MCKENZIE, Tenn. –Fifteen home games highlight a tough schedule for the Bethel University Wildcats as the 2022-23 schedule was released this week.

Bethel finished 12-18 overall and 4-17 in league action last year.

Bethel was 5-10 at home on the season and is 114-44 all-time in Crisp Arena.

Jeff Britt enters his 23rd year as the head men’s basketball coach at Bethel University and his 34th year as a college basketball coach in 2022-23. His all-time record as a head coach is 493-347 and includes 11 seasons with 20-plus wins. Britt is 385-302 at Bethel.

The non-conference schedule this season will feature only six games as the NAIA has cut total games from 30 to 28. Bethel will open the season with two away games at Welch College and Brescia University. After those early November games, the Wildcats will host the Chick Fil A Classic (Crowley’s Ridge College and Southeastern Baptist College). Other non-league games include Life University on November 26 and John Melvin University (2/2/23). Bethel will play two exhibition games against NCAA I schools in Arkansas State University and University of Tennessee-Martin. They travel to ASU November 27 and UTM on December 13.

MSC games include Shawnee State and Freed-Hardeman in November. SSU visits Crisp Arena on November 17 while Bethel goes to FHU November 22.

December finds the Cats with road games at Lindsey Wilson, Campbellsville, and Cumberland University. Home affairs include UT Southern, Wilberforce and Thomas More.

The Wildcats begin 2023 with road games at Georgetown on January 5 and Cumberlands on the 7^th. They return home to host Campbellsville on the 12^th and Lindsey Wilson on the 14^th. The Cats return to road action facing UPIKE in the mountains on January 19 and then visit Shawnee State on the 21^st. Bethel wraps up the month at home on the 26^th versus Cumberlands and Georgetown on January 28.

The Wildcats close out the regular season with road games in February against Thomas More, Wilberforce and UT Southern. February 4^th FHU will invade Crisp while Bethel will host Cumberland University on Senior Day the 16^th.

Five MSC teams made the national tournament last year.

Coach Britt commented, “We may face the toughest schedule we have ever had. The conference will be tough top to bottom. Mix that in with our non-conference games and we will need to be focused every time we hit the floor. We feel good about some returners and feel we have a good group of newcomers as well. We are anxious to get started.”

See the entire schedule at www.bethelathletics.com

All home games and selected road will be carried on WEIO, 100.9 and www.thefarmradio.com. Most home games can be viewed on Wildcat Vision at www.bethelathletics.com

Watch for the MBB season preview coming soon at www.bethelathletics.com