Adam Sparks of the Daily News Journal in Murfreesboro hinted Friday that Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee will play only once during the 2014-15 regular season in basketball. That game is rumored to be in Murfreesboro at MTSU.

All indications are that this is indeed true, a confusing twist to the Conference USA schedule that has yet to be released. In seasons that WKU and MTSU have met in hoops, not since 1998 have the two played just one time – a 51-45 Hilltoppers’ win in Nashville.

The two programs did not play in 2013-14, the first time they had not faced each other since the 1999-2000 season.

Conference USA has yet to release its basketball scheduled for 2014-15 as it still finalizes all the television broadcasts. Teams will play 18 league games – 10 home-and-home series, four home games and four road games.

The Tops are likely to play two games each against Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Marshall, Old Dominion and North Carolina Charlotte. One road game will be MTSU while the three other road games and four home games will be against Alabama-Birmingham, Southern Mississippi, Louisiana Tech, Texas San Antonio, Texas El Paso, Rice or North Texas. It’s possible WKU could play the two opponents closest to Bowling Green geographically only one time in 2014-15.

Should also be noted that Conference USA has a mirrored scheduled when it comes to basketball. Thus, when the men are hosting a league opponent, the Lady Toppers will be on the road at that same opponent. When the women host an opponent, the men will be on the road at that same opponent.

As for the nonconference portion of the 2014-15 schedule, the NIT Season Tip-Off continues to be the lone road block. Western Kentucky is still a part of the field, but three of the four host schools – Minnesota, Georgia and Gonzaga – are a bit miffed that the new format of eight teams (down from 16) guarantees only one home game when it initially called for two. Of course, St. John’s, the fourth host school, has no problem with the new format seeing as how the entire field would play three games in New York City.

Other participants in the tournament that have been confirmed by other news outlets include Stony Brook, Long Island and St. Joseph’s.