| Game Information - 6 p.m. |
No. 3 / 3 Houston (1-0 / 0-0 American Athletic Conference) vs. Saint Joseph's (0-0 / 0-0 Atlantic 10 Conference) |
| Game Information - 8:30 p.m. |
Princeton (0-1 / 0-0 Ivy League) at Navy (1-0 / 0-0 Patriot League) |
| Date |
Friday, Nov. 11 |
| Location / Venue |
Annapolis, Md. / Alumni Hall |
| Tickets |
Navy Athletics |
| National Television / Video Stream |
CBS Sports Network / Dave Ryan, Steve Lappas, Gary Parrish |
| Live Stats (both games) |
NavySports.com |
| Navy Radio (both games) |
WNAV (AM-1430, FM-99.9, wnav.com) / Pete Medhurst, Mike Heary |
| PDF of Game Notes |
Houston / Saint Joseph's / Princeton / Navy |
| Season Statistics |
Houston / Saint Joseph's / Princeton / Navy |
| Media Guide |
Navy |
Tickets Remain on Sale
• Tickets remain on sale through the Navy Ticket Office for either lower level reserved seating ($40) or upper level general admission seating ($25). Call 1-800-US4-NAVY or visit the TICKETS tab in the masthead of NavySports.com or click
HERE.
• Alumni Hall opens for fans starting at 4:30 p.m.
Vehicle Access
• Only those vehicles driven by someone with a Department of Defense (DoD)-approved identification card will be allowed onto the USNA.
USNA Gates
• Gate 1 will be open to DoD approved vehicle entrance and exit until 10:30 p.m.
• The Gate 1 visitors center pedestrian entrance will be open until 2 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12 (turnstile gate exit always open).
• Gate 3 will be available for pedestrian entrance from 5:30-11 p.m. (turnstile gate exit always open).
• Gate 8 will be open for DoD approved vehicle and pedestrian entrance and exit at all times.
Shuttle Bus
• Fans without DoD approved vehicle access to the USNA must park outside of The Yard. The simplest way to do this is to park ($10 per vehicle) at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (550 Taylor Avenue, Annapolis, Md., 21401). Enter the blue / west parking lot through gate 5 off of Taylor Avenue. The free fan shuttle bus will leave from and return to the Blue Angel jet. Fan shuttle bus hours begin at 4 p.m. and end one hour after the conclusion of the second game.
Visitors to the USNA
• Whether a visitor rides the shuttle bus to the USNA or walks through one of its gates, everyone ages of 18 and over must have a valid picture ID (i.e.: State issued driver's license, student I.D., or a government issued passport). Visitors ages 17 and younger who do not have a valid picture ID must be accompanied by an adult.
Five Starting Notes
1 – Navy will face Princeton (8:30 p.m.) and No. 3 Houston takes on Saint Joseph's (6 p.m.) Friday night in the ninth annual Veterans Classic. Both games will be televised on the CBS Sports Network, as every game has been since the inception of the doubleheader.
2 – Houston, Saint Joseph's and Princeton each will be playing their first game in Alumni Hall (opened 1991-92). Additionally, Houston and Saint Joseph's will be playing their first respective game in Annapolis and Princeton last played in Maryland's capital city in 1977-78.
3 – Friday's Navy-Princeton pairing is the first between the teams since the 1977-78 season. The teams previously met in all but two years from the 1946-47 through 1977-78 seasons. Princeton holds a 24-10 advantage in the series.
4 – Princeton is the eighth and final team from the Ancient Eight to play a game in Alumni Hall. The Mids enter the game with an 8-9 record against the Ivies in the venue.
5 – Navy's 74-59 victory at William & Mary Monday marked the third year in a row in which it won its season-opening game. The last time the Mids registered at least three-straight season-opening victories was when they won four in a row from 1981-82 through 1984-85.
Last Game
• Navy began its season with a 74-59 victory at William & Mary on Monday.
• The entertaining game was a one-possession contest for nearly all of the first 28 minutes.
• Navy went on a 15-3 run to turn a 50-48 deficit into a 63-53 advantage with seven minutes remaining. Offensively, five different Mids scored during the run while on defense, Navy held the Tribe to 1-8 shooting, one offensive rebound and two turnovers during the same span.
