Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University Announces 2009-10 Men's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
8/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Aug. 13, 2009
HUNTINGTON, W. Va.-- Marshall University head men's basketball coach Donnie Jonesannounced today the Thundering Herd's 2009-10 non-conference schedule, which features nine home dates and a matchup against defending national champion North Carolina. The Herd travels to North Carolina on Dec. 22. The Marshall-Tar Heels' matchup is the fifth time that MU will be playing the defending Division I champion.
The Herd open the regular season Nov. 15 against North Carolina A&T. Middle Tennessee State arrives in Huntington Nov. 17. Marshall hits the road for the first time on Nov. 21 when MU faces Old Dominion. The Monarchs went 25-10 and advanced to the finals of the first CollegeInsider.com postseason tournament last season before falling to Bradley in the championship game a year ago. The Thundering Herd faces Lamar for the first time since 1985 when the Cardinals play in Huntington on Nov. 25.
Marshall faces long-time rival Ohio Nov. 28 at the Charleston Civic Center. MU and Ohio are playing for the 95th time, the most games the Herd have played against a NCAA Division I opponent. Marshall's games against North Carolina A&T, Middle Tennessee State, Lamar, and Ohio comprise the Global Sports Invitational which has earned NCAA-exempt status. This exemption will mean only one of the games will count toward MU's regular-season schedule.
Salem International comes to the Henderson Center on Dec. 3. The Thundering Herd travels to defending America East Champion Binghamton for a Dec. 7 matchup. The Bearcats advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season where Binghamton outshot Duke in their first round game. Marshall begins a home-and-home series against Troy University on Dec. 12 in Huntington. The Herd returns the favor on Dec. 28 in Troy, Ala. The Trojans went 19-12 a year ago and qualified for the College Basketball Invitational.
Marshall hosts Brescia University (Ky.) for the first time on Dec. 16. The final 2009 non-conference home game will feature High Point coming to the Henderson Center on Dec. 20. The new year begins with Marshall playing Atlantic 10 member St. Bonaventure for the first time since the 1959-60 season Jan. 2 in Huntington.
Marshall takes a part in the annual Chesapeake Energy Capital Classic which will be held Jan. 20 against West Virginia in Charleston. The Mountaineers are the final Marshall non-conference foe that qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season. The final non-conference game is against Rio Grande which will take place on Feb. 2 or Feb. 9.
In 2008-09, Marshall's non-conference schedule, which was among the top portion of C-USA in terms of RPI, featured eight teams that qualified for postseason play. The upcoming non-conference slate has the Herd taking on six teams that went to the postseason. Marshall's 2009-10 non-conference opponents compiled 254 wins last season.
"Our non-conference schedule is set up to prepare our team which is younger than it was last year for Conference USA play," Jones said. "We are playing two teams in North Carolina and West Virginia that are potential preseason top-10 teams. We are also playing several other teams such as Ohio that have the potential to make the NCAA Tournament."
A complete list of starting times and television appearances are yet to be determined and will be announced at a later date.
2009-10 Marshall University Men's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
Nov. 10 #West Virginia Wesleyan
Nov. 15 %North Carolina A&T
Nov. 17 %Middle Tennessee State
Nov. 21 at Old Dominion
Nov. 25 %Lamar
Nov. 28 %Ohio (at Charleston, W.Va.)
Dec. 3 Salem International
Dec. 7 at Binghamton
Dec. 12 Troy University
Dec. 16 Brescia University
Dec. 20 High Point
Dec. 22 at North Carolina
Dec. 28 at Troy University
Jan. 2 St. Bonaventure
Jan. 20 West Virginia (at Charleston, W.Va.)
Feb. 2 or 9 Rio Grande
#Exhibition
%Global Sports Invitational
