Men’s basketball announces non-conference schedule
The VCU men’s basketball team has announced its 2012-2013 non-conference schedule beginning with an exhibition contest against Virginia Union on Nov. 1.
Jim Swing
Sports Editor
The VCU men’s basketball team has announced its 2012-2013 non-conference schedule beginning with an exhibition contest against Virginia Union on Nov. 1.
Head coach Shaka Smart and his staff have compiled one of the toughest non-conference schedules in recent memory this season, highlighted with matchups against Memphis and Alabama. The Rams will face last year’s NCAA Tournament opponent Wichita State at the Siegel Center on Nov. 13 in a return game from an ESPN BracketBusters game two seasons ago. On Nov. 22 VCU will take on a highly-touted Memphis team in the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament in the Bahamas, where the Rams are guaranteed three games against possible opponents such as Duke, Minnesota, Louisville and Missouri.
On Dec. 1 VCU will host the reigning Ohio Valley Conference champions Belmont. Less than a week later the Rams will head to Norfolk to take on former CAA foe Old Dominion in the first part of a home and home series. Former VCU head coach Anthony Grant will bring his Alabama team to the Siegel Center on Dec. 15 in the second part of a home and home guaranteed by his contract when he left in 2009. In their final home game of the regular season, the Rams will welcome last year’s Patriot League champions Lehigh, which knocked off Duke in the first round of the NCAA Tournament a season ago. CT