COLUMBIA, Ky. — Lindsey Wilson men's basketball head coach Chris Starks has unveiled the program's 2026-27 schedule.
The Blue Raiders' schedule features a 28-game campaign that starts at home on Oct. 24 against Montreat (N.C.) at Biggers Sport Center. The opener against the Cavaliers kicks off 14 straight non-conference contests. On Oct. 30 and 31, Lindsey Wilson hosts the Brady Button Classic with matchups against Mission (Mo.) and Carolina University (N.C.). This invitational setting will allow the roster to experience an environment comparable to a postseason atmosphere.
"Classics give us a chance to simulate what we'll face in the Mid-South Conference Tournament and, hopefully, the national tournament. You have to play, recover, make adjustments and be ready for another opponent the next day." Starks commented.
The first road trip of the season is an in-state trek to Midway (Ky.) on Nov. 3. The Blue Raiders stay on the road, competing in the Reinhardt University Classic in Waleska, Georgia, Nov. 7-8, against Coastal Georgia and Reinhardt (Ga.). Lindsey Wilson returns home Nov. 12, hosting Indiana University Southeast inside Biggers Sport Center, before traveling to play at Brescia (Ky.) Nov. 17. Second meetings with Midway (Ky.) and IU Southeast on Nov. 24 and Nov. 30, round out the November docket.
December's slate features contests against Tennessee Wesleyan, Alice Lloyd (Ky.), Dalton State (Ga.), Union (Ky.) and most notably Pikeville (Ky.), who finished last season ranked No. 6.
A Jan. 2 meeting against Washington Adventist (Md.) wraps up nonconference play. Challenges before Mid-South games start are exactly what this coaching staff is looking for.
"We want to win those games, but we also want to come out of nonconference play knowing what we do well and what we need to sharpen before the Mid-South schedule begins." Starks remarked.
Mid-South Conference play opens at Cumberland (Tenn.) Jan. 7, starting a run of 12 consecutive league games. In that stretch the Blue Raiders will face defending national champion Freed-Hardeman twice, Jan. 21 and Feb. 11. Other notable conference showdowns include two games against both Georgetown (Ky.) and Cumberlands (Ky.), each cracking last season's final Top-25 poll. The regular season concludes Feb. 20 against rival Campbellsville (Ky.). The MSC is a proving ground as it is home to five teams that appeared in the NAIA Men's Basketball National Tournament.
"The Mid-South is a league that prepares you for the national stage. Freed-Hardeman has won two of the last three national championships, and five out of seven teams from our conference made the national tournament last season." Starks added.
Follow the action all season long on the Lindsey Wilson Sports Network.
