Gard announces 2015-16 schedule

University of Wisconsin-Platteville head men's basketball coach Jeff Gard announced the Pioneers’ 2015-16 schedule on Monday, highlighted by a trip to Holland, Mich.to face Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Conference powerhouse Hope College before finals week (Dec. 12) and then to Texas after Christmas to face off with Schreiner College and McMurry University near San Antonio. 

Marking the first year with UW-Superior no longer in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the Pioneers will play six of their 11 non-conference games on the road before the first of the year.  UW-Platteville opens the regular season with two contests at Lake Forest College (Nov. 14) and the University of Dubuque (Nov. 16).  The Pioneers will then return home for three of their next four games to round out the month of November, starting with their annual Gabe Miller Tip-Off Classic on Nov. 20-21. The Pioneers take on Finlandia University on the Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. and then host 2015 NAIA DII Final Four qualifier Davenport University and returning National Player of the Year (Dominez Burnett) at 7 p.m. on Nov 21. UW-Platteville's season opening tournament is named in honor of Gabe Miller, who died just weeks after playing on the Pioneers' 1995 undefeated national championship basketball team.

The Pioneers then travel to Luther College (Nov. 24) before hosting Coe College (Nov. 29), North Central College (Dec. 3) and Loras College (Dec. 8).

Prior to finals week, UW-Platteville will make its first ever trip to Holland to face a familiar NCAA tournament opponent in Hope College (Dec. 12).  This will mark the third-ever meeting between Platteville and Hope (1998 NCAA III national championship Game...Pioneers won 69-56 and 2009 NCAA tournament first round...won 83-59 by UW-Platteville) 

After two weeks off, the Pioneers travel to Texas and square off with McMurry University (Dec. 29) and Schreiner College (Dec. 30), both games played at Schreiner College.   

With the new structure of the WIAC schedule all conference games will be played after the first of the year.  This will send UW-Platteville on for the WIAC opener at UW-La Crosse (Jan. 6) and then return home against UW-Oshkosh (Jan. 9) for Camper and High School night. Then the Pioneers will travel to defending national champions UW-Stevens Point (Jan. 13) and then to Menomonie to face UW-Stout (Jan. 16).

After hosting UW-Eau Claire (Jan. 20), UW-Platteville will hold its annual Coaches vs. Cancer Suits & Sneakers against UW-River Falls (Jan. 23). 

The Pioneers will wrap up the month of January at UW-Whitewater (Jan. 27) and will welcome their alumni back against UW-La Crosse for Alumni Day (Jan. 30). 

UW-Platteville opens the month of February with trips to UW-Oshkosh (Feb. 3) and then to UW-Eau Claire (Feb. 6) before playing three of their last four games at the friendly confines of Bo Ryan Court, UW-Whitewater (Feb. 10), at UW-River Falls (Feb. 13), UW-Stevens Point (Feb. 17). The Pioneers final home game will be against UW-Stout (Feb. 20), on a night where they will honor Seniors.

Click HERE to view the 2015-2016 schedule