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Oklahoma Basketball Releases 2023-24 Non-Conference Schedule

The Sooners non-conference schedule features nine home games and a few marquee matchups before Big 12 play tips off.

Ross Lovelace

Oklahoma Basketball Releases 2023-24 Non-Conference Schedule
Oklahoma Basketball Releases 2023-24 Non-Conference Schedule /
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Oklahoma announced its 2023-24 men's basketball non-conferenced schedule on Tuesday, headlined by trips to Charlotte, San Diego and the Cardinal Classic in Tulsa.

The Sooners are set to open the regular season on Monday, Nov. 6 against Central Michigan, a MAC team that went 10-21 a season ago. Later that week, OU will square off with Mississippi Valley State on Friday, Nov. 10. Next up, Oklahoma is set to host Texas State and UTRGV at the Lloyd Noble Center on Tuesday, Nov. 14 and Friday, Nov. 17. Per the team's press release, the Sooners are 8-0 all-time against MVSU and UTRGV.

After the two-week long homestand, Porter Moser and company will travel to San Diego, California for the Rady Children's Invitational at LionTree Arena on Nov. 23-24. There, OU will play two games against either Iowa, Seton Hall or USC. 

Jon Rothstein has reported the opening game will be against Iowa.

Following the two-game invitational, Oklahoma will return to Norman but not the Lloyd Noble Center. The Sooners will clash versus Arkansas – Pine Bluff at historic McCasland Field House, a fan-favorite venue for basketball games, on Thursday, Nov. 30. The last game in McCasland Field House came during the 2012-13 season.

The Field House was originally home to the Sooners' basketball team from 1928-1975, where Oklahoma posted a record of 320-153.

After the short stint at McCasland, the Sooners welcome Providence to Lloyd Noble Center for the Big East-Big 12 Battle on Tuesday, Dec. 5, before traveling to Tulsa for the annual Crimson & Cardinal Classic against Arkansas on Saturday, Dec. 9. The Sooners-Razorbacks matchup has already produced two classics, with the series splitting evenly thus far.

Returning home from Tulsa, OU is set to host Green Bay on Saturday, Dec. 16 before turning its attention to what figures to be the biggest non-conference game on the slate.

Oklahoma and North Carolina will compete on Wednesday, Dec. 20 in the Jumpman Invitational at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC. OU won last season's Jumpman Invite contest, beating Florida 62-53. The Tarheels are a traditional college basketball powerhouse, and should provide a massive test early on.

After taking a break for the holiday season, the Sooners will host Central Arkansas and Monmouth on Thursday, Dec. 28 and Sunday, Dec. 31 to close out the non-conference slate. Oklahoma defeated UCA a season ago 87-66, and the rematch is now set.

The Sooners posted a 9-3 record through the non-conference slate a season ago, with losses to Sam Houston, Villanova and Arkansas.

According to the release, Oklahoma's complete schedule, with conference games, tip times and TV information, will be revealed at a later date.

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Ross Lovelace
ROSS LOVELACE

Experience Ross is a young, up-and-coming sports reporter who has covered the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Oklahoma Sooners over the past six years. He's made guest appearances on various radio stations and has helped out with the All Sooners podcast whenever he gets the chance. Ross enjoys public speaking and has done so at multiple churches and high schools across the OKC metro area. In addition to writing, Ross has been the Play-by-Play announcer for Crossings’ basketball and football programs since 2020. In high school, Ross worked for self-starter blogs and latched onto Thunder Digest, where he discovered his passion for writing. From there, he worked for the OU Daily as a women's basketball reporter and was hired by All Sooners. Ross landed an internship with Sports Illustrated's Inside the Thunder and has since become a full-time contributor. One day, Ross hopes to work in the NBA. Work History Education Ross holds a bachelor's degree in Public Relations and a minor in Communication from the University of Oklahoma. Personal Born and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Ross played basketball and wrote for his own Thunder blog at Crossings High School in OKC, OK. He enjoys reading, New York Jets football and a week at the beach. Ross is engaged to be married at the end of the year. His Twitter handle is @Rosslovelace.