FAIRFIELD, Conn. – No one would be able to claim that the Fairfield University men's basketball team has an easy path with its 2017-18 non-conference schedule. Head Coach Sydney Johnson will face 11 opponents which combined for a .592 winning percentage last season including seven teams that won at least 19 games during the 2016-17 campaign. At the top of that list stands Purdue University, which earned national rankings all season long and finished the year with a 27-8 mark.

"This could be one of the most difficult non-conference schedules that Fairfield has faced in some time," Head Coach Sydney Johnson said. "With five 20-win teams on the schedule, our team will be challenged every time we take the court.  We've recruited very good players from across the globe--returners and incoming players--and assured them that we will face tough, competitive teams to prove ourselves at the highest level." 

The Stags will face teams from 10 different conferences, namely the America East, American Athletic Conference, Atlantic Sun, Big South, Big Ten, Conference USA, Horizon League, Ivy League, Northeast Conference, and Patriot League.

The campaign begins on November 3 with the program's annual exhibition game against the University of Bridgeport. The regular-season opener is slated for November 11 against the University of Pennsylvania at Webster Bank Arena. The game will represent the first of four home games on the non-conference slate, the second of which is scheduled for November 14 against Loyola in Bridgeport.

Fairfield takes its first road trip of the season against Purdue University, which advanced to the Sweet 16 in last year's NCAA tournament. The Stags will meet the Boilermakers for the first time in program history on November 18, the first of seven straight neutral/road games. After returning home for a few days, the Stags will return to the Midwest for a three-game multi-team event at Wright State University. The Stags start the three-day run against Jacksonville University on November 24, followed with a game vs. Gardner Webb University on November 25. The team finishes up with host Wright State University on November 26.

Fairfield returns to Wagner College for the second straight season on December 1, the site of Fairfield's thrilling overtime win last November. The Stags will take on its third 20-win opponent on December 6 when the team heads to the University of Houston. The road swing comes to an end on December 10 with a match up against LIU-Brooklyn on December 10.

Coach Johnson brings his squad back to the Nutmeg State for a pair of games at the end of December to finish up the non-conference slate, beginning with a contest against Old Dominion University on December 17 at Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall. The team finishes up against the University of New Hampshire on December 22 at Webster Bank Arena.

The men's basketball team will begin the 2017-18 campaign in August when it makes its second trip to Italy since Coach Johnson took the helm for the 2011-12 season. Fans, friends, and alumni can get a preview of this year's team when the program hosts an open practice session on August 8 at Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall beginning at 4 p.m.  In addition to seeing the team, individuals may also renew or purchase 2017-18 season tickets at that time.