July 26, 2005
FAIRFIELD, Conn. - It would be tough to select one highlight from the 2005-06 men's basketball non-conference schedule. A tournament at a Big Ten school, a home opener against the top-ranked team in 2004, a California road trip, and another Bracket Buster appearance are part of the excitement that Fairfield University men's basketball fans will experience in 2005-06.
The campaign begins with a road game against St. Francis College on November 18. The Terriers, which finished 2004-05 with a 13-15 overall record, will look to first-year head coach Brian Nash to lead them into the new season. The Stags take on St. Francis for the first time since the 2001-02 season.
Fairfield opens the home portion of its schedule by hosting St. Joseph's University on November 21 at the Arena at Harbor Yard. The Hawks posted a 24-12 record in 2004-05 after going undefeated during the 2003-04 campaign and holding the top spot in the national ranking for most of the year.
The team will have nearly two weeks off before returning to action with a road trip to the University of Iowa for a two-day tournament. The pairings have not been determined at this time for the December 2 and 3 tourney, but will include Valparaiso University, Tulane University, and the host school.
The Stags remain on the road for a December 11 match up with Big East foe Georgetown University. Head Coach John Thompson Jr. leads the Hoyas to a 19-13 record and a berth to the National Invitation Tournament a year ago. Fairfield returns home on December 14 to play long-time rival Fordham University at the Arena. The Rams collected 13 wins in 29 games last season, and reached the Atlantic-10 quarterfinals.
After taking a break for exams and the holidays, Fairfield gets back to action on December 31. The Stags will make a cross-country trip to play Cal-State Northridge, a return game from last year's Bracket Buster. The Matadors posted an 18-13 overall record and advanced to the Big West tournament semi-finals before losing to nationally-ranked University of the Pacific.
Five days later, Fairfield hosts Yale University for its third non-conference home game on January 5. The Bulldogs tallied an 11-16 overall record in 2004-05, which included a 7-7 mark in Ivy League play. The Stags' final non-conference game will take place on February 18 on ESPN's Bracket Buster Saturday. The opponent and site will be determined during the season.
Fairfield's six non-conference opponents posted a 98-85 combined record in 2004-05, including three teams which recorded 18 or more wins. The three teams that the Stags could face in the Hawkeye Classic went 46-46 last season, including the University of Iowa's 21-12 mark. Fairfield will face teams from eight different conferences, not including its Bracket Buster opponent.
2005-06 Fairfield University Men's Basketball
Non-Conference Schedule
Date Opponent Time
November 18 at St. Francis College, N.Y 7 pm
November 21 St. Joseph's University 7:30 pm
December 2- at Hawkeye Classic 5:45 & 8:11 pm CST
December 3 (with Iowa, Valaparaiso & Tulane)
December 11 at Georgetown University TBA
December 14 Fordham University 7:30 pm
December 31 at Cal-State Northridge TBA
January 5 Yale University 7:30 pm
February 18 ESPN Bracket Buster (Opponent & Site TBA)
