RICHARDSON, TX (11.08.21) - The UT Dallas men's basketball team will officially kick off the 2021-22 campaign Tuesday night with a 5 p.m. non-conference road game at Schreiner in Kerrville.

The Comets are poised for another successful campaign as they were picked to finish third in the ASC this season, according to the league's preseason poll released last month. After Tuesday's road game, UTD will host Belhaven at 2 p.m. Saturday in the squad's home and conference opener.

FULL INTERVIEW WITH HEAD COACH TERRY BUTTERFIELD

Head coach Terry Butterfield opens his 22nd season with the Comets and 33rd season overall as a collegiate head coach this week. He boasts an impressive 517-328 all-time coaching record and is 358-201 in his previous 21 seasons at the helm of the Comets. He has led UTD to four ASC Tournament titles and seven trips to the NCAA D-III National Tournament during his tenure.

The Comets posted a 9-5 overall record for last season, ranking third in the ASC's East Division with a 7-4 league mark. UTD qualified for the ASC Tournament for the 18th consecutive season. This season, however, the ASC has moved to a single-division format with members playing a double round robin schedule will all league opponents.

UTD returns eight players from last year's squad, but will look to replace its top three scorers from that team. Kameron Pruitt is the Comets' top returning scorer from 2020-21, averaging 9.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game while earning ASC East Freshman of the Year accolades. The Comets also return point guard Hunter Stevens, who averaged 6.1 points and 4.0 assists per game.

Other returners from the 2020-21 team are Bailey Dembickie, James Curtis, Will Isaac, Parker McCurdy Cole Williams and Jalen Williams.

After Saturday's ASC opener with Belhaven, the Comets will then play three non-conference road games before returning to the UTD Activity Center for a league game with Howard Payne.