Alabama Basketball Announces 2015-16 Non-Conference Schedule

The Alabama men’s basketball team finalized its 2015-16 non-conference schedule, head coach Avery Johnson announced on Monday. The Tide will play a challenging non-league slate that includes teams from the Pac-12, ACC, Big East and Atlantic 10, among others.

Highlighting the 12-game non-conference slate will be a trip to Orlando, Fla., to compete at the 2015 AdvoCare Invitational, as well as games against at Clemson, at Dayton and facing Oregon in Birmingham’s Legacy Arena.

Alabama opens the 2015-16 campaign on Nov. 13 when it hosts Kennesaw State in the season-opener for both squads. That contest will not only be the first game of the year, but it will also mark the first game as a college coach for Johnson, who spent seven seasons as a head coach in the NBA prior to his appointment to his current position this past April.

Following that contest, the Crimson Tide will play its first road game of the season when it competes at perennial A-10 powerhouse Dayton on Nov. 17. The contest, which is slated for noon CT (1 p.m. ET), will be a part ESPN’s Tip-Off Marathon.

Following a home contest against Louisiana-Lafayette on Nov. 20, Alabama will travel to Orlando, Fla., where it will compete at the 2015 AdvoCare Invitational (formally known as the Orlando Classic) over Thanksgiving weekend. The tournament, which will be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex’s HP Fieldhouse at the Walt Disney World Resort, features five teams who appeared in last year’s NCAA Tournament including: Xavier, Notre Dame, Wichita State, Iowa and Dayton.

Alabama will open the AdvoCare Invitational on Nov. 26 when it faces Xavier at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN2. It will mark the third consecutive year the two teams will meet on the hardwood. The Crimson Tide will then play either Wichita State or Southern California in the second round on Nov. 27. The tournament concludes on Nov. 29.

Alabama will remain away from home to open the month of December when it plays a pair of road contests at Southern Miss (Dec. 4) and at Clemson (Dec. 13).

The Tide closes its non-conference schedule with a four-game homestand, highlighted by the Oregon game, which will be included in the 2015-16 season ticket package. The Ducks and Tide will square off on Dec. 21 – exactly five years to the day of Alabama’s last appearance in Birmingham’s Legacy Arena. The last time the Crimson Tide played a game in Birmingham was on Dec. 21, 2011 against Oklahoma State.

The Tide will also face Winthrop (Dec. 16), Jacksonville State (Dec. 29) and Norfolk State (Jan. 2) during the homestand.

Alabama will play an exhibition game in Coleman Coliseum against Trevecca Nazarene on Nov. 6.

The 2016 Southeastern Conference schedule, as well as all start times and television carriers, will be announced at a later date.

Date Opponent Location

Nov. 6 TREVECCA NAZARENE (EXH) TUSCALOOSA

Nov. 13 KENNESAW STATE TUSCALOOSA

Nov. 17 at Dayton Dayton, Ohio

Nov. 20 LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE TUSCALOOSA

Nov. 26 vs. Xavier% Orlando, Fla.

Nov. 27 vs. TBA% Orlando, Fla.

Nov. 29 vs. TBA% Orlando, Fla.

Dec. 4 at Southern Miss Hattiesburg, Miss.