INSIDE RADFORD SPORTS: Mike Jones on the Highlanders' 2011-12 schedule


2011-12 RADFORD MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

RADFORD, Va. – In addition to an 18-game conference slate, Radford's 2011-12 men's basketball schedule will feature non-conference tilts against five NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago, 16 home games, as well as an appearance in the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off, first-year head coach Mike Jones announced Tuesday.

“Our young team faces a very challenging schedule this year,” commented Jones. “We play some very high quality opponents both on the road and at home in which we will see almost every style of play. I am anxious to see how our young team responds to this challenge.”

For the second straight season the Highlanders will begin the campaign with home contests in consecutive days. Jones will make his head-coaching debut against Delaware on Nov. 11 before his club entertains Shenandoah the following day.

Radford will continue its stretch of seven games in 13 days to open the season with a Nov. 14 contest at Penn State, which is one of four campus sites as part of the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off.

The Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off will take place the weekend of Nov. 19-20 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Eight schools will compete in two four-team brackets at one of the premier destinations in New England.

The schedule at Mohegan Sun opens with four games on Nov. 19 – separated into two sessions. In first round action of Bracket 1, Radford will take on Long Island before Vermont battles Marist College. First round action of Bracket 2 will feature Old Dominion and South Florida followed by Kentucky and Penn State. Games conclude on Sunday, Nov. 20 with consolation and championship games for each bracket.

Radford will conclude its appearance in the annual event with a trip to historic Rupp Arena on Nov. 23 to take on 2011 Final Four participant Kentucky. Though this is their first-ever meeting with the Wildcats, the Highlanders took on top-seeded Duke in the opening round of the 1998 NCAA Tournament in Lexington, Ky.

After an eight-day break, Radford will continue its season-long five-game swing away from home with its Big South opener at Charleston Southern on Dec. 1. The Highlanders will conclude their first conference weekend of 2011-12 at Presbyterian (Dec. 3) before returning home for tilts with Charlotte (Dec. 6) and in-state foe George Mason (Dec. 10).

Radford will take on another 2011 NCAA Tournament participant on Dec. 17 when it heads to “The Queen City” to battle Big East foe Cincinnati. Prior to their Dec. 23 contest at Maryland, which is scheduled to be televised on Comcast Sports Net, the Highlanders will host Eastern Michigan at the Dedmon Center on Dec. 20.

Beginning with a New Year's Eve contest with Gardner-Webb, the Highlanders will play 16 of their last 17 regular season games against league competition.

Along with its stretch to close out the regular season, Radford will take part in ESPN Bracketbusters for the third consecutive year with a Feb. 18 home game.

The 2012 Big South Men's Basketball Tournament will be played Feb. 28 – March 3, with the champion earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.