• William & Mary was only able to draw to within six points before the Mids scored on four-straight possessions to seal the outcome.
• Four Mids scored in double figures, with
Tyler Nelson's 16 points (4-6 from three-point range, 6-10 overall) leading the way.
• Navy shot 48% from the field in each half and held a 38-29 advantage on the glass.
About Navy
• Navy returns two starters, five letter winners and 19 players from last year's team. There are seven freshmen on the squad.
• The Mids posted a 21-11 overall record and, with a 12-6 record, placed second in the Patriot League. The Mids advanced to the championship game of the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since the 2001 event.
• Navy placed fourth in the 2022-23 Patriot League Preseason Poll.
About Princeton
• Princeton posted an overall record of 23-7, won the Ivy League regular season title with a 12-2 record and advanced to the championship game of the league tournament.
• The Tigers competed in the 2022 NIT.
• Penn narrowly edged Princeton for first place in the 2022-23 Ivy League Preseason Poll. Both the Quakers and the Tigers garnered six first-place votes, but Penn totaled 111 points in all to barely better the 110 points garnered by Princeton.
• Included among the team's returning players is 2022 Ivy League Player of the Year Tosan Evbuomwan.
• The Tigers opened the year with an 83-77 loss at home to Hofstra on Monday.
Navy-Princeton Series
• Princeton leads the all-time series with Navy, 24-10. The teams have split the previous 16 games that have been played in Annapolis.
• The Mids posted a 5-1 record against Princeton in Dahlgren Hall (1908-56) and a 3-7 record in the series in Halsey Field House (1956-91).
• The series began Dec. 26, 1908, when Navy edged Princeton, 29-28 in a game played in Annapolis.
• The teams met in all but two seasons (1954-55, 1955-56) from the 1946-47 through 1977-78 campaigns.
• The last meeting in the series took place Nov. 30, 1977, when Navy won a 60-57 decision in Annapolis.
Navy vs. Ivy League
• Navy has posted a 97-123 record against teams from the Ivy League.
• Princeton is the only Ivy League team the Mids are facing this season.
• Navy has tallied a 6-4 record against the four Ivy League teams it has played under
Ed DeChellis.
• The Mids faced both Brown and Cornell during the 2019-20 seasons.
Princeton vs. Patriot League
• Princeton has compiled a 179-53 record against teams currently in the Patriot League.
• The Tigers also will play Army and Lafayette this season.
• Princeton played Bucknell and Lafayette during the 2021-22 season.
Miscellaneous Game Records
• Navy has posted a 1-6 record in games played on Nov. 11.
• The Mids have tallied a 35-38 record against teams located in New Jersey.
About Houston
• Houston complied an overall record of 32-6 last year, won the American Athletic Conference regular season (15-3) for the third time in four years and won the AAC Tournament for the second-straight season.
• The Cougars reached the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament –– one year after advancing to the 2021 Final Four –– and ended the season ranked seventh nationally.
• Houston was the preseason favorite in the AAC this year and is ranked third in both national preseason polls
• The Cougars have a 1-0 record this season following their 83-36 win over Northern Colorado on Monday.
About Saint Joseph's
• Saint Joseph's ended last season with an 11-19 overall record and a 5-13 mark in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
• The Hawks are coached by Billy Lange, who served as the Navy head coach for seven years from 204-05 through 2010-11. The Mids posted a 93-114 record overall and a 43-55 mark in Patriot League play under Lange. He was named the 2008 Patriot League Coach of the Year when the Mids placed second in the league with a 9-5 record that was part of an overall mark of 16-14.
• Saint Joseph's placed 13th in this year's A10 Preseason Poll. The Hawks will be opening their season Friday.
Ninth-Annual Veterans Classic
• Navy plays host to the ninth annual Veterans Classic on Friday.
• Traditionally held on or around the Veterans Day holiday weekend, the event pays tribute to veterans of all our armed forces.
• This year's field features No. 3 Houston vs. Saint Joseph's and Princeton vs. Navy.
• The teams immerse themselves in the USNA on Thursday through tours of ship simulators, helicopters, and ships. They then eat lunch in King Hall with members of the Brigade of Midshipmen.
