Cougar Basketball schedule released

The Barton Community College men's basketball program has released the 2015-16 schedule that includes challenging non-conference opponents, sixteen regular season home games, and an expanded conference schedule.  

Head Coach Craig Fletchall has retooled his roster bringing back only four players from last year's Jayhawk West second place squad after a 24-7 finish to 2014-15 season.  In addition to the roster revamp, former Cougar Dennan Morrow has also joined the staff with the departure of former assistant coach Matt Hundley moving on to Washburn University.

"We are excited about the challenging schedule that we have put together," said Fletchall.  "Our Halloween and Thanksgiving Classics will bring strong fields to Great Bend for the fans that want to see competitive basketball in the pre-conference season."

The young Cougars will get things started on Friday, October 30, in the Best Western Angus Inn/Pizza Hut Classic taking on Otero Junior College then playing Sunrise Prep Academy in Saturday's matchup to wrap up the weekend.

Barton will then hit the road to Ottumwa, Iowa, where the Cougars will take on perennial national power and host Indian Hills Community College on November 6 followed by Saturday's contest versus Western Iowa Tech Community College.  The Warriors, ranked No. 13 in the final 2015 NJCAA poll concluded the 2014-15 season with a 76-67 upset loss in the second round of the NJCAA Division I National Tournament.  The teams last met in 2013 as the Warriors ran away with a 107-80 victory on the same Hellyer Center Court.  Having met only three times in the programs' illustrious histories, Barton fans still recall the stinging heartbreak to Indian Hills in the 1999 national championship game as the Warriors won their third straight title with the 100-86 victory.

"Our schedule includes three pre-season Top-10 teams (Indian Hills, Hutchinson and Coffeyville)," remarked Fletchall.  "Playing them, as well as, our always tough conference opponents, will get us battle tested for the playoff run in March."

The Cougars will return home for a midweek game on November 11 hosting the junior varsity of Sterling College before taking an hour trip to Salina for the weekend November 13-14 at the Brown Mackie Classic.

A four-game homestand will wrap up play in November with dates against the McPherson College JV on Tuesday November 17 preceding a Friday matchup with Division II national tournament qualifier Hesston College.   

Best Western Angus Inn again helps support the Cougars joining forces with the Cougar Booster Club to provide a competitive and fun Thanksgiving Classic.  Barton will first take on Northwest Kansas Technical College, a 20-11 team from last season, in Friday's game before the always entertaining matchup with Brown Mackie College on Saturday.

"Our conference has moved to a nineteen game schedule," Fletchall said.  "So for the first time we will play three conference games before the Christmas break in December."  

In the restructuring move and addition of conference games, the Cougars will begin conference play in December as the addition of Jayhawk East schools to the mix will comprise a nineteen game conference schedule.  Barton will open with consecutive tough road trips beginning with a December 2 trip to Pratt Community College, a place the Cougars haven't won the past two trips.  A Saturday December 5 trek to El Dorado follows as the Cougars take on the defending Jayhawk West champions Butler Community College.  The teams split the series last season with each protecting home court with victories.

Barton has only one home game in December hosting Jayhawk East's Cowley College on December 12 in a rare Saturday 3:30 p.m. tip-off.

The Cougars begin the meat of the conference grind with a January 2nd road trip to Allen County Community College before hosting Independence Community College on Wednesday, January 6.

Still looming on the schedule is the always tough Jayhawk West foes, as well as, a Monday, February 1, clash with the beast of the Jayhawk East Coffeyville Community College.   Finishing the 2014-15 season at 26-6 and No. 19 in the final NJCAA Division I poll, the Ravens will again be a reloaded team entering the Barton Gym for the first time since 2009 when the Cougars handed them a 75-63 defeat in the Booster Club Classic.

Three special home events are planned for the conference portion of the schedule.  Saturday's January 30 date with Hutchinson Community College is marked for Homecoming celebrations; On Saturday, February 6, versus Dodge City Community College, Barton Athletics will induct its sixteenth class into its Hall of Fame; and Wednesday, February 17th, date versus Cloud County Community College will recognize sophomore contributions. 

Game times for Barton men's basketball home contests are slated for 7:30 p.m. at the Barton Gym with the exception of two 3:30 p.m. tip-offs, the first coming Saturday, December 12, versus Cowley College and the Saturday, January 23rd, contest against the Saints of Seward County Community College.

Season tickets for the Cougars' home games will go on sale in late September.

Complete Barton men's basketball schedule and additional information regarding Barton Men's Basketball, can be found online at www.BartonSports.com