Mastodons, Spartans, Vikings and Mastodons?

Oh my.

Eastern’s men’s basketball team’s non-conference schedule is not what you could call much of a challenge. And it all started Saturday afternoon against Ball State in Muncie, Ind.

The same Ball State that won six games last season and has eight new players this year. Eastern lost by 11 after pulling within single digits with an early second half run.

Next up on the schedule is Manchester College. No, this isn’t a team from England. It’s a Division III team from North Manchester, Ind. The Spartans won a whopping four games last year playing in the Heartland Athletic Conference.

Another lowlight on the Panthers’ non-conference schedule is Missouri Valley College – not to be confused with the Missouri Valley Conference of which there are reputable teams. The Spartans from Marshall, Mo., won nine games last year in the NAIA’s Heartland Athletic Association.

That makes two regular season games against non-Division I teams this season for Eastern. Last year the Panthers had just one: Harris Stowe. The win against the Hornets was one of Eastern’s seven total wins during the 2008 season.

The Panthers’ Division I opponents really aren’t much better. Add in Evansville (9 wins), Western Illinois (12 wins), Chicago State (11 wins), Bowling Green (13 wins) and Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne (13 wins), and Eastern’s got a real barn-burner of a non-conference schedule.

The lone highlight of the Panthers’ pre-Ohio Valley Conference schedule is Indiana-Purdue-Indianapolis. The Jaguars won the Summit League last season with a 26-7 record.

But let’s get back to IPFW. The Mastodons finished tied for fifth in the Summit League last season. They return only four letter winners – two starters.

But here’s the kicker. Eastern plays IPFW twice this season – seven days apart.

A home-away matchup between two college teams is essentially unheard of unless the teams are in the same conference. Then it makes sense. But to play IPFW in back-to-back weeks is mind boggling.

Granted a weaker non-conference schedule might be what the Panthers need. Eastern has eight new players this year – four freshmen, four transfers.

Then again, Ball State has a similar mix of new players. The Cardinals have three transfers and five freshman. Even with the same number of new players, Ball State has non-conference games against Butler, Purdue and St. Joseph’s. Butler consistently wins the Horizon League, St. Joseph’s is one of the top teams in the Atlantic 10 and Purdue is currently the No. 11 team in the nation.

Eastern won’t be faced with one of the better teams in the country that can deliver a confidence-killing loss before league play even starts. But then again, how well will a weak non-conference schedule prepare Eastern for the OVC?

The OVC is not one of the top conferences in the nation for basketball. That’s a given.

But it’s a competitive conference once league play starts.

Tennessee-Martin has the most explosive offense, Austin Peay is the most established program and Morehead State could turn some heads this season with its more seasoned roster.

Home and away with IPFW and two games against non-Division I opponents could lead to some early wins this season. But will that success translate into wins in league play?

Scott Richey can be reached at 581-7944 or at srrichey@eiu.edu.