MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Florida Tech men's basketball team released its 2023-24 schedule under the direction of head coach Billy Mims. The Panthers are scheduled to play 28 games with 15 home contests and a 20-game conference schedule.
 
Florida Tech finished its 2022-23 campaign with a 19-11 overall record and an 11-9 record in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC).
 
The Panthers defeated PBA, 77-62, in the SSC Tournament quarterfinals before falling to top-ranked, and eventual Division II national champion, Nova Southeastern in overtime of the SSC semifinals.
 
"We are super excited and really looking forward to the upcoming 2023-24 season," stated Mims. "We have nine returners and seven new faces to the program, so our goal right now is to make sure that those 16 scholar-athletes are able to gel and work well with each other heading into that opening weekend."
 
The Panthers open the season with an exhibition game on the road against Division I opponent, Stetson University on Nov. 1.
 
"Playing Stetson on the road to begin the season will be a great test for our players and it is an opportunity to see how prepared we are for the level of play that we will face in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC)."
 
The regular season officially begins with the South Regional Tip-off Challenge that will see the Panthers take on Spring Hill College (Ala.) on Friday, Nov. 10, and an opponent to be determined on Saturday, Nov. 11.
 
The homestand continues for Tech as the team welcomes Johnson University to the Clemente Center on Monday, Nov. 20 and the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras on Tuesday, Nov. 21.
 
The Panthers then travel to West Palm Beach on Nov. 24 and 25 to battle with UPR-Bayamon and UPR-Mayaguez in the PBA Thanksgiving Classic.
 
"We have built a great relationship with the University of Puerto Rico system basketball programs and have played them a lot over the years. They are a member of the NCAA DII South region, so that also provides us with more in-region competition."
 
Tech then rolls into conference play the following week with two home matchups against Rollins on Tuesday, Nov. 28, and Saint Leo on Saturday, Dec. 2.
 
Following another SSC game on the road against Embry-Riddle on Dec. 8, the Panthers will host the Florida Tech Winter Classic. Tech battles with Barton on Monday, Dec. 18, and Georgia Southwestern State on Tuesday, Dec. 19.
 
After the holidays, the Panthers break in the new year with three more SSC games on Jan. 3, 6, and 10 against PBA, Florida Southern, and Eckerd. Then on Saturday, Jan. 13, defending national champion Nova Southeastern comes to the Clemente Center to faceoff with Tech.
 
"In the past two seasons, NSU has only lost one game. They won it all last year after going undefeated and lost in the Elite Eight the previous year. They have become the gold standard in both the conference and on a national scale. That's a game that every coach in the league has circled on their calendars."
 
SSC play continues to the end of the regular season. Tech will celebrate its seniors on Saturday, March 2 for Senior Day in the regular season finale against Tampa.
 
The SSC Tournament begins on Tuesday, March 5 with the quarterfinals, the semifinals will take place on Thursday, March 7, and the championship on Sunday, March 10. Times and locations for these games will be determined at a later date based on seeding.
 
"I have always believed that our fans here at Florida Tech are the best in the SSC and we need them to pack the stands again this year. It's going to be an exciting season and our scholar-athletes and coaches can't wait to get started. Go Panthers!"
 
For the latest news, updates, and information on the Florida Tech men's basketball team, visit FloridaTechSports.com. Fans can also stay up to date on the latest Panthers news by following Florida Tech Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.