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 (Jan. 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)
2011 St. Bonaventure Men’s Basketball Schedule
November
Fri 4 Mansfield…………Exhibition……….7:00 PM
Fri 11 Cornell ………………………………………..7:00 PM
Fri 18 at Cleveland State 7:00 PM
Mon 21 at Siena 7:00 PM
Sun 27 at Virginia Tech 6:00 PM
December
Thu 1 Arkansas St. 7:00 PM
Sat 3 at Buffalo 4:00 PM
Wed 7 at Illinois……….TV: ESPNU…………………………………9:00 PM
Sat 10 Canisius 7:00 PM
Tue 20 vs. NC St. Blue Cross Arena (Rochester, N.Y.) 7:00 PM
Fri 23 St. Francis (Pa.) 7:00 PM
Fri 30 at Niagara 7:00 PM
January
Wed 4 George Washington 7:00 PM
Sat 7 at Duquesne TBA
Wed 11 Dayton 7:00 PM
Sat 14 at Xavier ……..TV: ESPNU……………………………………………12:00 PM
Sat 21 Fordham……………TV: CBS Sports Network Regional……………… TBA
Wed 25 at Rhode Island TV: CBS Sports Network Regional 7:00 PM
Sat 28 Richmond TBA
February
Wed 1 at Saint Louis TBA
Wed 8 at UMass TBA
Sat 11 Duquesne TV: CBS Sports Network Regional TBA
Wed 15 Temple TV: CBS Sports Network 8:00 PM
Sat 18 Rhode Island TBA
Wed 22 at Fordham TBA
Sat 25 at Charlotte TBA
Wed 29 Saint Joseph’s 7:00 PM
March
Sat 3 at La Salle TBA
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