BOSTON – The complete 2006-07 America East men's basketball schedule has been released. The 72-game conference slate tips off on Wednesday, January 3 with "America East Opening Night", the league's inaugural conference-wide season-opening event.
Complete Conference Composite Schedule
The most highly anticipated game of Opening Night pits the upstart New Hampshire Wildcats versus the defending champion Albany Great Danes at the RACC in Albany, N.Y. Last season, under first-year head coach Bill Herrion, UNH swept its two regular-season contests against UA with two thrilling overtime victories. The Great Danes, however, were able to record a win in the most crucial meeting between the two in last season's conference semifinals.
The Opening Night concept will feature one televised game (to be announced), promotions and giveaways to help generate awareness and excitement around the conference's crucial regular-season. Other league contests slated for Opening Night include Hartford at Maine, UMBC at Binghamton and Stony Brook at Vermont. Boston University will host regional-rival Holy Cross that evening as well.
"We are very excited to announce our inaugural ‘America East Opening Night," said America East Commissioner Patrick Nero. "With our men's basketball title game being played on the campus of the highest remaining seed, the regular-season in America East is even more significant than in most leagues. ‘Opening Night' will serve as a vehicle for all of our campuses to kick off this important event with a bang and get our fans around the conference eager for league play."
Hartford first-year head coach Dan Leibovitz will make his home conference debut on Saturday, January 6 when the Hawks play host to Boston University. On the same day, Maine's Kevin Reed, a 2005-06 Preseason All-Conference selection that sat out last year due to injury, will return to league play at home versus rival New Hampshire.
New York rivals, and the top two regular-season finishers from a season ago, will also meet on Saturday, January 6 as Binghamton hosts Albany at the Events Center in Vestal, N.Y. The Bearcats then travel to Albany on Saturday, February 3 for the Great Danes' Big Purple Growl, Albany's marquee winter homecoming event.
The first of two contests to feature a rematch of last season's America East title game takes place on Saturday, January 13 when Vermont welcomes Albany to Patrick Gymnasium. The Catamounts make the return trip to face the Great Danes on Sunday, February 11.