Alabama Announces 2009-10 Men's Basketball Schedule
8/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Aug. 22, 2009
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The University of Alabama 2009-10 men's basketball schedule features thirty contests, including 17 dates at Coleman Coliseum as announced Saturday by first-year head coach Anthony Grant.
In addition to the 16-game Southeastern Conference slate, Grant's first schedule at UA begins with 14 non-conference games and a trip to Orlando, Fla. to compete in the Old Spice Classic Nov. 26-29. Ten of the Crimson Tide's games are currently scheduled for national television broadcasts.
Alabama's scheduled non-conference foes made six postseason appearances last year and averaged 17 wins with four recording 20 or more victories. The SEC schedule features six opponents that advanced to postseason play a season ago.
"We were able to put together a schedule of very challenging non-conference opponents to prepare us for league play," said Grant. "We've got a variety of styles of play and levels of competition that will test our team early."
After a pair of home exhibition contests against Montevallo and Augusta State on Nov. 4 and 10, respectively, the Tide opens the season in earnest on Nov. 14 when defending Ivy League champion Cornell visits Tuscaloosa. On Nov. 20 the Tide will welcome Providence to Coleman Coliseum.
The Tide closes out November by traveling to Orlando to face NIT runner-up Baylor in the first round of the Old Spice Classic Nov. 26 on ESPN2. The Tide's second game at the tournament will come against either Florida State or Iona on Nov. 27 followed by an opponent to be determined on Nov. 29. Potential foes include, Creighton, Michigan or Marquette. All games at the Old Spice Classic will be carried on the ESPN family of networks.
Alabama returns home after the Thanksgiving holiday for a pair of games against North Florida and Louisiana-Monroe on Dec. 2 and 5 before hosting 2009 `Sweet 16' participant Purdue on Dec. 12. A week later, Grant faces fellow Miami, Fla. native and childhood friend Frank Martin's Kansas State squad in Mobile, Ala. as part of the Coors Classic on Dec. 19. After a brief holiday break following a Dec. 23 home game against Mercer, the Tide returns to campus to host Tennessee State on Dec. 30.
The Tide tips off the New Year with its first true road contest of the season on Jan. 4 when they travel to Toledo, Ohio to face the University of Toledo in UA's final non-conference game of the season before embarking on 16 straight conference games.
"When you look at the league schedule, the SEC brings back a lot of talent and has the opportunity to return to the level of prominence it has been known for," said Grant.
On Jan. 9 the Tide jumps straight into SEC play, going to Baton Rouge, La. to face defending SEC Champion LSU. Last season, Alabama was one of just three teams to defeat the Tigers in league play.
The SEC slate continues with home games against all five Western Division opponents and Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Florida visiting from the Eastern Division. All 16 of the Tide's SEC contests will be televised in some capacity with five appearing on the ESPN family of networks.
The regular season wraps up March 6 when Alabama hosts rival Auburn prior to the start of the SEC Tournament March 11-14 in Nashville, Tenn.
