Saint Joseph's announces non-conference sked

PHILADELPHIA - Saint Joseph's men's basketball has announced its non-conference schedule for the 2011-12 season. A total of 15 home games, including conference contests, will be played at the two-year old Michael J. Hagan '85 Arena.

The non-conference slate gives the Hawks a total of seven home games, four road contests and three neutral site games.

Saint Joseph's opens the season on November 11 on the road at Western Kentucky and then begins play at Hagan Arena on November 14 with an exhibition game against fellow Jesuit and in-state institution, the University of Scranton.

SJU will participate in the three-game Charleston Classic from November 17-20,  at Carolina First Arena. The Hawks will meet Georgia Tech in the opening round and are set to take on either Seton Hall and VCU in the second round. The remainder of the tournament field consists of LSU, Northwestern, Tulsa and Western Kentucky.

After a trip to Iona on November 23, Saint Joseph's will play seven consecutive games at Hagan Arena, beginning with the regular-season opener versus Penn State on November 26. SJU will host Drexel on November 30, Boston University on December 7 and Creighton on December 10.

The Hawks will host rival Villanova at Hagan Arena on December 17, marking the first time since the inception of the Big 5 in 1955 that the game will be played on SJU's campus.

Saint Joseph's will host Coppin State on December 21 and close out the seven-game stretch of home games on December 28 versus Morgan State. The Hawks will end 2011 on the road at Harvard on New Year's Eve, while the final non-conference game of the season will take place on January 21 against Penn at The Palestra.

"This schedule signifies a new and exciting time for the program. It has been our intent to re-energize and revitalize our passionate fans and the most supportive student section on the East Coast," said Phil Martelli, now in his 17th year as SJU's head coach. "We want to take advantage of the outstanding basketball facilities we now have at Saint Joseph's and allow our student-athletes to feel and experience the true passion of Hawk basketball.  We are counting on our students and loyal fans to continue to make Hagan Arena a remarkable homecourt."