July 29, 2009

SEVEN HOME GAMES HIGHLIGHT MEN’S BASKETBALL NON-CONFERENCE SLATE
Around the Horns Breaks Down VCU's Non-Conference Foes

RICHMOND, Va. – The Shaka Smart Era now has an official start date.

November 13, 2009 versus Bethune-Cookman.

That’s one of seven home games that highlight the Virginia Commonwealth University men’s basketball non-conference schedule for the upcoming 2009-2010 campaign.

“We’re extremely excited about our non-conference schedule,” Smart said. “It’s a great blend of high-caliber teams and challenging road games that will help us prepare for CAA play."  

The 10-game non-conference schedule includes contests against schools from six different conferences and four teams that earned postseason berths in 2008-2009. The 10 opponents combined for a 164-133 (.552) record last season.

VCU will host 17 home games at the Stuart C. Siegel Center in 2009-10, including an exhibition contest against Virginia Union. Season tickets are now on sale through the VCU ticket office.

"We wanted to bring quality opponents into the Siegel Center for our fans and I think we accomplished that. We can’t wait for the excitement and the electric atmosphere that our fans provide,” Smart added.

The Rams hold a 64-48 overall mark against their ’09-’10 non-conference opponents, with Bethune-Cookman being the only school the Black & Gold have not played prior to the upcoming season.

After VCU’s season-opener against the Wildcats, the Rams travel to Western Michigan Nov. 18 for the first road test of the year.

Former VCU Head Coach Jeff Capel and his Oklahoma Sooners come to the Siegel Center Nov. 21 before the Rams make the short trip down I-64 to take on the Pirates of Hampton University on Nov. 23.  

The Wolfpack of the University of Nevada make the cross-country flight on Black Friday, Nov. 27 to help VCU kick-off a three-game homestand that includes a visit from Rhode Island and the Farm Bureau Insurance Black & Blue Classic against the Spiders of the University of Richmond.

Rematches with former Metro Conference opponents round out the 2009 calendar year with a Dec. 19 trip to Tulane and a visit from former VCU head man Mack McCarthy and the East Carolina Pirates on Dec. 29.

The annual ESPNU BracketBusters contest wraps up the non-conference schedule with the opponent and date of the game to be announced in early February.  

VCU Men’s Basketball
2009-2010 Non-Conference Schedule (game times and television schedule TBD)

November
5 (Thurs.)                    Virginia Union (exhibition)
13 (Fri.)                       Bethune-Cookman
18 (Wed.)                    at Western Michigan
21 (Sat.)                      Oklahoma
23 (Mon.)                     at Hampton
27 (Fri.)                       Nevada

December
2 (Wed.)                      Rhode Island
12 (Sat.)                      Richmond
19 (Sat.)                      at Tulane
29 (Tues.)                    East Carolina

February