Mississippi State Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Bulldogs
Non-conference schedule for 2018-19
Nov. 9 (H) – Austin Peay
Nov. 11 (H) – Hartford
Nov. 16 (H) – Long Beach State
Nov. 19 (N) – Arizona State (MGM Resorts Main Event)
Nov. 21 (N) – Saint Mary’s/Utah State (MGM Resorts Main Event)
Nov. 26 (H) – Alcorn State
Nov. 30 (A) – Dayton
Dec. 4 (H) – McNeese State
Dec. 8 (N) – Clemson (Never Forget Tribute Classic)
Dec. 15 (H) – Cincinnati
Dec. 19 (H) – Wofford
Dec. 22 (H) – Wright State
Dec. 29 (H) – BYU
The Bulldogs lost just one non-conference game last season with their one loss coming against the 25th-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats. In total, they faced zero teams from Power 5 conferences, going 11-1 in non-conference play. This season, their schedule has a few more Power 5 foes on it, making things a bit more challenging.
Mississippi State’s first three games at home are a warmup for a West Coast road trip. The Bulldogs open the season on Nov. 9 against the Austin Peay Governors then host the Hartford Hawks on Nov. 11 and Long Beach State 49ers on Nov. 16.
The team travels to Las Vegas to participate in the MGM Resorts Main Event on Nov. 19. They face the Arizona State Sun Devils in the opening round then Saint Mary’s or Utah State Aggies, depending on outcomes. The Bulldogs will be in unfamiliar territory in Nevada in more of a West Coast-favored tournament.
The Mississippi State Bulldogs return home on Nov. 26 when they host the Alcorn State Braves. They travel to Ohio to face the Dayton Flyers on Nov. 30 for their only true road game on the schedule.
The Bulldogs open December with a home game against the McNeese State Cowboys on Dec. 4. Then, they’re right back on the road to Newark, New Jersey. They’ll face the Clemson Tigers in Never Forget Tribute Classic at the Prudential Center on Dec. 8.
The final four home games should be interesting ones for Mississippi State. A rematch against the Bearcats on Dec. 15 should test their resolve. They lost last season on the road, 65-50. The Wofford Terriers (Dec. 19) and Wright State Raiders (Dec. 22) should be interesting matchups.
Wright State was an automatic bid from the Horizon League in 2017-18 while Wofford is never an easy non-conference foe and won 21 games last season. The BYU Cougars (Dec. 29) will close out the non-conference slate. They’re hungry for a tournament berth as well since missing the past three NCAA Tournaments.