Villanova announces 2011-12 basketball sked

VILLANOVA. – Fifteen games against teams that reached the 2011 NCAA Tournament, including a February visit from defending NCAA champion Connecticut, highlight the 2011-12 Villanova men’s basketball schedule announced today.

The schedule features a minimum of 18 national television appearances, beginning with the Wildcats’ Thanksgiving Day game against Cal Riverside at the 76 Classic in Anaheim, Cal. Other nationally televised games include the Jimmy V Classic against Missouri (Dec. 6), a Philadelphia Big Five tussle against Temple (Dec. 10), a visit to the Wells Fargo Center from Syracuse (Jan. 11), an ESPN “Big Monday” home date versus Connecticut (Feb. 20), a CBS game at Georgetown (Feb. 25) and the regular season finale at the Pavilion against Cincinnati (Mar. 3).

The Wildcats, who were one of 11 teams to represent the BIG EAST Conference in the NCAA Tournament, open the regular season at the Pavilion on Nov. 11 against Monmouth. Philadelphia Big Five rival La Salle visits the Pavilion four nights later and the ‘Cats then host Delaware on Friday, Nov. 18 on campus ahead of the following day’s “Battle of the Blue” football duel between the two schools at PPL Park in Chester.

December’s lineup includes three Philadelphia Big Five clashes against Penn (Dec. 3), Temple (Dec. 9) and Saint Joseph’s (Dec. 17). On Dec. 28, Villanova opens its BIG EAST slate at West Virginia and then travels to Milwaukee to meet Marquette on New Year’s Day (ESPNU).

The Wildcats will again play 18 BIG EAST games, facing each team once and three opponents twice. Villanova’s home and home battles will come against Cincinnati (Jan. 14 and Mar. 3), Marquette (Jan. 1 and Jan. 28) and USF (Jan. 5 and Feb. 15).

For the 63rd consecutive season, the Wildcats will host a portion of their schedule in the city of Philadelphia. Villanova will play six games at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia, beginning with an exhibition contest on Nov. 8 against New York Tech. The five regular season tussles at the Center will see VU meet Boston University (Dec. 13), Syracuse (Jan. 11), Marquette (Jan. 28), Notre Dame (Feb. 18) and Connecticut (Feb. 20). Tickets for those game will be go on sale at comcastTIX.com in November.

The remaining game times not yet available will be added at a later date along with regional television information.