THIBODAUX, La.

Head Coachand the Nicholls State University men's basketball team announced their ambitious 2015-16 schedule, featuring matchups with national powers No. 24 Florida State, Hawaii, San Diego State, No. 15 SMU, Colorado, and Memphis, as well as 12 home games in the newly renovated Stopher Gym."As usual we have a very, very tough pre-conference schedule, and hopefully that prepares us for the rigors of the Southland Conference," Piper said. "That's always the mindset when we put the schedule together."Over the team's 2014-15 campaign, a young Colonels squad suffered numerous injuries, including a season-ending injury to Nicholls' lone senior,. Despite a number of challenges, the Colonels exceeded expectations to reach a program best seventh-consecutive Southland Conference Tournament as the No. 6 seed. This season Nicholls faces a challenging schedule, but boasts 10 returning letter winners, nine newcomers (including seven transfers) and returns all five starters from last season."I'm excited about Kyle (Caudill) transferring in, I'm excited about getting Schane (Rillieux) back and Stevie (Repichowski) has been a great addition for us," Piper said. "Last year we kind of struggled with who we were going to be as a team and our identity and the culture in the locker room. I think we've gotten off to a much better start this year. There's great buy in about what we're going to do and the way we're going to do things. There's been great leadership early from the older guys. It's been a real pleasure to coach these guys so far, so I'm excited to see what we can get done in the Southland Conference when we get to that part of the schedule."While the team makes stops in Florida, Hawaii, California, Colorado, Las Vegas and Tennessee, the Colonels' non-conference schedule will be much more than a vacation."It's a schedule that's taking us all over the country and will give us an opportunity to see a lot of different cities in the preseason," Piper said. "We'll play against some really good programs. We get to go to San Diego, where I've never been. We're going to Hawaii, where I've never been. We're going back to Las Vegas, so there's some fun stuff in there for the guys, but also some very good basketball teams. Some of these teams we're facing will be ranked in the preseason, I'm certain."Nicholls opens the 2014-15 season at home on Nov. 9 with an exhibition against Arkansas Monticello, the first of 14 non-conference contests in November and December, before league play begins in January.The Colonels head to Tallahassee for a matchup with No. 24 Florida State (Nov. 15) in the team's first regular-season game of the year, before returning to Thibodaux to host Mobile (Nov. 19).Nicholls will spend the majority of the Thanksgiving week away from home as the team makes the lengthy trip to face Hawaii (Nov. 22), before heading directly to Albuquerque for a battle with New Mexico (Nov. 25).The Colonels open the month of December with back-to-back home contests, hosting Louisiana College (Dec. 1) and Loyola (Dec. 5), before spending the remainder of the month away from Thibodaux.Nicholls will make trips all across the western United States, beginning in California with San Diego State on Dec. 10. The Colonels will then play consecutive games in the Lone Star State, facing North Texas (Dec. 14) and No. 15 SMU (Dec. 16). Nicholls will take on Colorado, before heading to Nevada for the Las Vegas Classic (Dec. 22-23), where the team will clash with Hampton and either the University of Louisiana-Monroe or Canisius College (depending on the tournament's day one results).After a brief two-day Christmas break, the Colonels will return to Texas for a battle with Houston (Dec. 28), in the final matchup before facing Southland competition.Nicholls will open league play at home against Lamar on Jan. 2, before facing one last non-conference test on the road at Memphis (Jan. 5).The Colonels will host Abilene Christian (Jan. 9) before three-consecutive games in Texas at Houston Baptist (Jan. 13). Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Jan. 16) and Sam Houston (Jan. 18).Nicholls will battle Central Arkansas (Jan. 23) and Northwestern State (Jan. 25) in the friendly confines of Stopher Gym, before heading back to Texas for a date with Incarnate Word (Jan. 30). The Colonels will then make the arduous drive from San Antonio to the Big Easy for a matchup with New Orleans (Feb. 1).Nicholls will host McNeese (Feb. 6) and Incarnate Word (Feb. 8), before traveling to Hammond for a battle with Southeastern La. (Feb. 13).The Colonels host Stephen F. Austin (Feb. 20), and then hit the road for games against Northwestern State (Feb. 22) and McNeese (Feb. 27).Nicholls hosts New Orleans (Feb. 29), before traveling to Conway to face Central Arkansas (March 3) and closing out the regular season in Thibodaux against Southeastern La. (March 5).This season's Southland Conference Tournament will return to the Merrell Center in Katy, Texas March 9-12, with the winner receiving the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.Last season Stopher Gym underwent a significant transformation with the addition of a brand new training room, men's basketball locker room and coaches' offices. The additions displaced the Colonels for the entire 2015 season, forcing the team to utilize spare classrooms and closets as locker rooms for home games. This season, with renovations completed, the Red and Grey will not only enjoy a state-of-the-art locker room, but also upgraded scoreboards and a video board.Season tickets for men's and women's basketball will be available for purchase at NichollsTickets.com on Monday, Oct. 12.