Northwestern State vs. Ole Miss basketball 2015: Online streaming and complete SEC schedule

To say that basketball season starts across the SEC on Friday is a bit misleading, since we all know that hoops season at an SEC school doesn't officially begin until the dirt's been packed on the football team's hopes. So while every team in the conference will technically take the court this weekend, the only folks paying attention are in Auburn, Nashville, both Columbias and, of course, Lexington.

Unfortunately, Oxford is teetering on the edge of that list as well. A win over LSU next weekend would certainly invigorate a fan base still sulking over Fourth and Twenty-five, but I'd guess that most of us are ready to put what's been a disappointing 2015 season in the rearview. So let's call Ole Miss basketball's Friday night game against Northwestern State a soft opening and check back again after LSU leaves Vaught-Hemingway next Saturday.

Northwestern State isn't an easy out, as far as Southland Conference teams go. They're picked to finish second in the conference and while they're light in the front court (sound familiar?), they return a pair of star guards that combined to average 42 points per game last season. They went 13-5 in the Southland in 2014-15, but just 6-7 out of conference, including losses to A&M and Arkansas.

How to watch

Time: 4 p.m. CT
Location: the Sad Pad
TV: SEC Network Plus
Online streaming: WatchESPN.com

Full SEC Friday schedule

Albany vs. No. 2 Kentucky
6 p.m. CT, SEC Network

Chattanooga vs. Georgia
6 p.m. CT on SEC Network Plus

UNC Asheville vs. Tennessee
6 p.m. CT on SEC Network Plus

Austin Peay at No. 18 Vanderbilt
7 p.m. CT on SEC Network Plus

Southern vs. Arkansas
7 p.m. on SEC Network Plus

Kennesaw State vs. Alabama
7:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network Plus

McNeese State vs. No. 21 LSU
8 p.m. CT on ESPNU

Wofford at Missouri
8 p.m. CT on SEC Network Plus

Eastern Washington vs. Mississippi State
8 p.m. CT on SEC Network

Florida vs. Navy
8:30 p.m. CT on CBS Sports Network

UAB vs. Auburn
8:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network Plus

South Carolina Upstate vs. Texas A&M
8:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network Plus