Temple University Athletics
Ten Postseason Teams Highlight Temple’s 2011-12 Men’s Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
7.6.11 | Men's Basketball
Duke, Texas, Villanova highlight the slate
2011-12 Non-Conference Schedule
PHILADELPHIA - Ten postseason teams, including perennial powerhouses Duke and Texas, are among the 14 opponents that comprise Temple's 2011-12 men's basketball non-conference schedule announced today by the Temple University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Besides Duke and Texas, the Owls' schedule features two other teams that participated in the 2011 NCAA Tournament (Purdue, a possible foe in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Classic, and Villanova). Three of the 2011 NIT Final Four teams are on the slate - Wichita State (champion), Alabama (runner-up) and Colorado (semis), as well as three participants from the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (Buffalo, along with possible PR Tip-Off foes Iona and Western Michigan).
“Each year we strive to formulate a schedule that will challenge our team, as well as bring some of the top programs in the nation to Philadelphia,” Temple head coach Fran Dunphy said. “I believe our 2011-12 schedule accomplishes that.”
Temple opens its season at The Palestra against Penn on November 14, the earliest date these two Big 5 rivals have played. The Owls then travel to the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Classic, an eight-team, three-game tournament held from Nov. 17-20. The Cherry and White conclude their first month of competition at Bowling Green on Nov. 27, the first of four Mid-American Conference opponents on the schedule.
The Owls will look to set a new Liacouras Center record for consecutive victories when they host Central Michigan on December 3. Temple tied the mark last season with its 22nd straight win, a 90-82 decision over La Salle, to cap a perfect 14-0 mark in the arena. A trip to Toledo on Dec. 7, is next on the agenda.
Philadelphia Big 5 rival Villanova invades the Liacouras Center on Dec. 10 in what is sure to be one of marquee college basketball games in Philadelphia. The Owls then travel to Texas to take on the Longhorns (Dec. 17) while also visiting Rice (Dec. 19).
Temple completes its 2011 portion of the schedule with a home game against Buffalo (Dec. 28) and a trip to Delaware (Dec. 30).
Duke kicks off the New Year with a Jan. 4 game at the Wells Fargo Center. Maryland then concludes Temple's non-conference schedule with a neutral site game at The Palestra on Jan. 21.
Temple, who advanced to the third round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament, returns four starters from last year's squad that ended the season 26-8. The A-10 Conference dates will be released later this summer.
