Aug. 7, 2006
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Navy men's basketball has released its 2006-07 schedule, highlighted by 15 non-conference games including two contests against two of the top teams in the country, head coach Billy Lange recently announced. The Mids could play a total of 31 regular-season games and will compete in the prestigious 2K Sports Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. The feature games of the non-conference slate will be a pair of games against two of the Big East's best teams, Villanova and Georgetown. Navy will play at Villanova on Nov. 25, and Georgetown on Dec. 23. A possible third game against the Big East could take place on Nov. 11, against St. John's in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.
"We are very excited about our team and this schedule will be a great test for us," said Lange, who enters his third year in charge of the Navy basketball program. "The schedule will allow us to grow and it is geared toward the Patriot League season. The first two months will prepare us very adequately for the league season. We will play in some great venues against some great opponents and every game will be a learning experience for our young team."
Navy opens the season on Nov. 10, in the 2K Sports Coaches vs. Cancer Classic against Loyola (Md.) on the campus of St. John's University in New York City. The Mids will then play either North Florida or the host St. John's on Nov. 11. The winner of the bracket will advance to the semifinals to be played at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 16 and 17. Sandwiched in during the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, Navy will play a Tuesday, Nov. 14, game against Brown at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Md.
Following a Nov. 19, game at Stony Brook, Navy will then have its home opener on Nov. 21, against Maryland-Eastern Shore in Alumni Hall, before heading to Villanova on the Saturday following Thanksgiving. The Wildcats earned a No. 1 seed in last year's NCAA Tournament, falling to eventual national champion Florida in the Elite Eight.
Navy will return home for five of its next six games from Nov. 28 to Dec. 20. The Mids will host William & Mary on Tuesday, Nov. 28, followed by a trip to Longwood on Dec. 1. Navy will then host a season-long four-game homestand, beginning with Howard on Dec. 4, and ending with Washington College on Dec. 20. Making a visit to Annapolis during the homestand will be NCAA Tournament participant, Penn, on Dec. 7.
Navy will wrap up its pre-Christmas slate with a Dec. 23, contest at Georgetown. The Hoyas advanced to the Sweet 16 a year ago and return nearly everybody from last year's team.
Navy returns home for a Dec. 30, matchup against Yale, before hitting the road for the final time in non-conference play on Jan. 2, at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT).
The Mids will open Patriot League play at defending champion, Bucknell, on Jan. 6. Navy's first home game in league play will come against Lehigh on Jan. 10. Navy will be at home for three of its final four league games from Feb. 14-21, highlighted by a visit from Army on Feb. 17, which will be aired nationally by CBS. The two rivals split last year's meetings, with each team winning on the road.
Times will be determined at a later date. Keep checking back on www.navysports.com for times.
Navy posted a 10-18 record last season, but return four starters and seven letterwinners from last year's squad.
# GO NAVY #
