The Basics
The Omaha men's basketball team opens the 2020-21 campaign against Austin Peay at the #BeachBubble at the Gulf Coast Showcase this Wednesday, Nov. 25. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. CT at Hertz Arena in Estero, Fla. Gary Sharp will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2, and Aaron Berlin and Keith Jouganatos will handle play-by-play and color commentary on the FloHoops broadcast. Links to live video, audio and stats will be available on OMavs.com.
Quick Hits
• The 2020-21 season is the 108th overall in program history and the 10th of the Mavericks' Division I era. All-time, the program is 1,197-1,202.
• Wednesday's game marks Omaha's latest start date since opening the 2002-03 season on Nov. 29, 2002.
• It is also Omaha's fifth straight season opener away from home. The Mavericks previously opened on the road at Wichita State (2019), Minnesota (2018), Montana State (2017) and UC Santa Barbara (2016).
• The Mavericks have a nine-game non-conference slate, all on the road from Nov. 25 to Dec. 29. During that time, their home facility, Baxter Arena, will serve as the host site for the NCHC Pod, with 40 hockey games held Dec. 1-20.
• Omaha was picked fourth in the Summit League's preseason poll.
Matt Pile was a first-team Preseason All-Summit selection, and
Marlon Ruffin was a second-team pick.
• Pile needs 83 points to become the 42nd 1,000-point scorer in Maverick history.
• Pile and
Ayo Akinwole are serving as team captains for the second straight season.
•
Zach Thornhill, who donned a No. 4 jersey the last three years, has switched to No. 5 this year.
Scouting the Austin Peay Governors
Bolstered by a 14-0 mark at home last season, Austin Peay finished 21-12 (14-4 OVC) in 2019-20. Terry Taylor was the only player in the country to lead a conference in scoring and rebounding, averaging 21.8 ppg and 11.0 rpg. Taylor was named OVC Player of the Year after his junior campaign, and Jordyn Adams joined him with OVC Freshman of the Year recognition.
APSU was picked as the co-favorite alongside Murray State in the OVC's 2020-21 preseason poll, and Taylor was tabbed Preseason Player of the Year for the second straight season.
Head coach Matt Figger is in his fourth year at Austin Peay with a career record of 62-38.
All-Time Against Austin Peay
Wednesday marks the first meeting all-time between Omaha and Austin Peay.
Against the OVC
Wednesday's meeting with Austin Peay marks the first of two OVC matchups on Omaha's schedule this year, as the Mavericks will visit SIUE on Dec. 5. All-time, Omaha is 1-2 against members of the conference.
Considering the Non-Con
Omaha's non-conference portion of the schedule kicks off with this week's #BeachBubble at the Gulf Coast Showcase, featuring three games in three days. They then return to the city of Omaha for a clash with Creighton (Dec. 1), marking the first time the crosstown teams will play in the regular season since 1995.
Omaha then visits SIUE (Dec. 5), followed by vaunted Allen Fieldhouse for a matchup with Kansas (Dec. 11). The Mavericks will play on consecutive days again, Dec. 16-17, with a swing to Colorado (Dec. 16) and Wyoming (Dec. 17). After the holidays, they close with a trip to Kansas State (Dec. 29).
Up Next
Omaha awaits matchup information for a Thursday, Nov. 26 Gulf Coast Showcase game at Hertz Arena. Gary Sharp will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2, and links to live video, audio and stats will be available on OMavs.com.
