So at first glance I like this schedule. We have only two non-DI opponents in Johnson University (NCCAA D2) and nearby Roanoke-based Mid-Atlantic Christian University (USCAA). This is a step down from our typical three or four non-Division I contests, and I wouldn't mind seeing one more for additional practice, but I won't gripe. We haven't played fewer than three such contests since '04-05 (although Longwood at the time was just making their transition).
We'll kick things off on November 14 at the All-Military Classic Version 4.0, which will be hosted at West Point's 5,043-seat Christl Arena, only slightly larger than Cameron. Last time in West Point we escaped with an ugly 62–55 win in December '08. With home court-advantage, Army, along with Air Force and VMI, will all be in the running for the title. The Citadel should be the first to go and things don't look bright in Charleston with Van Scyoc, Setzekorn, and Rae Robinson all transferring out (and I never realized we'll be playing them three times in one season...maybe 4 come tourney time).
Our money games feature Big 10 newcomer Maryland, who we last played and lost to 99–68 on New Year's Eve of 2005. And then there's West Virginia who has become a common opponent over the last several years (played them in 2010 and 2012). I won't even consider Va. Tech a money game anymore, seeing how their program is currently in shambles and we are capable of beating them on a good (ok, great, night). We lost by 15 to the Hokies in 2012 and 13 last season, though it was a 6-point game within the final two minutes. And we rarely play well in November anyway.
We'll go up to Annapolis for a Tuesday night game with Navy, a game we are completely capable of winning. And another date with George Washington in December looks imminent. The two big home non-conference games will be UNC Wilmington and Marist...teams who both ran us out of their gym last time we played. No one on this team is left from '09-10 and the UNCW game, but I'd fully expect the juniors and seniors to come out hungry for revenge on a 38-point pounding last year in New York. Both games are on Saturdays, and depending on how we shape up, I'd like to see good crowds.
With all the travel we'll be doing the schedule seems unforgiving, and the players will probably miss more class time than they did in the Big South. The conference seems to be doing a Thursday-Saturday format, but there are some Wednesday games thrown in there. The way we come out of the three-game Carolina road trip (Wofford, Furman, UNCG) will likely set the tone for year. Five of our first six conference games are on the road, though we do have a five-game homestand in late January/February. Again, the schedule right now is entirely unofficial, and subject to much change.
Nov. 14 El Cid (Military Classic @ West Point, NY)
Nov. 15 Air Force/Army (Military Classic @ West Point, NY)
Nov. 18 Johnson Univ.
Nov. 22 UNC Wilmington
Nov. 26 @ West Virginia
Nov. 30 @ Maryland
Dec. 2 Mid-Atlantic Christian Univ.
Dec. 4 @ Samford*
Dec. 6 @ Mercer*
Dec. 9 @ Navy
Dec. 13 Marist
Dec. 22 @ Virginia Tech
Dec. 31 @ George Washington
Jan. 5 Mercer*
Jan. 8 @ Wofford*
Jan. 10 @ Furman*
Jan. 14 @ UNC Greensboro*
Jan. 17 ETSU*
Jan. 22 @ Chattanooga*
Jan. 24 El Cid*
Jan. 29 Western Carolina*
Feb. 4 UNC Greensboro*
Feb. 7 Wofford*
Feb. 12 Furman*
Feb. 14 @ El Cid*
Feb. 19 @ ETSU*
Feb. 21 @ Western Carolina*
Feb. 26 Chattanooga*
Feb. 28 Samford*
Home games in bold
*-conference game
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