Breaking Down the 2019-20 MBB NonCon Schedule from a Historical Perspective

The Cyclones open their 2019-20 season with a November 5th date against Mississippi Valley State.

The Delta Devils have played the Cyclones six times since December 3, 1999, losing each game by a substantial margin (apart from the December 31, 2011 matchup). The Delta Devils are coming off a 6-26 season, winning three of their last seven games.

November 9th @Oregon State

The Cyclones, whether it be a Hallice Cooke Alumni Classic game or not, have a scheduled away/home series with the Beavers of Oregon State. This is not our first series with the Corvallis cagers, in fact, in 2007 and 2008 we played each other in the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series, winning both games. 71-64 in OT in Corvallis and 63-50 in Ames.

KELSEY KREMER/THE REGISTER

November 12th vs. Northern Illinois

Another possible Alumnus Classic here with the Huskies, the Cyclones have only gone against the DeKalb Doggos three times this millennium (2011, 2013 and 2017) before our Tuesday Tumble this year.

Conveniently, this game takes place in Ames, as Iowa State is 0-2 all time in DeKalb (97-95 2OT loss on January 4, 1971, and 78-65 on December 16, 1968).

November 19th vs. Southern Miss

This Battle 4 Atlantis Campus Game brings the Golden Eagles to Ames for the first time in the series. The first two games of the series were located in Knoxville and Tokyo, respectively.

November 27-29th Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis

Who are we playing? The bracket isn’t out yet, but the other teams featured are North Carolina (1-3), Oregon (0-0), Michigan (5-5), Gonzaga (0-1), Seton Hall (0-0), Alabama (1-1) and Southern Miss (3-0)

December 4th vs. UMKC

This game should be an exciting one as Ames High grad Javan White is returning home to play for the Roos.

The Cyclones are 4-0 all time against Missouri-Kansas City, with a 121-82 series opening victory on December 5, 1979. Roo Vinnie Gayle paced UMKC with 11 FG and 12 FT that night, but overall this series has been very heavily favored to Iowa State. The two last met December 9, 2014, and Iowa State won 73-56.

December 8th vs. Seton Hall

The Cyclones are 1-1 all time against teams nicknamed “Pirates,” so, this should be a fun one. Seton Hall bounced out of the NCAA Tournament last season in the 10/7 matchup against Wofford.

December 12th vs. Iowa

Iowa hasn’t won in Hilton since I was six years old. That’s neat.

December 22nd vs. Purdue Fort Wayne

Likely the heaviest non conference mascot on our schedule (the Mastadons), the Cyclones also last played them when I was three, winning 78-51 on December 5, 2003.

December 31st Florida A&M

Our only game against my favorite MEAC school came about in 1989. The danger noodles are coming off a 12-19 season, and should pose little to no threat.

January 25th at (SEC school here)

It’s unknown who the Cyclones will play on the road yet, I’ll update this article when we do know.

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Who are you most looking forward to seeing the Cyclones take on during the non-conference this season? Comment below!