Sept. 10, 2009
VILLANOVA, Pa. - After making their first NCAA Final Four appearance since 1985 a season ago, the Villanova Wildcats will face another formidable schedule in the 2009-10 slate announced today.
The schedule includes 18 BIG EAST Conference games, including a Feb. 15 encounter with the conference's other 2009 NCAA Final Four representative, Connecticut, and a Feb. 21 return engagement with VU's counterpart in last March's classic Eastern Regional Final duel, Pittsburgh. Both contests will be televised nationally and are among a minimum of 18 that will feature VU in 2009-10.
Villanova will host five games at the Wachovia Center in South Philadelphia, matching its regular season high in that category. The `Cats face five BIG EAST rivals at the Center, with Georgetown (Jan. 17), Notre Dame (Jan. 27), Providence (Feb. 13) and West Virginia (Mar. 6) joining UConn in visits there. The appearances by the Friars and Mountaineers will be their first against Villanova at the Center.
The Wildcats open the regular season on Friday, Nov. 13 at the Pavilion, when they will attempt to extend their 28-game winning streak in the building against Fairleigh Dickinson. Penn comes to the Pavilion three nights later to open the Philadelphia Big Five portion of the schedule. VU will also meet La Salle (Nov. 28/ESPN2), Saint Joseph's (Dec. 9/ESPN2) and Temple (Dec. 13) in City Series action in 2009-10.
There are several intriguing intersectional matchups ahead in the early portion of the slate. Villanova travels to San Juan to participate in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tipoff with three games on Nov. 19, 20, and 22. VU opens with George Mason and then faces either Dayton or Georgia Tech the following afternoon. The Wildcats will also make their first visit to the BB&T Classic in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 6 to meet Maryland (Fox Sports).
The regular season comes to an end on March 6, when Villanova hosts West Virginia at the Wachovia Center (CBS). The `Cats will also be part of ESPN's College GameDay presentation on Feb. 27, when they visit Syracuse at the Carrier Dome on Feb. 27.
Additional schedule information, including game times and regional television information will be released at a later date.
2009-10 VILLANOVA MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
NOVEMBER
Nov. 5 KUTZTOWN -exh (WC)
Nov. 13 FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON
Nov. 16 PENN+
Nov. 19 vs. George Mason 1 (ESPNU)
Nov. 20 vs. Dayton or Georgia Tech 1 (ESPNU)
Nov. 22 vs. TBD at O'Reilly Auto Parts Classic
Nov. 28 LA SALLE+ (ESPN2)
DECEMBER
Dec. 2 DREXEL
Dec. 6 vs. Maryland 2 (FSN)
Dec. 9 at Saint Joseph's+ (ESPN2)
Dec. 13 at Temple+ (CBS College Sports)
Dec. 19 at Fordham 3
Dec. 23 DELAWARE
JANUARY
Jan. 2 at Marquette* (ESPN2)
Jan. 6 DEPAUL*
Jan. 9 MARQUETTE*
Jan. 11 at Louisville* (ESPN)
Jan. 17 GEORGETOWN* (WC)
Jan. 20 at Rutgers*
Jan. 23 at St. John's* (ESPN)
Jan. 27 NOTRE DAME* (WC) (ESPN)
FEBRUARY
Feb. 2 SETON HALL*
Feb. 6 at Georgetown* (ESPN)
Feb. 8 at West Virginia* (ESPN)
Feb. 13 PROVIDENCE* (WC)
Feb. 15 CONNECTICUT* (WC) (ESPN)
Feb. 21 at Pittsburgh* (CBS)
Feb. 24 USF*`
Feb. 27 at Syracuse* (ESPN)
MARCH
Mar. 2 at Cincinnati* (ESPN2)
Mar. 6 WEST VIRGINIA* (WC) (ESPN)
Mar. 9-13 Big East Tournament (ESPN & ESPN2)
HOME GAMES IN CAPS played at The Pavilion unless otherwise noted
* Denotes BIG EAST Conference game
+ Denotes Philadelphia Big Five game
WC - Game played at Wachovia Center
1 - O'Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Classic
2 - BB&T Classic, Washington, D.C.
3 - Izod Arena, East Rutherford, N.J.
Times and regional television information to be released at a later date
