Mizzou men's, women's hoops assembling 2024-25 nonconference slates (2024)

COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Mizzou Arena floor is getting booked up.

With just four full months standing in the way of college hoops season, both the Missouri men’s and women’s basketball teams are in the process of solidifying the nonconference slates that will bulk up the first couple months of their schedules.

On the men’s side, that means setting dates for already-agreed-upon series with bigger-name schools and arranging for some smaller programs to visit Columbia in exchange for a check and chance at an upset — see what Jackson State did last year.

Contracts with other athletic departments, obtained by the Post-Dispatch through an open records request, outline four nonconference games for the Mizzou men and nine — plus a tournament — for the women.

On the men’s side, MU will open its season on the road against Memphis on Monday, Nov. 4, per a signed agreement. The two schools met in Columbia early last season and agreed to play multiple games, leaving just the matter of finding a satisfactory date for this campaign.

The last time Missouri opened its season with an away game was the 2003-2004 season, which saw the Tigers visit recent March Madness sensation Oakland of Detroit, Michigan.

A week later — suggesting room for a game or two in between — Mizzou will host Eastern Washington on Nov. 11.

The Tigers and Eagles have met just once before on a basketball court, back in 1988. MU will pay Eastern Washington $100,000 for its participation in that game.

Mississippi Valley State will pay a visit to Missouri just a few days later, on Thursday, Nov. 14. MU will once again pay the visitors $100,000, though for that game, the host university is also on the hook for two nights in 15 hotel rooms as well as some ground travel and meal expenses.

The Delta Devils will be making their third trip to Columbia, having last faced the Tigers in 2022 for one of Dennis Gates’ first games as Mizzou’s coach.

The only other “buy game” on Missouri’s schedule, at the moment, will see MU host Lindenwood on Wednesday, Nov. 27 — the day before Thanksgiving. MU will pay the visitors $100,000 on that occasion, too, though it won’t provide accommodations or travel.

As a newer D-I school, Lindenwood has only played Mizzou once before, also in 2022.

From that point in the season, the quality of the Tigers’ opposition will increase through December.

Atlantic Coast Conference newbie California will trek to Columbia on Tuesday, Dec. 3, for the ACC-SEC challenge.

Missouri and Kansas will play their latest rivalry game in Columbia on Sunday, Dec. 8, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein.

The annual Braggin’ Rights game between Mizzou and Illinois will take place on Sunday, Dec. 22, at St. Louis’ Enterprise Center.

What isn’t included among the contractual nonconference games is the return leg of MU’s series with Minnesota. The Tigers visited the Golden Gophers last season and were expected to host them this time around, but no date has been set for that fixture.

Reported games against Pacific and Washington State, as well as participation in the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City, were not in the contracts and have not been announced.

The Mizzou women have most of their nonconference slate pinned down.

Southern, Norfolk State and Tulane will be the first three opponents coming to Columbia, playing on Nov. 7, 10 and 12, respectively.

Southern will be the most expensive buy game, with MU paying $32,000 and providing hotel rooms. Norfolk State will receive $25,000 and fewer hotel rooms. Mizzou and Tulane will play again in 2025 in New Orleans and won’t exchange money for either matchup.

Neither team will pay for Missouri’s game against St. Louis, set for Nov. 20, either. The in-state foes have played each other most seasons since 2011, alternating hosting duties.

Mizzou will begin a two-year series with Arkansas-Little Rock on Friday, Nov. 22, at home, returning the favor on the road next season.

The Tigers will play in the Emerald Coast Classic just before Thanksgiving, paying $35,000 to enter that tournament played at Northwest Florida State College. There, MU will face Syracuse and either Creighton or Wichita State.

After the holiday, Mizzou will host Jacksonville State on Sunday, Dec. 1, paying $25,000 and providing some hotel rooms.

Another newer ACC team, Southern Methodist, will visit on Thursday, Dec. 5, for the women’s ACC-SEC Challenge.

Northern Illinois, Lipscomb and Oral Roberts round out the month of December, slated for Dec. 7, 15 and 18 respectively. The two former teams will each receive $30,000, while Oral Roberts will get $25,000.

Not among the Mizzou women’s scheduled games is a Braggin’ Rights matchup with Illinois, which would likely take place in mid-December in Columbia.