Coming off a program-record 30-win season, the Valparaiso University men’s basketball team announced today its schedule for the upcoming 2016-17 season, featuring a total of 18 home games at the Athletics-Recreation Center and road games at national powers Kentucky and Oregon.

The Crusaders will take on Hillsdale in exhibition play on Saturday, Nov. 5 before starting the regular season with a busy stretch. Valpo will host three games at the ARC in a four-day stretch on the opening weekend of the season, starting with former Mid-Con rival Southern Utah on Friday, Nov. 11. The Crusaders then welcome Trinity Christian on Nov. 12 and Coppin State on Nov. 14.

Valpo’s first journey of the season away from home takes the team out west, as for the second straight year, the Crusaders will play at Pac-12 foe Oregon (Nov. 17). They will then head down to Las Vegas for the previously announced MGM Grand Main Event, taking on Alabama (Nov. 21) and then either BYU or Saint Louis (Nov. 23).

The Crusaders return home to the ARC to face Ball State (Nov. 27) and a Rhode Island squad which is earning preseason top-25 consideration (Nov. 29). Next up is a game at perennial national powerhouse Kentucky (Dec. 7), followed by a road game at Missouri State (Dec. 10).

Valpo closes out the non-league slate with three more home games, beginning Dec. 17 against Indiana State. The Crusaders will welcome Santa Clara in their final game before Christmas (Dec. 22), and then following the holiday, will host Chicago State (Dec. 28).

The Horizon League schedule kicks off Friday, Dec. 30 at UIC, while the league home opener comes one week later on Jan. 6 against Oakland in a matchup of last season’s top-two regular season finishers. Valpo will face each league team twice in the double round-robin slate, with its final regular season home game coming on Tuesday, Feb. 21 versus Milwaukee. The regular season finale is Sunday, Feb. 26 at Northern Kentucky, while Joe Louis Arena will again host the Horizon League Championship Mar. 3-7. 

Television broadcast information for the 2016-17 season will be announced next week, while season tickets are on sale now by visiting the Valpo ticket office, calling 1-877-MY-VU-TIX or 219-464-5233, or by e-mailing ValpoAthletics@valpo.edu.