2011-12 Men's Basketball Schedule Released
2011-12 St. Bonaventure Men's Basketball Schedule
Atlantic 10 Conference Composite Schedule
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - Ten games against schools that reached the postseason last year, six televised games and three matchups with squads from BCS conferences highlight the 2011-12 men's basketball schedule released on Tuesday.
The Bonnies, who return senior All-America candidate Andrew Nicholson and four of five starters from last year's squad, will be featured on national television three times in 2011-12: at Illinois Dec. 7 (ESPNU), at Xavier Jan. 14 (ESPNU) and in the Reilly Center opposite Temple Feb. 15 (CBS Sports).
After an exhibition tune-up against Mansfield Nov. 4, the season officially opens Nov. 11 when Ivy League-member Cornell comes to the Reilly Center for the first time since 2004.
A three-game road trip to NIT participant Cleveland State (Nov. 18), Siena (Nov. 21) and fellow NIT participant Virginia Tech (Nov. 27), who edged the Bonnies in overtime in Rochester last season, is next on the Bona slate.
Arkansas St. visits the Reilly Center Dec. 1 in the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
The Bonnies head to Amherst, N.Y. Dec. 3 to play CollegeInsider.com Tournament participant Buffalo at 4 p.m., followed by a trip to Champaign's Assembly Hall to face Illinois Dec. 7 in a game televised nationally by ESPNU. The matchup against the Illini will also be the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
The Brown and White then return home to host Big 4 rival Canisius Dec. 10 in a series that dates back to the 1919-20 season.
Ten days later, SBU plays returns to Rochester's Blue Cross Arena for the seventh time since 2000, as the Brown and White battle ACC foe N.C. State. It will be the first Bonnies-Wolfpack matchup since an 86-68 SBU win in the second round of the 1970 NCAA Tournament that helped propel St. Bonaventure to the Final Four.
St. Francis (Pa.) of the Northeastern Conference (NEC) matchup up with the Bonnies at the Reilly Center Dec. 23 with the non-conference schedule wrapping up a week later at Niagara's Gallagher Center.
The Atlantic 10 slate begins at home, as George Washington visits the RC Jan. 4.
After facing CBI-participant Duquesne on the road Jan. 7, SBU hosts NIT-participant Dayton at home Jan. 11.
Xavier, which has advanced to NCAA tournament in six straight seasons will host the Bonnies in the Cintas Center Jan. 14 in another game carried by ESPNU. One week later, St. Bonaventure welcomes Fordham - for a meeting televised by CBS Sports Regional.
Following a televised road game versus Rhode Island Jan. 25 (CBS Sports Regional) and a home game against Sweet 16 team Richmond (Jan. 28), the Bonnies venture on a two-game road trip at Saint Louis (Feb. 1) and Massachusetts (Feb. 8).
Duquesne's visit Feb. 11 is the start of a three-game homestand that will see SBU match up with Temple (Feb. 15) on CBS Sports Network and Rhode Island (Feb. 18).
Three of the final four games on the 2011-12 slate are on the road as SBU closes out the regular season at Fordham (Feb. 22), at Charlotte (Feb. 25), versus Saint Joseph's (Feb. 29) and at La Salle (Mar. 3).
At the conclusion of the regular season, the top 12 teams will advance to the 2012 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Championship. First round games will be played on Tuesday, Mar. 6 on the campuses of the higher seeded teams (#5, #6, #7 and #8).
The winners of those opening round games will advance to Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. for the quarterfinal round on Friday, Mar. 9. Semifinal games will be played on Saturday, Mar. 10 and the finals on NCAA Selection Sunday, Mar. 11 at 1 p.m., which will air live on CBS Sports.
