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The Warriors will face unfamiliar teams in both conference and nonconference play, including a pair of early season games at BYU-Hawaii.
The defending NCAA Division II national champion, WSU will play eight teams not on its schedule last season and opens play in the revamped Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference at home Dec. 5 against St. Cloud State.
The Huskies, along with Minnesota State-Mankato, Augustana (S.D.) and Minnesota Duluth, join the NSIC this season to make it a 14-team league.
WSU also plays nonconference games against NCAA Division III opponents Augsburg and Gustavus Adolphus and host Truman State (Mo.) and Texas A&M International in December.
“We’re playing teams we haven’t played before, which is kind of a nice thing,” WSU coach Mike Leaf said. “Of course, it’s all about getting ourselves ready for the conference season.”
WSU will open the season at home Nov. 15 against crosstown rival Saint Mary’s University.
It’s then off to Hawaii, where the Warriors will play two games against BYU-Hawaii and a third game against an opponent yet to be determined.
This will be the program’s second trip to Hawaii in the past five seasons. WSU also played there in 2004-05, went to the Bahamas in 2006-07 and played at the Disney Tip-Off Classic last season in Orlando, Fla.
“It’s a nice trip and a nice reward for our kids,” Leaf said. “We’re playing BYU-Hawaii twice, so it’ll be good competition for us, too.”
WSU returns home and hosts Augsburg and Gustavus on back-to-back nights, the final two games before the start of conference play.
The Warriors play four league games before a three-game nonconference stretch against Truman State, Lewis (Ill.) and Texas A&M International before and after Christmas break.
“We have some down time there in December with finals and the break for the holidays,” Leaf said. “It’s important to stay fine-tuned during that time. We’re going to be playing some good Division II competition.”
The Warriors will play 16 home games and, outside of the Hawaii trip, just two true road games before January.
It’s similar to the schedule the team played last season, when the majority of the games were at McCown Gymnasium. WSU was 22-1 at home a year ago, including six postseason wins.
“Going on the road can be costly and it just helps your team out to be home,” Leaf said. “The more home games you have, the better off you are. Plus, I think the word’s out. We have a great atmosphere to play in.”
Leaf said the program is still trying to line up exhibition games, but the preseason schedule will not include any Division I opponents. WSU played at Drake, Bradley and Minnesota during exhibition play for the 2006-07 season.
