Missouri men’s basketball releases 2017 SEC schedule

The LSU men’s basketball team will open SEC play on Thursday, Dec. 29 against the Vanderbilt Commodores.

Tennessee’s game against North Carolina will tip at 5 p.m. and will be televised nationally by ESPN. Mizzou upset the visiting Tigers in overtime two years ago in Anderson’s first SEC game.

Georgia now has a full basketball schedule, which includes two matchups with the team that knocked the Bulldogs out of the SEC Tournament.

Kentucky tips off the season on the road at Ole Miss to play in the newly-constructed Pavilion at Ole Miss for the first time on December 29 – the earliest the SEC slate has opened since the 1987-88 season.

The Gators will play Arkansas and SC twice along with permanent rivals Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Georgia.

Alabama went 8-10 in SEC play last season en route to an 18-15 season.

“We are excited about another tough schedule and we embrace the challenges that it presents for us”, LSU Coach Johnny Jones said in a press release.

The Aggies return eight lettermen, including SEC All-Freshman Team performers in center Tyler Davis and forward DJ Hogg as well as key contributors, center Tonny Trocha-Morelos and guard Admon Gilder. Two days earlier, Florida will host Missouri on February 2 on a Thursday night game. It also marks the first time since 1952 the Vols start SEC play in December.

Wednesday. 4 / at Missouri (SECN) / 8 p.m.

Sat., Jan. 28: vs. After the Wildcats’ Dec. 7 game against Valparaiso they will not return to Rupp Arena until January 3 against Texas A&M.

Carolina travels to Vanderbilt (Sat., Feb. 18, 8:30 p.m., SEC Network), before making the return matchup at Florida (Tue., Feb. 21, 7 p.m., ESPN). The Blue-White contest follows just a week a later on October 21 at 7 p.m.in Rupp.

Wed., Feb. 15: vs. Alabama, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 10 – Mississippi State 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 22 – Texas A&M 7:30 p.m. For the second straight season, Florida will play four of its last six SEC games on the road. – Madison Square Garden) (4) Basketball Hall of Fame’s Birthday of Basketball (Uncasville, Conn. – Mohegan Sun Arena) (5) Hartford, Conn. (XL Center) (6) SEC/Big 12 Challenge (Fort Worth, Texas) (7) SEC Tournament (Nashville, Tenn. The SEC Network will televise the first three days, while the semifinals and championship will be broadcast on ESPN.

Previous year the SEC announced a new scheduling format, with each team having three permanent opponents, and facing two other teams each season in a home-and-home series on a rotating basis.

Missouri will tip off with an exhibition game November 4 against Central Missouri.