September 16, 2010

2010-11 SCHEDULE (PDF)

2010-11 Schedule (online)

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University eighth-year men's basketball head coach Mike Gillian has announced an impressive 31-game schedule for the upcoming 2010-11 campaign. The Lancers will open the season at Kansas of the Big 12 Conference, while also playing at ACC members Virginia Tech and Maryland, along with Big East Conference schools Marquette and Seton Hall. Longwood will be participating in the iBN Sports|Las Vegas Classic as well that includes games at New Mexico and Colorado. The Lancers finished 12-19 last season and have 14 home games on the schedule, including contests against CAA and in-state opponents James Madison and William and Mary.

“We're very excited about all the facets of this year's schedule,” explained Gillian. “Like we normally have, there is a mix of high profile opponents, a significant number of home games, and the continuation of some rivalries we are building with in-state opponents.  This schedule presents some great challenges for us, but nothing we haven't faced before.”

Longwood will play at Kansas (33-3) on Friday night, November 12, tipping at 8 p.m. in Allen Fieldhouse, named in honor of the late Dr. F.C. "Phog" Allen, the Jayhawks' head coach for 39 years. Allen Fieldhouse is labeled by many as one of the best places in America to watch a college basketball game. Kansas is the defending Big 12 champion and overall top seed from last year's NCAA?Tournament before being upset in the second round. The Lancers play at Virginia Tech (25-9) for the third consecutive year on January 22 at 7 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum, and at Maryland (24-9) for the second-straight year on February 9 at 8 p.m. The Hokies advanced to the NIT Quarterfinals last year, while the Terrapins played in the NCAA second round. For the first time ever, Longwood will play at Marquette (22-12) on December 4 at 2 p.m., and at Seton Hall (19-13) on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. The Golden Eagles advanced to the first round of the NCAA last year, while the Pirates played a first-round NIT game last season. Seton Hall has agreed to return the game and play in Farmville next November during the 2011-12 season, easily the highest profile opponent that will have played in Willett Hall when the Big East member visits next year.

“Playing these high profile opponents allows us to continue building the Longwood Basketball reputation around the country,” said Gillian.  “We have not shied away from going to historic venues and playing the top level of competition that college basketball has to offer.  The one thing that is different with this year's schedule is that one of these games, with Seton Hall, will feature a return game here at Longwood during the 2011-12 season.  That will be the first BCS conference opponent to venture into the confines of Willett Hall.”

In the exempt iBN Sports|Las Vegas Classic, Longwood will play road games at New Mexico (30-5) on Dec. 17 at 9 p.m. in The Pit, and at Colorado (15-16) on Dec. 19 at 4 p.m. The Lobos advanced to the second round of the NCAA last year. The four-game tournament concludes at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas as the Lancers will play SIU-Edwardsville (5-23) on Dec. 22 at 2:30 p.m., and either The Citadel (16-16) or South Carolina State (18-14) on Dec. 23 at either 2:30 or 5 p.m. It will be the first ever meeting against SIU-Edwardsville, and would be against The Citadel too, if it happens.

“As we wait on conference affiliation, playing in tournament-style events such as the iBN Sports|Las Vegas Classic are very important for us,” added Gillian.  “We have traditionally fared well playing in the Orleans Arena, winning our portion of the Las Vegas Classic in 2006.  This event provides a wonderful opportunity to our team to play for an in-season tournament championship.”

Longwood will host James Madison (13-20) in Willett Hall on Wednesday night, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m., its sixth game against the Dukes over the past seven seasons. The Lancers fell 96-86 in Harrisonburg this past Feb. 22, though defeated JMU 79-76 at home two years ago. Longwood hosts William and Mary (22-11) in Farmville on Wednesday night, Dec. 29, at 7 p.m., only its fourth game ever against the Tribe though the second meeting between the two schools in as many years after W&M won last year in Williamsburg by a score of 84-65. William and Mary advanced to the first round of the NIT a year ago.

