Non-Conf. Hoops schedule shaping up

Remember the beginning of the Men's hoops season last year? Maybe you're trying to forget. But as teams around the nation release their 2o10-2011 schedules, information is trickling in about who Penn will play before the Ivy season kicks off, when and where it will go down. I'll try to continue to update this post as I find information. Should you see Penn show up on another team's schedule, please comment and I'll add it to the list.

Wednesday, Nov. 17: at Manhattan College

Notes: Penn hasn't played Manhattan since '03 at the Holiday Festival in Madison Square Garden. Though not much can be taken from that match (it was two coaches and two college generations ago) Penn eeked out a 49-47 win. For what it's worth, the Quakers also went 10-4 in the League that year, and trounced Harvard 104-69 (FREE cheesesteaks!) But then again, Jeremy Lin was a sophomore in HIGH SCHOOL.

Saturday, Dec. 4: Army at the IZOD Center (Meadowlands)

Notes: Penn-Army will be the precursor to a game that will be a rematch of last year's NCAA Championship: Duke v. Butler. That should make this a big ticket for the program. After last year's trip to Duke (Penn lost 114-55), Quakers' fans will be happy to see that Penn and Duke aren't on the same ticket anymore.

Wednesday, Dec. 22: at Delaware

Notes: After finishing finals...Penn will head down I-95 to take on the Blue Hens. The Quakers' record-breaking slump at the beginning of the season almost didn't happen, as Penn lost to Delaware in double OT 94-97 last year in the third game of the season. And the worst part? The 3065 fans who came were just 6 points shy of a free cheesesteak from Abner's.

Wednesday, Jan. 12: La Salle (Location TBD)

Notes: The first day of the spring semester!

Wednesday, Jan. 19: at Temple

Notes: Temple has penciled the Quakers in after another Big 5 rival, Villanova, but before heading to NCAA champs Duke. Those who remember the Temple game last year know that Penn showed a valiant 2nd half effort but, as was the story all season, an early (and deep) hole was too much for the Quakers to overcome.

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The Quakers will not be playing Penn State this year. Though the two schools have met in each of the last two seasons, Penn is not on the Nitanny Lions' schedule for 2010. No word as to whether we'll face past opponents Monmouth, UAlbany, Navy, or others yet.