DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman will play 14 games inside the friendly confines of Historic Moore Gymnasium throughout the 2023-24 Men's Basketball season, as Head Coach and Director of Athletics Reggie Theus announced the schedule Tuesday, June 27.
 
Coming off a season in which the Wildcats finished 12-20 overall, including an 8-10 mark in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play and earning a spot in the SWAC Tournament, Bethune-Cookman will play a 31-game regular season schedule on the upcoming campaign.
 
"I'm extremely excited about our competitive schedule for the upcoming 2023-24 season," stated Theus. "We will have 14 home games next season while still being able to raise the money we need in those guarantee games. But most importantly, our guys will only miss one day of school during the fall semester due to travel. One day! I am proud we were able to create a balance of academics and basketball."
 

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BCU begins the season with three of its first four games at home inside Moore Gymnasium. However, the season kicks off with a trip to Big 10 opponent Minnesota on Monday, November 6. After that, the Wildcats enjoy a three-game homestand against teams from Trinity College (Nov. 9), Trinity Baptist (Nov. 15) and Charleston Southern (Nov. 20), respectively.
 
A season ago, the Maroon and Gold finished 8-5 at home, as well as winning two of their last three games at Moore Gymnasium to close out the campaign.
 
The Cats travel to Farmville, Virginia on November 24, taking part in the Brock Classic event hosted by Longwood. Once there, the Wildcats will face teams from Delaware State, Lamar and the host Longwood Lancers.
 
The month of December begins with Incarnate Word visiting Daytona Beach on December 1, before a trip to former Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opponent South Carolina State (Dec. 9) in Orangeburg, South Carolina. BCU returns home December 12 to face off against Johnson University (Fla.). After that, the Cats conclude the 2023 calendar year with visits to each of Purdue Fort Wayne (Dec. 16), Chicago State (Dec. 20) and UCF (Dec. 29).
 
SWAC play begins January 6, when in-state foe Florida A&M visits Moore Gymnasium, followed by visits from Grambling State (Jan. 13) and Southern (Jan. 15). The rest of the way, it is all home/away weekends to round out the league season.
 
"I'm very excited about where the program is heading," said Theus. "We return two of our top scorers in Zion [Harmon] and [Dhashon] Dyson for one of the best back courts in the SWAC. Damani [McEntire] will also return as the best defender in the league. That returning trio, mixed with what we have coming in, and we will be competing for a championship."
 
Bethune-Cookman travels to the "Magnolia State" to play Mississippi Valley State (Jan. 20), followed by a trip to the "Natural State" to face Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Jan. 22). Jackson State comes to Daytona Beach on January 27, followed two days later by back-to-back defending regular season co-champion Alcorn State on January 29.
 
The Wildcats travel to Alabama State (Feb. 3) and Alabama A&M (Feb. 5) to kick off the month of February. The pair of Texas schools come to Moore Gymnasium the following weekend with Prairie View A&M (Feb. 10) and defending SWAC Tournament champion Texas Southern (Feb. 12). The Cats only played the Texas schools once a season ago, both in the "Lone Star State," with BCU downing Prairie View A&M and falling to TSU, respectfully.
 
The second trip of the season to the state of Mississippi occurs when BCU travels to Alcorn State (Feb. 17) and Jackson State (Feb. 19), followed by visits from the pair of Alabama schools – Alabama A&M (Feb. 24) and Alabama State (Feb. 26).
 
Three games in March headline the slate before the SWAC Tournament in Birmingham, Alabama.
 
The Wildcats travel to Southern (March 2), Grambling State (March 4) and Florida A&M (March 9) to round out the regular season campaign.
 
The SWAC Tournament is scheduled for March 13-16, at Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Alabama.
 
"The culture for our team has been set, and we're taking pride in playing hard every night," added Theus. "We've improved each season, and I expect to be better this year – on the court and in the classroom."
 
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