Awaiting the final hoops schedule

We received word from Penn Athletics today that the finalized men's hoops schedule should be available Monday morning. In breathless anticipation, let's take a look at what we've gathered so far, thanks to our friend the internet. The one hole left to fill would be a rumored (and also somewhat confirmed by Zack Rosen) game against Pitt, which will surely be in Pittsburgh. If I had to guess where that would go, I would say possibly Thanksgiving weekend, as there is no game on that Friday, or perhaps after Kentucky.

This schedule is one game shy of last year's 14 non-conf. games so there may be a wildcard coming out Monday:

Saturday, Nov. 13: Davidson

Notes: In the return trip from last year's matchup, Penn faces a Wildcat team that won 79-50 in the precursor to an even worse loss to Duke later that week.

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, Nov. 20: Drexel

Notes: Looking to stop a recent skid to the neighbors on 33rd street, Penn hasn't beat the Dragons since 2006. This city six rivalry should return to the Palestra this year after Drexel hosted last year.

Tuesday, Nov. 23: Lafayette

Notes: another return trip from last year, Lafayette was the final loss (77-62) in the string of 10 straight that opened the 2009-10 season.

Tuesday, Nov. 30 (corrected): UMBC

Notes: This ended up being a very important game for Penn last year after it stopped the bleeding. Maybe that's why it was moved up significantly in the schedule this year (just kidding) (kinda).

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.

Tuesday, Dec. 7: Villanova

Notes: According to the internet (yes, I know), season ticket renewal packages show this game on this date, despite official word from either team. Should be confirmed on Monday.

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, Dec. 29: at Marist

Notes: In the Metro-Atlantic Athletic conference....

Monday, Jan. 3: at Kentucky

Notes: Along with Pitt, this is the biggest name Penn will play this year — the Duke of 2010-11, if you will.

Wednesday, Jan. 12: at La Salle

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.

Saturday, Jan. 22: St. Joseph's

Notes: Final big 5 matchup before the Ivy slate, which looks like this:

Friday Jan. 28: Yale Saturday Jan. 29: Brown Friday Feb. 4: Dartmouth Saturday Feb. 5: Harvard Tuesday Feb. 8 Princeton Friday Feb. 11: Cornell Saturday Feb. 12: Columbia Friday Feb. 18: Brown Saturday Feb. 19: Yale Friday Feb. 25: Columbia Saturday Feb. 26: Cornell Friday March 4: Harvard Saturday March 5: Dartmouth Tuesday March 8: Princeton

If you've made it to the bottom, hopefully this is the second to last time I have to do this...