Men's Basketball Releases 2010-11 Non-Conference Schedule
August 26, 2010 | Men's Basketball
Aug. 26, 2010
Schedule | Season Tickets
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BOSTON - A trip to 2010 NCAA Elite Eight participant Kentucky and the four-day Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off, plus the first season-opening contest against long-time crosstown rival Northeastern in over 60 years, highlight the 2010-11 Boston University men's basketball non-conference schedule announced Thursday by second-year head coach Patrick Chambers.
In total, the 2010 CBI semifinalist and America East Championship runner-up Terriers will face off against at least six postseason teams and will host five of the 14 scheduled games, including the home opener against Marist in Case Gymnasium on Friday, Nov. 19, and a meeting with La Salle at Agganis Arena on Thursday, Dec. 9. Coincidentally, the game at the famed Rupp Arena will be preceded by a visit to The Roof from Cornell, the team that the Wildcats eliminated in the Sweet 16.
"I'm excited for our fans and team that we have a slate of challenging non-conference games that will offer a wide variety of styles, tempos and arena sizes," said Chambers. "We feel they're necessary in order to prepare for the tough America East schedule.
"I'm pleased for Terrier Nation that we get to open our season with Northeastern," he added. "I have a lot of respect for Coach Coen and have known him for a long time. When we discussed this opportunity, we wanted to put college basketball back on the map in the city of Boston. We agreed that if we were openers for each other for the next few years, we'd be able to generate a buzz around this great rivalry."
Facing off against each other on Friday, Nov. 12, at Matthews Arena, BU and the Huskies first met in 1920 and following a break from 1928-42 have met at least once every year. The Terriers lead the all-time series with Northeastern, 71-66.
On Nov. 16, the Terriers will open the NIT Season Tip-Off with fellow 2010 CBI participant George Washington at Villanova, the school where Chambers coached for five seasons before moving to Commonwealth Ave. After meeting the Colonials for the sixth straight season, BU will face either Marist or the Wildcats on Nov. 17.
Two days later on Nov. 19, the Terriers will host Marist after earning an 88-72 road victory last season against the Red Foxes. Depending on the outcome of the first two games of the NIT, they then play on Nov. 22-23 at a site to be determined for the consolation rounds or at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 24 and 26 for the semifinal and championship games, respectively. Other participants include Wake Forest, UCLA, Tennessee, VCU and Missouri State.
Making its first-ever appearance at The Roof, defending Ivy League champion Cornell faces BU (Nov. 27) for just the second time after winning a home game back in 2008. The Big Red represent the first Sweet 16 participant from the previous year to visit the campus since defending champion Duke played at Walter Brown Arena in 1992. Following the matchup with the first of two Ivy League schools, the Terriers will then make their first trip since 1994 to Lexington on Nov. 30.
After playing in back-to-back games against the two Sweet 16 participants, the Terriers will travel to Bucknell (Dec. 4) and then host the first of two Atlantic 10 opponents in La Salle on Dec. 9 at Agganis Arena. They remain in town for the continuation of another long-standing rivalry at Harvard (Dec. 11) before taking an extended break for exams.
Upon completion, BU will host associate head coach Brian Daly's alma mater, Saint Joseph's, on Dec. 21 and then Northeast Conference regular-season champion Quinnipiac on Dec. 29.
The Terriers conclude the non-conference slate with a visit to in-state rival Massachusetts in their first contest in three seasons. The two schools first met in 1903-04 and were both former members of the Yankee Conference during the 1970s.
Entering its 102nd season, BU will feature one lone senior in two-time All-America East First Team honoree John Holland along with junior Jake O'Brien (third-team all-conference) and a seven-member freshman class. Last year, the Terriers finished with a record of 21-14 and 11-5 mark in league play.
For more information or to purchase men's basketball season tickets, please visit www.AgganisArena.com, call 617-353-GOBU (4628), or visit the Agganis Arena Ticket Office, located at 925 Commonwealth Avenue, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
