Mizzou men’s basketball schedule slowly comes into focus

Missouri men’s basketball’s schedule is slowly coming into focus.

The Tigers announced a home-and-away series with Central Florida for the next two seasons Thursday and the Southeastern Conference revealed next season’s opponents.

Mizzou’s first-ever meeting with the Golden Knights is set for Nov. 30 at CFE Arena in Orlando, Fla.

The Tigers will be trying to snap a 35-game road losing streak, which dates back to a Jan. 28, 2014, victory at Arkansas.

Central Florida will play the return game at Mizzou Arena sometime during the 2018-19 season.

“It’s a huge benefit that our team will play a true road game so early in the season,” new Mizzou basketball coach Cuonzo Martin said in a statement. “Adding intriguing games to our future schedules, both at home, on the road and at neutral sites, will be a focus of ours in the years to come. We’ll always look to construct non-conference schedules that best fit our program, while additionally spreading the Mizzou brand.”

That game comes four days after the Tigers complete a three-game stretch in Orlando for the 2017 AdvoCare Invitational (Nov. 23-26) as part of a field that also includes the Golden Knights, Nebraska, Oregon State, West Virginia, St. John’s, Long Beach State and Marist.

The game at Central Florida is a fourth, exempted and non-bracketed, game as part of the AdvoCare Invitational field.

Mizzou opens the season Nov. 10 against Iowa State at home and The Star has previously reported that Martin’s squad will host Stephen F. Austin State on Dec. 19 right before the annual Braggin’ Rights Game against Illinois, which contractually must fall between Dec. 20 and Dec. 23.

During conference play, the Tigers also will welcome Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Tennessee and Texas A&M.

Missouri’s road slate in the SEC involves trips to Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt.

Dates, tipoff times and broadcast information for those games will be released at another time.

This story was originally published June 1, 2017 at 10:27 AM with the headline "Mizzou men’s basketball schedule slowly comes into focus."