• Veterans of all service branches are honored during the course of the doubleheader.
Veterans Classic Annual Results
Nov. 14, 2014 - (15 AP / 16 USA Today) VCU 85, Tennessee 69; (18 / 18) Michigan State 64, Navy 59
Nov. 13, 2015 - (1 / 1) North Carolina 91, Temple 67; Florida 59, Navy 41
Nov. 11, 2016 - Marquette 95, Vanderbilt 71; Ohio State 78, Navy 68
Nov. 10, 2017 - (RV / 25) Alabama 82, Memphis 70; Navy 71, Pittsburgh 62
Nov. 9, 2018 - Wichita State 83, Providence 80; Maryland 78, Navy 57
Nov. 8, 2019 - (24 / 23) Auburn 76, Davidson 66; Navy 62, East Carolina 57
Nov. 25, 2020 - Navy 78, George Washington 71
Nov. 12, 2021 - Utah State 85, Richmond 74; Virginia Tech 77, Navy 57
Nationally-Ranked Teams - Veterans Classic
• Houston is the sixth Veterans Classic team to hold a national ranking at the time of the event.
Veterans Classic Teams with a National Ranking
2014 – (15 AP / 16 ESPN) VCU
2014 – (18 / 18) Michigan State
2015 – (1 / 1) North Carolina
2017 – (RV / 25) Alabama
2019 – (24 / 23) Auburn
2022 – (3 / 3) Houston
Nationally-Ranked Teams - Alumni Hall
• Houston will be the eighth nationally-ranked team to play a game in Alumni Hall since the building opened for the 1991-92 season.
Alumni Hall Games Involving Nationally-Ranked Teams
Dec. 19, 1998 – No. 19 / 18 Auburn 88, Navy 70
Jan, 7, 2002 – No. 23 / 24 Wake Forest 87, Navy 65
Nov. 14, 2014 – No. 15 / 16 VCU 85, Tennessee, 69
Nov. 14, 2014 – No. 18 / 18 Michigan State 64, Navy 59
Nov. 13, 2015 – No. 1 / 1 North Carolina 91, Temple 67
Nov. 10, 2017 – NR / 25 Alabama 82, Memphis 70
Nov. 8, 2019 – No. 24 / 23 Auburn 76, Davidson 66
Nov. 11, 2022 – No. 3 / 3 Houston vs. Saint Joseph's
–– AP poll listed first, Coaches poll listed second
• Houston will be the third top-five ranked team and the 13th team ranked among the top-10 teams in the country to play a game in Annapolis.
Top-10 Ranked Teams in Annapolis
Feb. 20, 1954 – No. 6 / 8 Notre Dame vs. Navy
Jan. 29, 1955 – No. 8 / 12 Maryland vs. Navy
Jan. 28, 1956 – No. 6 / 7 Temple vs. Navy
Feb. 1, 1958 – No. 9 / 11 Maryland vs. Navy
Feb. 19, 1958 – No. 7 / 9 Duke vs. Navy
Feb. 22, 1958 – No. 10 / 13 Notre Dame vs. Navy
Feb. 18, 1961 – No. 3 / 3 Duke vs. Navy
Jan. 9, 1963 – No. 6 / 6 Duke vs. Navy
Dec. 12, 1967 – No. 10 / 7 Princeton vs. Navy
Dec. 5, 1970 – No. 11 / 7 Penn vs. Navy
Dec. 9, 1972 – No. 9 / 10 Penn vs. Navy
Nov. 13, 2015 – No. 1 / 1 North Carolina vs. Temple
Nov. 11, 2022 – No. 3 / 3 Houston vs. Saint Joseph's
–– AP poll listed first, Coaches poll listed second
Veterans Classic Teams
• Including this week's games, teams from eight different conferences have appeared in the Veterans Classic.