Opponents who made a postseason appearance last season (8):
at Cleveland State, NIT (Nov. 18)
at Virginia Tech, NIT (Nov. 27)
at Buffalo, CIT (Dec. 3)
Duquesne, CBI (Away: Jan.7; Home: Feb. 11)
Dayton, NIT (Jan. 11)
at Xavier, NCAA (Jan. 14)
Richmond, NCAA (Jan. 28)
Rhode Island, CBI (Away: Jan. 25; Home: Feb. 18)
Television Games (6):
at Illinois, ESPNU (Dec.7)
at Xavier, ESPNU (Dec. 14)
Fordham, CBS Sports Regional (Jan. 21)
at Rhode Island, CBS Sports Regional (Jan. 25)
Duquesne, CBS Sports Regional (Feb. 11)
Temple, CBS Sports (Feb. 15)
he Bonnies will entertain 10 teams that reached postseason play and three BCS conference schools this season, as the men's basketball team released its 2011-12 schedule Tuesday
.
The Wolfpack will get a chance to see this year's team in a exhibition tune-up against Mansfield Nov. 4 at 7 p.m.
The 2011-12 season officially opens at 7 p.m. on Nov. 11, when Ivy League school Cornell comes to the Reilly Center.
After a three-game road trip with NIT school Cleveland State (Nov. 18, 7 p.m.), Siena (Nov. 21, 7 p.m.) and ACC school Virginia Tech (Nov. 27, 6 p.m.) , St. Bonaventure hosts Arkansas State from the Sun Belt Conference Dec. 1 in a 7 p.m. tipoff.
The Bonnies head to Amherst, N.Y. on Dec. 3 to play CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament participant Buffalo at 4 p.m., followed by a trip to Champaign's Assembly Hall to face Illinois in a 9 p.m. tipoff Dec. 7 televised on ESPNU – the first of five games to air on television in some form this season. The matchup against the Illini will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
The Brown and White then return home to host Big Four rival Canisius in a 7 p.m. tipoff Dec.10.
Ten days later, St. Bonaventure's yearly tradition of playing at Rochester's Blue Cross Arena continues, as the Brown and White battle with ACC school N.C. State at 7 p.m. It will be the first Bonnies-Wolfpack matchup since an 86-68 SBU win in the second round of the 1970 NCAA Tournament, another stepping stone on the team's trail to the Final Four.
On Dec. 23, St. Francis (Pa.) from the Northeastern Conference (NEC) plays the Bonnies (7 p.m.) at the Reilly Center with the non-conference schedule wrapping up a week later at the Gallagher Center against Niagara (7 p.m.).
The Atlantic 10 slate also begins at home, as the Bonnies will entertain George Washington in a 7 p.m. tipoff Jan. 4.
After facing CBI participant Duquesne (Jan. 7) on the road, NIT school Dayton (Jan. 11, 7 p.m.) at home and NCAA Tournament particpant Xavier (Jan. 14, Noon, ESPNU) at the Cintas Center, St. Bonaventure hosts Fordham Jan. 21 in a 1 p.m. start that will be syndicated regionally by CBS Sports.
Following a road trip to fellow CBI school Rhode Island (Jan. 25, CBS Sports Regional) and a home game against NCAA Sweet 16 team Richmond (Jan. 28), the Bonnies go on a two-game road trip to play Saint Louis (Feb. 1) and Massachusetts (Feb. 8). Duquesne's visit is the start of a three-game homestand.
St. Bonaventure will host NCAA Tournament team Temple at the Reilly Center Feb. 15 in a game nationally televised on CBS Sports Network, while fellow CBI team Rhode Island comes to Bob Lanier Court three days later.
Three of the final four games on the 2011-12 slate are on the road. Legendary Rose Hill Gym beckons the Brown
and White to Fordham on Feb. 22, while a long trip to Charlotte to face the 49ers follows three days later. After returning home to face Saint Joseph's Feb. 29, the season (along with the A-10 slate) ends with a March 3 meeting on the road against La Salle.
The Bonnies return four of five starters from last season, featuring All-American candidate and NBA Draft prospect Andrew Nicholson. Nicholson, a senior forward from Ontario, averaged 20.8 points and 7.3 rebounds last season, leading the Brown and White in both categories.
