STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State men”s basketball team will open its 2012 Southeastern Conference schedule the same way it will conclude the regular season — against long-time foe University of Arkansas.
The league office released the conference schedule on Thursday, and the Bulldogs will appear in six SEC Network games, one on ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU and two on CSS and FSN.
In addition, three games will appear on ESPN or ESPN2.
“As always, it”s a very challenging SEC schedule,” MSU coach Rick Stansbury said. “I think the SEC has a chance to be as good as any league in the country this year. There are no easy games, home or away. You”ve got to be ready every night.”
For the fifth time in the last six years, MSU will open SEC action on the road, this time at 8 p.m. Jan. 7 at Arkansas (CSS). MSU will play its first of two Thursday affairs at Humphrey Coliseum against Tennessee at 8 p.m. Jan. 12 on ESPN or ESPN2.
At 3 p.m. Jan. 14, MSU will play host to Alabama (SEC Network). A road trip to Ole Miss for an 8 p.m. showdown Jan. 18 (CSS) will follow.
MSU will play at 6 p.m. Jan. 21 at Vanderbilt (ESPN2), at 7 p.m. Jan. 25 against LSU in Starkville (SEC Network), and 12:30 p.m. Jan. 28 at Florida (SEC Network).
MSU will starts February with games against Auburn at 3 p.m. Feb. 4 (SEC Network), Ole Miss at 6 p.m. Feb. 9 (ESPN or ESPN 2), and Georgia at 12:30 p.m. Feb. 11 (SEC Network) at Humphrey Coliseum.
From there, MSU will go to LSU for an 8 p.m. game Feb. 14 (ESPNU) and to Auburn at 7 p.m. Feb. 18 (FSN).
Then it”s back home for a Super Tuesday ESPN showdown with Kentucky at 8 p.m. on Feb. 21 before going back on the road at Alabama on Feb. 25 (5 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2) and at South Carolina on Feb. 29 ( 7 p.m., SEC Network).
MSU will concludes the regular season at 4 p.m. March 3 against Arkansas at Humphrey Coliseum (FSN). The SEC tournament will be March 8-11 at the Superdome in New Orleans.
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