University of New Hampshire Athletics
14-Game Non-Conference Schedule Announced
8/16/2017 3:21:00 PM | Men's Basketball
2017-18 Season Tips Off Nov. 10 at Home vs. Wheelock
DURHAM, N.H. – The University of New Hampshire men's basketball team, led by 13th-year head coach Bill Herrion, announced its 14-game non-conference portion of the 2017-18 schedule on Wednesday.
Half those games will be played at home in Lundholm Gymnasium, home of the raucous 'Cat Pack. The schedule includes three first-time opponents – University of Texas, George Washington University and Utah State University – as well as the 130th lifetime meeting against Boston University.
The America East conference schedule and UNH men's basketball promotional calendar will be announced at a later date.
"Every year, especially in the non-conference, we try to make our schedule as competitive as possible to challenge our basketball team and prepare us for league and tournament play," Herrion said. "As our program has become more successful, our scheduling has grown. We're excited to be involved in the Phil Knight Nike Challenge at Texas and Florida. We also go down to a neutral site in Nashville with Utah State and Furman.
"We try to play as many of the same non-conference Northeast schools as we possibly can and we like our balance of home and road games to challenge us moving forward," Herrion added.
UNH tips off the season Nov. 10 at Lundholm Gym against Wheelock College, a team the Wildcats defeated 95-50 this past January. UNH returns to The Lone Star State – the 'Cats traveled to Texas in December 2015 – to play Texas on Nov. 14. The Wildcats face another Power 5 conference school – this time from the SEC – with a trip to Gainesville, Fla. for a Nov. 19 matchup against the University of Florida; it will be the fourth meeting between the Wildcats and Gators.
Then it's a quick turnaround for the 'Cats, who return home to battle American University on Nov. 21; UNH recorded an 80-70 road win last December. New Hampshire immediately goes back on the road to Nashville, Tenn. for games against Furman University (Nov. 24) and Utah State University (Nov. 25). The games against Texas, Florida, Furman and Utah State are part of the 2017 Phil Knight Invitational/PK80, which is one of the largest regular-season tournaments in college basketball history. The trips to Texas and Florida are early round matchups, and the games in Nashville are neutral-site games as part of the invitational.
New Hampshire begins a three-game homestand Nov. 29 against regional rival Boston U. December tips off against Bryant University (Dec. 2) and the stretch of three consecutive games at Lundholm Gym ends Dec. 5 vs. Niagara University. A year ago, UNH split against the BU schools with a win at Bryant and loss at Boston.
The Wildcats then travel to Worcester, Mass. on Dec. 9 to battle College of the Holy Cross, a team the 'Cats defeated 56-53 at home in 2016-17. One week later (Dec. 16), UNH plays host to Lyndon State College. The holiday season includes a trip to Washington, D.C. and game against George Washington on Dec. 20, as well as a road game at Fairfield University on the 22nd.
New Hampshire wraps up its non-conference slate against intrastate rival Dartmouth College at home on Dec. 30; the Wildcats look to avenge last year's one-point loss in Hanover.
UNH finished the 2016-17 season with an overall record of 20-12 to mark consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time in program history. The Wildcats return nine student-athletes who saw minutes last season including America East All-Conference First Team member Tanner Leissner (Converse, Texas), who led the team in scoring a season ago with 17.1 points per game.
Prior to the start of the regular season and the start of UNH's fall semester, the 'Cats are embarking on a five-game road trip in Montreal from Aug. 20-24.
Half those games will be played at home in Lundholm Gymnasium, home of the raucous 'Cat Pack. The schedule includes three first-time opponents – University of Texas, George Washington University and Utah State University – as well as the 130th lifetime meeting against Boston University.
The America East conference schedule and UNH men's basketball promotional calendar will be announced at a later date.
"Every year, especially in the non-conference, we try to make our schedule as competitive as possible to challenge our basketball team and prepare us for league and tournament play," Herrion said. "As our program has become more successful, our scheduling has grown. We're excited to be involved in the Phil Knight Nike Challenge at Texas and Florida. We also go down to a neutral site in Nashville with Utah State and Furman.
"We try to play as many of the same non-conference Northeast schools as we possibly can and we like our balance of home and road games to challenge us moving forward," Herrion added.
UNH tips off the season Nov. 10 at Lundholm Gym against Wheelock College, a team the Wildcats defeated 95-50 this past January. UNH returns to The Lone Star State – the 'Cats traveled to Texas in December 2015 – to play Texas on Nov. 14. The Wildcats face another Power 5 conference school – this time from the SEC – with a trip to Gainesville, Fla. for a Nov. 19 matchup against the University of Florida; it will be the fourth meeting between the Wildcats and Gators.
Then it's a quick turnaround for the 'Cats, who return home to battle American University on Nov. 21; UNH recorded an 80-70 road win last December. New Hampshire immediately goes back on the road to Nashville, Tenn. for games against Furman University (Nov. 24) and Utah State University (Nov. 25). The games against Texas, Florida, Furman and Utah State are part of the 2017 Phil Knight Invitational/PK80, which is one of the largest regular-season tournaments in college basketball history. The trips to Texas and Florida are early round matchups, and the games in Nashville are neutral-site games as part of the invitational.
New Hampshire begins a three-game homestand Nov. 29 against regional rival Boston U. December tips off against Bryant University (Dec. 2) and the stretch of three consecutive games at Lundholm Gym ends Dec. 5 vs. Niagara University. A year ago, UNH split against the BU schools with a win at Bryant and loss at Boston.
The Wildcats then travel to Worcester, Mass. on Dec. 9 to battle College of the Holy Cross, a team the 'Cats defeated 56-53 at home in 2016-17. One week later (Dec. 16), UNH plays host to Lyndon State College. The holiday season includes a trip to Washington, D.C. and game against George Washington on Dec. 20, as well as a road game at Fairfield University on the 22nd.
New Hampshire wraps up its non-conference slate against intrastate rival Dartmouth College at home on Dec. 30; the Wildcats look to avenge last year's one-point loss in Hanover.
UNH finished the 2016-17 season with an overall record of 20-12 to mark consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time in program history. The Wildcats return nine student-athletes who saw minutes last season including America East All-Conference First Team member Tanner Leissner (Converse, Texas), who led the team in scoring a season ago with 17.1 points per game.
Prior to the start of the regular season and the start of UNH's fall semester, the 'Cats are embarking on a five-game road trip in Montreal from Aug. 20-24.
| Friday | Nov. 10 | Wheelock |
| Tuesday | Nov. 14 | at Texas ^ |
| Sunday | Nov. 19 | at Florida ^ |
| Tuesday | Nov. 21 | American |
| Friday | Nov. 24 | vs. Furman ^ * |
| Saturday | Nov. 25 | vs. Utah State ^ * |
| Wednesday | Nov. 29 | Boston U. |
| Saturday | Dec. 2 | Bryant |
| Tuesday | Dec. 5 | Niagara |
| Saturday | Dec. 9 | at Holy Cross |
| Saturday | Dec. 16 | Lyndon State |
| Wednesday | Dec. 20 | at George Washington |
| Friday | Dec. 22 | at Fairfield |
| Saturday | Dec. 30 | Dartmouth |
| ^ 2017 Phil Knight Invitational/PK80 * in Nashville, Tenn. |
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Players Mentioned
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