Visiting Teams by Conference Affiliation
American Athletic Conference (4) - 2015 – Temple; 2017 – Memphis; 2018 – Wichita State; 2019 – East Carolina; 2022 – Houston
Atlantic Coast Conference (3) - 2015 – North Carolina; 2017 – Pittsburgh; 2021 – Virginia Tech
Atlantic 10 Conference (5) - 2014 – VCU; 2019 – Davidson; 2020 – George Washington; 2021 – Richmond; 2022 – Saint Joseph's
Big East Conference (2) - 2016 – Marquette; 2018 – Providence
Big Ten Conference (3) - 2014 – Michigan State; 2016 – Ohio State; 2018 – Maryland
Ivy League (1) - 2022 – Princeton
Mountain West Conference (1) - 2021 – Utah State
Southeastern Conference (5) - 2014 – Tennessee; 2015 – Florida; 2016 – Vanderbilt; 2017 – Alabama; 2019 – Auburn
Veterans Classic Teams in the Postseason
• In years in which a national postseason tournament was held, 14 the 19 visiting Veterans Classic teams have advanced to either the NCAA Tournament or NIT.
NCAA Tournament Teams (10)
2014 – Michigan State (27-12) / Semifinal
2014 – VCU (26-10) / First Round
2015 – North Carolina (33-7) / Final
2015 – Temple (21-12) / First Round
2016 – Marquette (19-13) / First Round
2016 – Vanderbilt (19-16) / First Round
2017 – Alabama (20-16) / Second Round
2018 – Maryland (23-11) / First Round
2021 – Virginia Tech (23-13) / First Round
2021 – Richmond (24-13) / Second Round
NIT Teams (4)
2015 – Florida (21-15) / Quarterfinal
2018 – Providence (18-16) / First Round
2018 – Wichita State (22-15) / Semifinal
2021 – Utah State (18-16) / First Round
Visiting Veterans Classic Head Coaches
• With Houston's Kelvin Sampson traveling to Annapolis this week, there will have been eight Veterans Classic visiting head coaches who have taken at least one team to a Final Four.
Visiting Coaches Who Have Coached in a Final Four
2014 – Shaka Smart, VCU; Tom Izzo, Michigan State
2015 – Roy Williams, North Carolina
2016 – Thad Matta, Ohio State
2017 – Tubby Smith, Memphis
2018 – Gregg Marshall, Wichita State
2019 – Bruce Pearl, Auburn
2022 – Kelvin Sampson, Houston
From the Veterans Classic to the NBA
• 15 Veterans Classic alumni were under NBA contracts at the start of the 2022-23 NBA season.
• The brings the total number of Veterans Classic players to advance to the NBA to 28.
• There has been 49 future NBA players to play a game in Alumni Hall since the venue opened for the 1991-92 season.
Veterans Classic Players with 2022-23 NBA Contracts
(as of opening night)
Josh Richardson, Tennessee, 2014 -- San Antonio
Bryn Forbes, Michigan State, 2014 -- Minnesota
Justin Jackson, North Carolina, 2015 -- Boston
Theo Pinson, North Carolina, 2015 -- Dallas
Dorian Finney-Smith, Florida, 2015 -- Dallas
Sam Hauser, Marquette, 2016 -- Boston
Luke Kornet, Vanderbilt, 2016 -- Boston
Keita Bates-Diop, Ohio State, 2016 -- San Antonio
Micah Potter, Ohio State, 2016 -- Utah
Jae'Sean Tate, Ohio State, 2016 -- Houston (a)
Herb Jones, Alabama, 2017 -- New Orleans (b)
Bruno Fernando, Maryland, 2018 -- Houston
Jalen Smith, Maryland, 2018 -- Indiana
Aaron Wiggins, Maryland, 2018 -- Oklahoma City
Isaac Okoro, Auburn, 2019 -- Cleveland (a)
a= Was named to the 2021 NBA All-Rookie Team
b= Was named to the 2022 NBA All-Rookie Team
• There will be 28 professional basketball scouts from 19 NBA teams and two scouting services attending this year's Veterans Classic.
32nd Year in Alumni Hall
• Navy is playing its 32nd season in Alumni Hall this year.
• The Mids opened the facility on Nov. 25, 1991, with a 90-67 victory over Gettysburg.
• There have been 49 future NBA players to play a game in Alumni Hall.
• Princeton will be the 103rd different opponent Navy will have played in the venue. This includes games against teams from the current ACC (Pittsburgh, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech), Big East (Georgetown), Big Ten (Maryland, Michigan State, Ohio State), Pacific 12 (Stanford) and SEC (Auburn, Florida).
