Sept. 10, 2007
2007-08 Men's Basketball Schedule
VILLANOVA, Pa. - A pair of high-profile early season events along with the customary assortment of rugged BIG EAST Conference and Philadelphia Big Five City Series battles highlight the 2007-08 Villanova men's basketball schedule released today. The Wildcats are to appear no fewer than 13 times on national television in the upcoming campaign.
The Wildcats kick off the 2007-08 regular season at the Pavilion on Nov. 9 against Stony Brook. Following a Nov. 18 home date with Bucknell, Villanova will travel south to participate in the Old Spice Classic in Orlando, Fla. The `Cats meet Central Florida at 7:00 p.m. (ESPN2) on Thanksgiving night and will face either George Mason or Kansas State in the second round (ESPNU or ESPN2). The tournament wraps up on Sunday, Nov. 25.
On Dec. 6, Villanova will participate in the first BIG EAST/SEC Invitational. The Wildcats meet LSU at 9:30 p.m. (ESPN) as part of a doubleheader at the Wachovia Center that features South Carolina and Providence in the opener.
The BIG EAST returns to an 18-game format in 2007-08 with Villanova traveling to Chicago to face DePaul in its conference opener on Jan. 3 (ESPN2, 9:00 p.m.). Three days later, the `Cats will host Pittsburgh at the Pavilion. ESPN will televise Villanova's visit to Syracuse (Jan. 19) and either ESPN or ESPN2 will carry the game at Pitt (Jan. 30).
Villanova returns to the Wachovia Center for four BIG EAST encounters. It hosts Notre Dame (Jan. 26); Syracuse (Feb. 2/ESPN); Connecticut (Feb. 23/ESPN) and Marquette (Feb. 25/ESPN) in South Philadelphia. The Wildcats also visit Georgetown on Feb. 11 (ESPN) and Louisville on March 2 (CBS).
On Dec. 1 Villanova will attempt to extend its streak of consecutive Big Five victories (11, dating to 2004-05) against the school that owns the current mark (12), Penn. The Wildcats also play at Temple (Dec. 9); at home against La Salle (Dec. 29) and at Saint Joseph's (Feb. 4) to round out its 2007-08 City Series action.
"It's exciting to see the schedule in print," stated Villanova head coach Jay Wright. "We can now start preparing for each of our non-conference and BIG EAST games. We have an outstanding group of home games at the Pavilion and Wachovia Center along with our always difficult BIG EAST and Big Five road games."
Regional and local television information will be announced at a later date along with those game times not yet available. Villanova returns two starters from a 22-11 squad that advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
