texas, for UALR to play former Coach Chris Beard, who was hired at Texas Tech in April. The two teams met last December in Lubbock, a 65-63 Red Raiders victory, and were contracted to meet again in 2016-2017. But, Texas Tech bought out of the contracted game for $55,000, UALR Athletic Director Chasse Conque said.
Flanigan was Beard's associate head coach last season when, in his lone season with the Trojans, he led them to a 30-5 record, a Sun Belt Conference title and an NCAA Tournament victory over Purdue. Beard first left for UNLV in March, then for Texas Tech a few weeks later.
"They reached out to us and started the dialogue, and I think it's best for both parties," Conque said of the game. "Wes was on board; I was on board. I think, at the end of the day, we all felt this was the best thing for everybody, just being one year removed from last season."
Conque said Texas Tech's decision made UALR's schedule a bit more favorable, considering it eliminated a road game at a school that reached the NCAA Tournament last year. The void was filled by scheduling a home-and-home series with Oral Roberts. The Trojans will play at the Tulsa-based school on Dec. 19, and the Golden Eagles will visit Little Rock next season.
The schedule also includes road games at Central Arkansas (Nov. 29), Northern Arizona (Dec. 14) and at Florida (Dec. 21).
The game at Florida, the last before Sun Belt play begins Dec. 31 against Louisiana-Monroe, is the only "guarantee game" UALR has on its schedule this season. The Trojans played three last season, beating San Diego State and DePaul and losing to Texas Tech.
Conque said that's mostly because of a more positive financial standing this season than last. Increased ticket sales during last year's 30-5 season -- the Jack Stephens Center was sold out twice and averaged more than 5,300 fans over its last three games -- outside contributions and revenue made from the NCAA Tournament has helped create a 35 percent increase in external revenues, Conque said.
UALR will make $260,000 from its three-day trip to the NCAA Tournament alone, he said.
"We're in a much better position, and as long as we're able to do the things from a revenue standpoint, that we experienced last year, then we'll continue down this road," Conque said. "Whether it's one or two [guarantees] a year, that will depend on some of the things that we want to do with the program. But, it's definitely I think the right move."
Sports on 07/08/2016