LEWISBURG — Non-conference games against teams from seven different conferences, including two from the Atlantic Coast Conference and three from the Atlantic 10, highlight Bucknell’s 2008-09 men’s basketball schedule. The Bison have 13 home contests scheduled, and they could add a 14th if they are picked as a home team for the ESPNU BracketBusters event in late February.
First-year head coach Dave Paulsen will make his debut on the Bucknell sideline on Friday, Nov. 14 when the Bison visit Maryland. It will be the first meeting between the Bison and Terrapins since the 1994-95 season, and it will be Bucknell’s first visit to the six-year-old Comcast Center.
Bucknell’s home opener is slated for Tuesday, Nov. 18 when Boston University makes its very first trip to Lewisburg in men’s basketball. The two teams have met just once previously, that a Bison win in the 2005 Cable Car Classic, hosted by Santa Clara.
Other non-conference home games come on Nov. 25 against Old Dominion, Nov. 29 against Wagner, Dec. 9 against Binghamton, Dec. 20 against Drexel and Dec. 30 opposite St. Bonaventure. The Old Dominion game is a rematch of last year’s BracketBusters game, won by the Monarchs in Norfolk, Va. Wagner is coming off a 23-8 season, including a 15-3 record in the Northeast Conference. Bucknell and Binghamton will be battling for the very first time, while Drexel and St. Bonaventure will be visiting Bucknell for the first time since 1991 and 1994, respectively.
In addition to the season-opener at Maryland, the Bison will have non-league road games on Nov. 22 at Saint Francis (Pa.), Dec. 2 at La Salle, Dec. 6 at Wake Forest, Dec. 22 at Richmond, Dec. 29 at Marist, Jan. 3 at Ohio and Jan. 6 at defending Ivy League champion Cornell. Richmond is another new addition to the schedule. The Bison and Spiders have played just once previously, a Richmond win in 1958. Six of Bucknell’s eight non-league road games come against teams that had winning records last season, including Ohio and Cornell who both won 20 or more games.
Bucknell’s 19th season of Patriot League competition kicks off on Saturday, Jan. 10 with a road game at Navy, the site of the Bison’s thrilling triple-overtime win in the 2008 Patriot League Tournament semifinals. Another tough road test follows four days later against defending PL champion American.
The Patriot League home slate begins with a Saturday night (Jan. 17) home game against arch-rival Holy Cross. Lafayette and Colgate round out a three-game homestand, followed by three straight on the road against Lehigh, Army and Colgate. The regular-season wraps up with home games against Lehigh and Army.
For the fourth straight year, Bucknell will participate in ESPN’s BracketBusters event. The “mid-major” showcase will take place on Saturday, Feb. 21, at a time and location to be determined. Bucknell is 1-2 in previous BracketBusters appearances, including a double-overtime loss at Northern Iowa in 2006, a home win over Towson in 2007 and a loss at Old Dominion last season.
The Patriot League Tournament will once again be played exclusively on the campuses of the higher-seeded teams. The 2009 quarterfinal round is scheduled for Wednesday, March 4, followed by the semifinals on Sunday, March 8 and the championship game on Friday, March 13.
Season tickets are now on sale. To download a season ticket application, visit http://bucknellbison.cstv.com/tickets/buck-tickets.html.
Note: Fans are asked to keep in mind that the Patriot League’s television schedule has yet to be announced. The formulation of that schedule could necessitate moving a handful of currently scheduled game dates and/or times.