It's finally here: The Athletic Department has released the Penn men's basketball schedule for the 2008-09 season.
Most matchups come as no surprise. The Daily Pennsylvanian has been reporting details of the schedule since mid-July as other teams released their slates.
The Red and Blue will be thrown right into the fire, as they open their season on Nov. 15 at North Carolina. Penn has faced UNC in each of the last two years - one away, one home - and has lost by a combined 208-135 margin.
Three days later, Drexel coach Bruiser Flint will get his wish that Penn will "come to my building and play me . 'cause I've been playing at y'all spots." The Red and Blue will make their first ever trip to the Dragons' Daskalakis Center at 10 a.m. (yes, 10 a.m.) as part of ESPN's 23-hour Hoops Marathon.
On Nov. 22, Penn hosts Monmouth for the Palestra opener, in a game that has become a fixture lately. The Quakers will resume their rivalry with Penn State on Nov. 25; the last time they faced off was in Fall 2002.
Aside from a Thanksgiving detour to Albany, N.Y., and a tournament over winter break in Orlando, Fla. - Penn will take on Central Florida and then either Campbell or Chicago State - the remaining games feature familiar faces: Navy, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Lafayette and Big 5 and Ivy opponents.
Of note, the Princeton set - traditionally at home in February and at Jadwin Gym to conclude the season in March - has been flipped. Penn will visit the Tigers on Feb. 17 and host them on March 10, during spring break.
