PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – Seven teams that participated in the 2010 NCAA Tournament highlight the 2010-11 Prairie View A&M University men’s basketball schedule. The Panthers will also make a total of six national television appearances along with appearing on ESPN3.com.
The season tips off for fifth-year head coach Byron Rimm II on Friday, Nov. 12 as the Panthers travel to the state of Wisconsin for a two-game swing versus NCAA powers Marquette (Nov. 12) and Wisconsin (Nov. 14/ESPN3). On Tuesday, Nov. 16, the Panthers return to Texas for their home opener versus Arlington Baptist before beginning a six-game road trip highlighted by the Cancun Challenge. Sponsored by Triple Crown Sports, the Panthers will participate in four games under the challenge umbrella with two contests in the United States (LaSalle/Providence) and two in Cancun at Playa del Carmen, Mexico versus North Florida and either Morgan State or Western Illinois.
Upon returning to the United States, the Panthers hit the hardwood once again and remain in-state as they travel to Waco, Texas to square off against 2010 NCAA Elite Eight Participant Baylor University on Monday, Nov. 29. Two days later on Wednesday, Dec. 1, the Panthers take on TCU in Fort Worth, Texas before returning home to meet Ecclesia College on Saturday, Dec. 4 in the William J. Nicks Building. On Wednesday, Dec. 8, Prairie View makes a short trek to College Station, Texas for a matchup against Texas A&M (Fox Sports SW) and won’t return to action until final exams are over on Dec. 18 with a tussle against Big 10 powerhouse and 2010 Final Four Participant Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich. on the Big 10 Network. The non-conference slate comes to a close for the Panthers on Tuesday, Dec. 21 as they host Dallas Christian College in Prairie View.
Southwestern Athletic Conference play begins on Tuesday, Jan. 4 with road trips to Alcorn State and Southern (Jan. 6). The Panthers begin a three-game home stretch following the trip with contests versus Texas Southern on Saturday, Jan. 8, Grambling State and Jackson State (ESPNU) on Jan. 15 and 17. Prairie View hits the road briefly for a matchup against Mississippi Valley State (Jan. 22) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Jan. 24) before closing out the first half of SWAC play at home against Alabama State and Alabama A&M on Jan. 29 and 31, respectively.
Round two of conference action will be road heavy as the Panthers travel to Texas Southern on Feb. 5 followed by trips to Grambling State (ESPNU) and Jackson State (ESPNU) on Friday, Feb. 11 and Monday, Feb. 14. Prairie View hosts Mississippi Valley State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (ESPNU) in the William Nicks Building on Feb. 19 and Feb. 21 before hitting the road once again with contests at Alabama State and Alabama A&M on Feb. 26 and Feb. 28. Prairie View closes out regular season play at home against Alcorn State on Thursday, March 3 and Southern on Saturday, March 5.
The 2011 SWAC Tournament will take place in Garland, Texas at the Garland Special Events Center beginning on March 9.
When the Panthers hit the hardwood on Nov. 12, the team will have a different look with the addition of nine newcomers for the 2010-11 campaign coupled with the return of seven letterwinners. Junior guard Mike Griffin is the top returning scorer and steals leader for the Panthers while junior forward Tim Meadows returns as the leading rebounder along with senior Duwan Kornegay. The Panthers bolstered their backcourt in the offseason with the addition of former Alabama A&M standout guard Trant Simpson and Oral Roberts transfer Beloved Rogers and also added additional size in the paint with the addition of 6-10 junior college center Aron Walker and 6-7 forward Marvin Adu to go along with returnees Brandon Webb and Mike Webb.
