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Missouri State Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for Bears

By Jason Burgess

ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 8: Members of the Missouri State Bears huddle up prior to playing against the Wichita State Shockers during the MVC Basketball Tournament Semifinals at the Scottrade Center on March 8, 2014 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Shockers beat the Bears 67-42. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 8: Members of the Missouri State Bears huddle up prior to playing against the Wichita State Shockers during the MVC Basketball Tournament Semifinals at the Scottrade Center on March 8, 2014 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Shockers beat the Bears 67-42. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – NOVEMBER 25: Head coach Dana Ford of the Tennessee State Tigers talks to his players during a timeout in the first half during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on November 25, 2014 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – NOVEMBER 25: Head coach Dana Ford of the Tennessee State Tigers talks to his players during a timeout in the first half during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on November 25, 2014 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

Can Missouri State end their tournament drought?

Missouri State begins the year with three home games against Little Rock, Alabama State, and Cleveland State, before hitting the road to for the first time to face Xavier on Nov. 15, they will see Xavier again as a part of the Charleston Classic when the Bears face Miami and then either Florida or Saint Joseph’s in their next game, the event also includes UConn, Towson and Buffalo.

Their post-Thanksgiving schedule gets off with a bang, going to Baton Rouge to take on LSU on Nov. 29 and then they kick off a three-game homestand with Murray State with games against Mississippi Valley State and Arkansas State to follow. They then finish off the pre-Christmas portion of their schedule by going on the road to face VCU and Oral Roberts.

Expectations are as high in Springfield as they have been in 20 years and Coach Ford has positioned Missouri State to be contenders in the Missouri Valley this season. The question about the Bears is, will all the new faces come together smoothly or will there be bumps in the road that could cost them down the line?

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Their NCAA Tournament hopes may hinge on the conference tournament because wins over Miami, LSU, and VCU might be imperative if a match up with Florida in Charleston doesn’t come to fruition.