The 2018-19 Radford men’s basketball non-conference schedule features five home games and a grueling slate on the road that includes several Power Five opponents, head coach Mike Jones announced Monday afternoon.
“Following a successful season and having a solid core group returning this year, we wanted to challenge our team to improve and not rest on last year’s accomplishments,” Jones said. “We made the toughest schedule we’ve had during my tenure here as head coach. Our non-conference schedule is extremely difficult. Hopefully it will prepare us for a very tough “new look” Big South Conference where there are never any nights off.”
Fans will get their first look at the new squad on Friday, Nov. 2 when Washington & Lee makes its way to the Dedmon Center for a preseason exhibition. The regular season begins in the Dedmon Center as well, with Davis and Elkins traveling to the New River Valley on Tuesday, Nov. 6.
From there the Highlanders schedule is shaped by the previously announced Gotham Classic, a tournament that pits Radford against UIC, Notre Dame, Duquesne and William and Mary.
UIC, who reached the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament final last season, will kick off the tournament at Radford on Friday, Nov. 9.
Radford then hits the road for the first time to take on Notre Dame (Wednesday, Nov. 14), Duquesne (Saturday, Nov. 17) and William and Mary (Tuesday, Nov. 20) to close out the tournament.
In a quick return home before another long stretch of road games, the Highlanders host Glenville State on Monday, Nov. 26.
The schedule’s most difficult stretch comes at the end of the November and continues through the entire month of December. Coach Jones reunites with his old boss, Shaka Smart, on Friday, Nov. 30 when Radford flies to the Lone Star State for a clash with Texas.
Then in December, the Highlanders stay on the road to go head-to-head with James Madison (Tuesday, Dec. 4), Ohio (Saturday, Dec. 8), Clemson (Saturday, Dec. 15) and UNC Greensboro (Tuesday, Dec. 18).
Before heading off for Christmas break, the Highlanders bring Georgia Southern to the Dedmon Center for a Friday, Dec. 21 match-up. Radford then closes out 2018 on Saturday, Dec. 29 at Maryland.
Helping usher in 2019 for Highlander Nation, the team welcomes Mars Hill to the Dedmon Center on Tuesday, Jan. 1 and then the journey for another Big South title begins with conference play. The entire Big South men’s basketball schedule is expected to be released soon.
“We play four Power Five teams that could all be ranked and two of them will probably be in the top-10,” continued Jones. “What makes this year’s non-conference schedule so tough is all of the strong mid-major programs. I’m looking forward to those games in particular because they will really give us a picture of where we are as a team and as a program. We will learn a lot about ourselves after playing this gauntlet!”
Radford returns three starters including Donald Hicks, First Team All-Big South honoree Ed Polite Jr. and reigning Big South Freshman of the Year Carlik Jones. The Highlanders will once again be led by the 2017-18 Big South Coach of the Year, Mike Jones. The team also reloaded its roster with Kansas State grad transfer Mawdo Sallah and fellow newcomers Cle’von Greene, Devin Hutchinson and Josiah Jeffers.
–RU Athletics