“These two in-state home games versus CAA opponents are a very important part of the schedule,” said Gillian.  “We have managed to get a good number of home games on the schedule each of the past few seasons, with that you have to have a few of them be games with schools that you know will generate a big, high energy fan turnout.  The James Madison game on December 1 will certainly do that with our students being here.  The rest of the home schedule is well balanced and should give us a great chance to continue with the success we've been having in Willett Hall for the last five years.”

Longwood was 9-3 at home last season, and 22-5 over the past two years as the program is now 43-20 (.683) in Farmville during the past five seasons. The other 12 home games on the schedule in Willett Hall include four games in November: Virginia-Wise (17-13) (Nov. 18, 7 p.m.), Columbia (11-17) (Nov. 20, 7 p.m.), Montreat (4-27) (Nov. 22, 7 p.m.), and Fairleigh Dickinson (11-21) (Nov. 29, 7 p.m.); five games in January: Colgate (10-19) (Jan. 2, 2 p.m.), South Dakota (22-10) (Jan. 6, 7 p.m.), New Jersey Institute of Technology (10-21) (Jan. 18, 7 p.m.), Campbell (19-11) (Jan. 25, 7 p.m.), and Savannah State (11-15) (Jan. 29, 2 p.m.); along with three-straight to close the campaign in February: Southern Virginia (16-9) (Feb. 16, 7 p.m.), CSU Bakersfield (7-22) (Feb. 19, 2 p.m.), and Washington Adventist (6-18) (Feb. 24, 7 p.m.). South Dakota is the defending Great West Conference champion and advanced to the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. Longwood and Savannah State have developed quite a rivalry in recent years, having played 10 times since 2006. The Tigers lead the series at 6-4 as each team won on its home floor last season, and seven of the contests have been decided by 10 points or less, including five games by four points or less. The Lancers won road games last season at Fairleigh Dickinson, NJIT, and CSU Bakersfield.

Additional road games will be played in November: Stephen F. Austin (23-9) (Nov. 15, 8 p.m.) and Campbell (Nov. 27, 1 p.m.); December: Virginia Military Institute (10-19) (Dec. 11, 1 p.m.); January: Navy (13-17) (Jan. 4, 7:30 p.m.) and North Dakota (8-23) (Jan. 9, 7 p.m.): and February: Colgate (Feb. 2, 7 p.m.), NJIT (Feb. 5, 2 p.m.), and Savannah State (Feb. 12, 2 p.m.). Stephen F. Austin lost in the Southland Conference Tournament championship last year, and narrowly defeated the Lancers 73-69 last Dec. 12 in Farmville, while Longwood is playing VMI for the first time since Feb. 10, 2005. It's the seventh game against Navy over the past six seasons, though the Lancers have not beaten the Midshipmen in eight overall meetings. The trip to North Dakota will mark the first time LU has met the Fighting Sioux of the Great West Conference.

Longwood returns eight lettermen for 2010-11, including junior Antwan Carter|St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg), senior Aaron Mitchell|Matoaca (Manatee CC), and junior Martiz Washington|Hopewell (Christchurch). Carter (6-6, 225) averaged 14.6 points and 8.5 rebounds last season while earning 1st-Team All-Independent. Mitchell (6-2, 190) averaged 9.0 points and 3.5 rebounds a year ago, and Washington (6-0, 170) averaged 8.3 points and 2.3 rebounds while leading the Lancers with 64 three-point field goals. The program also returns junior Durann Neil|Pleasantville, N.J. (Leap Academy) who averaged 7.1 points and 3.9 assists as a starter in 2008-09. Neil (6-2, 205) missed last year due to injury but is back fully recovered for the upcoming season.

Longwood has added a strong group of newcomers for this year, including junior transfer Jeremiah Bowman|Washington, D.C. (Harcum College) (6-2, 180), along with freshmen Jeff Havenstein|Mt. Airy, Md. (Linganore) (6-8, 235), Mark Parker|Clayton, N.C. (West Johnston) (6-6, 190), David Robinson|Chesterfield (Cosby) (6-3, 185), and Anthony Taylor|Egg Harbor Township, N.J. (Egg Harbor Township) (6-2, 185).

The complete schedule is attached via PDF (at top) as it all gets started in less than two months in Lawrence, Kansas against one of the most storied programs in college basketball.