2020-21 men's and women's basketball schedules

Bobcat Athletics released the long-awaited basketball season schedules for both the men’s and women’s teams on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The first game will tip off on Wednesday, Nov. 25, in the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse, with the women’s team facing South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. The men’s team is currently scheduled to begin on Thursday, Dec. 31. Their season starts off with a game against Southern Utah University and stretches across most of the spring semester with two games per week, ending with another two home games against Sacramento State University on Tuesday, March 4, and Saturday, March 6, 2021. The women’s team will also finish their season against Sacramento State, but they will do so in California during the first week of March. 

Wednesday, Oct. 14, marked the first full practice for the MSU men’s basketball team. Now, with a definitive season in place, the team has ramped up their practices from eight hours per week to 20 hours per week in preparation for the upcoming season, according to men’s head coach Danny Sprinkle. 

In an interview with Bobcat Athletics Assistant Director Andrew Pederson, Sprinkle stated that, “The intensity and everything is going to ramp up to a whole other level and if [the team] thinks it's been intense the last six weeks, they're going to get their eyes opened... From here on out, it's go time now.”

Training has been difficult for the team this year, as avoiding illness and injury became the main priority in the weeks leading up to full practices. The increase in hours finally gives the teams enough time to train, practice coordination and round out the athletes into a formidable force this year. 

Though many things will look different throughout the season, one of the largest changes the teams will face is the new back-to-back game organization. While a normal season entails one home and one away game against each team, this year teams will face off twice in a week at the same location to reduce travel and possible COVID-19 transmission. 

The only exceptions to the new schedule are the annual Cat-Griz games, which will be held once in Bozeman and once in Missoula for both the men’s and women’s teams. The women’s team will play in Bozeman on Thursday, Jan. 28 and Missoula on Saturday, Jan. 30. The men’s team will play the opposite—in Missoula on Thursday,  Jan. 28 and in Bozeman on Saturday, Jan. 30.

“Our priority this season is to keep our athletes and our fans safe,” said Bobcat Athletics Associate Director Bethany Cordell.

The safety and health of the athletes extends well beyond COVID-19 tests and nutritionists. With rates of mental illness on the rise due to the pandemic, MSU athletics has given mental health equal focus in maintaining athletes’ balance of health. In fact, MSU boasts one of the only sports psychologists in the Big Sky Conference dedicated to helping students maintain a healthy mind and body. 

On the fan end of health logistics, Bobcat Athletics has made progress towards safely welcoming spectators back into the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse with new audience hygiene protocols, digital ticketing and reduced admissions. No official statement on how many fans can attend has been given, as that count will mostly depend on the guidelines set by the local and state government. However, should tickets be available, students, season-ticket holders and sponsors will be given priority over non-MSU affiliated fans.

After the abrupt end to last spring's season, fans are anxious to unite behind the Blue and Gold. Bobcat Athletics is ready and willing to adapt to changing circumstances to ensure a full season of basketball—even if that means broadcast-only viewing, similar to what the NBA did this season. A special team at Bobcat Athletics has been meeting since last April to ensure that the season can safely and successfully finish, even with the complexity of an ever-changing pandemic.

“I’m excited to feel the spirit of competition again,” said Cordell. Though the crowds won’t be the same, the community of MSU, fans like Cordell will once again have the opportunity to rally together behind the Bobcats. “Being able to see our student athletes safely compete and know that we’ve done everything possible to prepare them for it, and make sure that their health and wellbeing continues to be our number one priority and to see all of that come to fruition in a competition season is what I’m most looking forward to.”