Aug. 10, 2009

*Please note that the La Salle at Penn game has been changed to January 20, 2010.

 

PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle men's basketball team faces stiff early season tests this year with five NCAA non-conference opponents on the schedule along with potentially four opponents that went to the NIT. The Explorers could also have as many as five games on the ESPN family of networks this season, with additional national coverage on CBS College Sports to be announced at a later date.

Highlighting the Explorers non-conference schedule are contests against NCAA qualifiers Villanova (11/28), Kansas (12/12) and Oklahoma State (12/21), all slated to be televised on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU. The squad also hosts Ivy League champion and NCAA qualifier Cornell on December 29 before traveling to Binghamton, which earned an automatic bid to the Big Dance last year, on January 2.

Head coach Dr. John Giannini's squad also potentially faces up to four NIT teams at the Charleston Classic. The team opens with a tilt against South Carolina on Thursday, Nov. 19, to face a Gamecocks squad that went 21-10 and earned an NIT berth last season. The game is slated to be broadcast on ESPNU. The Explorers will then potentially play NIT teams Davidson, Miami (Fla.) and Penn State.

In addition, the Explorers face three more NCAA teams in Atlantic 10 play to bring the total to eight, as Xavier, Dayton and Temple went to the tournament last year. They also face NIT teams Duquesne and Rhode Island in conference play.

The Atlantic 10 slate includes home-and-home series with George Washington, Massachusetts and Temple. Charlotte, Rhode Island, St. Bonaventure, Saint Louis and Xavier will travel to Tom Gola Arena this season, while La Salle makes conference trips to Dayton, Duquesne, Fordham, Richmond and Saint Joseph's.

"Our schedule includes some of the top teams in the country, opponents from top conferences, and numerous opponents who are expected to reach the post-season with outstanding records," Giannini said. "Our schedule challenges us to play at a high level in order to meet our post-season goals. We also anticipate exciting television coverage that will provide La Salle basketball with national visibility."

The Explorers, who return five of their six top scorers from last year, look to make an impact on the tough schedule they face. All-Atlantic 10 selection and the conference's second-leading scorer Rodney Green leads a quartet of seniors hungry for a stellar season after finishing tied for fifth in the Atlantic 10 in 2008-09.

Yves Mekongo Mbala, Kimmani Barrett and Ruben Guillandeaux are all closing in on the 1,000 point mark, potentially giving this year's squad four 1,000-point club members. Junior Jerrell Williams, an Atlantic 10 All-Rookie pick two years ago, rounds out the top five returning scorers.

The Explorers will also welcome freshman Aaric Murray to add to a power-packed lineup. Murray, a Philadelphia native, is regarded as one of the top recruits in his class after averaging 18.0 points per game and 12.4 rebounds per game during his senior season at The Glen Mills School.

The regular season opens with a home tilt against Hampton on Saturday, November 14, before the Explorers head to Charleston. Also on the non-conference schedule are home games against Lafayette (12/3), Hartford (12/6) and Bucknell (12/19) and road trips to Rider (12/9) and Penn (1/20).

La Salle will also host local foe Holy Family in a preseason exhibition on Saturday, Nov. 7.

The full Atlantic 10 schedule will be released at a later date.

@ - Exhibition;
# - Charleston Classic;
% - at Sprint Center (Kansas City, MO);
& - at Ford Center (Oklahoma City, OK)

Atlantic 10 home opponents - Charlotte, George Washington, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Saint Bonaventure, Saint Louis, Temple and Xavier.

Atlantic 10 road opponents - Dayton, Duquesne, Fordham, George Washington, Massachusetts, Richmond, Saint Joseph's and Temple.

Game dates and times are subject to change. Stay tuned to GoExplorers.com for the latest schedule information.