Wahoos Announce Non-Conference Men’s Basketball Schedule

No surprises on Virginia’s men’s nonconference basketball schedule announced Wednesday afternoon, but there will be a renewal of games against old friends.

Maryland and South Carolina, the only two schools to ever leave the ACC, are on tap (the Terps at College Park in the Big 10 Challenge), and a game in Columbia against the Gamecocks, the first battle with USC since an NIT matchup against Dave Odom’s team in the NIT in 2002.

The Maryland game is set for Nov. 28, five days following the conclusion of UVa’s regular season football schedule at Virginia Tech. Virginia visits South Carolina on Dec. 19.

Other highlights of the nonconference portion of the schedule is a trip to the Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis, where the Cavaliers will play Middle Tennessee in the opener on Nov. 21, and a home game against VCU on Dec. 9.

UVa could face a myriad of opponents following the Middle Tennessee game, including Florida, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Stanford, Butler, and Dayton. That’s a pretty solid lineup, considering three of those teams competed in the NCAA Tournament last season: the Gators, Bulldogs, and Sooners.

Coach Tony Bennett’s squad will play seven nonconference games at John Paul Jones Arena, with the home opener set for Nov. 6 against Towson, followed by contests versus George Washington (Nov. 11), and Coppin State (Nov. 16). The Cavaliers host Morgan State (Dec. 3) before in-state rival VCU comes to Charlottesville (Dec. 9).

That could be a big stretch for Virginia, with VCU at home followed by a post exam trip to South Carolina 10 days later.

After the trip to Columbia, UVa finishes up its nonconference schedule with two home games against William & Mary (Dec. 22), and Marshall (Dec. 31). The New Year’s Eve contest against the Thundering Herd will provide a good test heading into ACC play as Marshall advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season.

Virginia announced its ACC schedule earlier this summer, including home-and-home contests with Duke, Louisville, Notre Dame, and Virginia Tech. The Cavaliers will play home games only against Miami, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and Pitt, and only road games at North Carolina, Clemson, N.C. State, Syracuse, and Boston College.

Dates and TV schedules for ACC games will be announced in the future, while game times and TV schedules for nonconference games will also be designated at a later time.

It’s not the most challenging nonconference schedule that Bennett’s teams have played, although facing Maryland and South Carolina on the road is never an easy task. Stiff competition awaits in Atlantis, which is stocked full of traditionally good teams.

VCU has grown into a relatively new rival for the Wahoos, who handled the Rams in the second half in Richmond last season when UVa’s Kyle Guy turned the Siegel Center into his personal shooting gallery, knocking down a career-high 29 points.