Post by jenningsbeach on Aug 4, 2021 15:39:19 GMT -5
The article states that Fairfield @ Sacred Heart is part of a multi-team event, as is Sacred Heart @ Stony Brook. So Fairfield is likely to host Stony Brook around Thanksgiving.
Here's what we have:
Home Holy Cross Loyola Wagner Stony Brook
Road @ Providence (11/9) @ Sacred Heart (11/20) @ UMass (12/19) @ Boston College @ William & Mary
That's 29 games (including 20 MAAC contests). However, the MTE aspect of Stony Brook/Sacred Heart/Fairfield means the two games count as one. The season-tickets email promised 15 home games, so one more Bridgeport tilt is likely. Unless we're playing an exhibition for the first time in the Jay Young era.
Back to Sacred Heart: I want to say Stags-Pioneers at the Pitt Center on the Saturday before Thanksgiving will be a tough ticket. But it probably won't be.
Last Edit: Aug 4, 2021 15:41:55 GMT -5 by jenningsbeach
The article states that Fairfield @ Sacred Heart is part of a multi-team event, as is Sacred Heart @ Stony Brook. So Fairfield is likely to host Stony Brook around Thanksgiving.
Here's what we have:
Home Holy Cross Loyola Wagner Stony Brook
Road @ Providence (11/9) @ Sacred Heart (11/20) @ UMass (12/19) @ Boston College @ William & Mary
That's 29 games (including 20 MAAC contests). However, the MTE aspect of Stony Brook/Sacred Heart/Fairfield means the two games count as one. The season-tickets email promised 15 home games, so one more Bridgeport tilt is likely. Unless we're playing an exhibition for the first time in the Jay Young era.
Back to Sacred Heart: I want to say Stags-Pioneers at the Pitt Center on the Saturday before Thanksgiving will be a tough ticket. But it probably won't be.
Well if we do host Stony Brook, that might be a tough match-up if you can believe the prognostications of the folks putting together the Top 144 count-down list. The Seawolves have just showed up as #100. But if the Stags are going to be good, defeating an opponent such as this would be a good sign of things to come once the MAAC schedule gets underway. So this would be a good test IMO.
Pretty surprised. How did we get snookered into playing at the Pitt Center? I’m not sure the road to national prominence goes through SHU’s Bridgeport campus gym…
Last Edit: Aug 4, 2021 19:57:00 GMT -5 by stagthomas
Pretty surprised. How did we get snookered into playing at the Pitt Center? I’m not sure the road to national prominence goes through SHU’s Bridgeport campus gym…
Still think this game belongs at WBA.
We now have a real shot of losing our first game to SHU. As always, you can be certain they will do a masterful job of promoting. And it won't take much work to sell out.
If we’re not confident going into the Pitt that we should win this game then it is an indictment on the program and not on the scheduling. The arena would be a ghost town between student apathy and COVID. SHU deserves this game.
Absolutely agree. Play anyone who comes your way. If they can't win its on them. This is a battle tested team with experience at very position. There is not one team on our schedule we can not beat given a bit of luck at the end. This group will give us the best chances we have had in many years. I would have them practicing at WBA every day. This is a one year issue. They should know every panel in that floor by the time the season starts
Absolutely agree. Play anyone who comes your way. If they can't win its on them. This is a battle tested team with experience at very position. There is not one team on our schedule we can not beat given a bit of luck at the end. This group will give us the best chances we have had in many years. I would have them practicing at WBA every day. This is a one year issue. They should know every panel in that floor by the time the season starts
Well to be honest I don't think the WBA would be available much for practice, so that won't be happening I don't think. But other than that I basically agree with your general thought of this current team being ready to put forth a very good season based on the fact that they were competing well against and often defeating every league opponent they played (other than Iona) in the second half of last year with the whole squad returning for another try in 2021-22. Also of course they get back injured players Maidoh and Leach plus add three new freshmen to boot. So yes there should be no excuses for another poor season record-wise. And in general most opponents should be beatable although I would think Providence would be a stretch. And the Gaels and slick Rick will be tough to knock off their throne. But to your point of competing against anyone, even against the Hearts (who BTW have finally become an NEC force after years of mediocrity), the Stags shouldn't be afraid at all to go into the Pitt Center to play them on the road. Every year you try to put forth a balanced OOC schedule with contests against mostly competitive programs in order to prepare for league play, and I think the Stags have done just that for the upcoming season.
D-111 program. Apparently the MAAC rules have changed as (to my knowledge) playing D-11, D-111 or NAIA programs was not allowed. But actually this procedure is normal in almost every other conference and in fact is employed by many schools to help fill out a schedule. So I'm sure given the authorization to do such a thing and probably resulting from the inability to match up a date and opponent to arena availability, Jay Young decided to do this rather than not play at all. Going back many MANY years ago, this type of match-up was a normality in the annual schedules that Fred Barakat put together, so this won't be the first time this has happened at Fairfield. Anyway, it is what it is and I'm glad we get to finally see the Stags in action quite a few times before the league season actually begins.
Big East and ACC Road Trips, Five Games at Webster Bank Arena Highlight Non-Conference Slate
Fairfield University Men's Basketball Head Coach Jay Young has announced the 11-game non-conference schedule that awaits the Stags in the upcoming 2021-22 season. The slate is highlighted by five home games at Webster Bank Arena and includes opponents from the Big East, ACC, Atlantic-10, CAA, Patriot League, America East and NEC.
"We are looking forward to a full non-conference schedule featuring several of Fairfield Basketball's traditional rivals," said Young, who enters his third season leading the Stags. "This diverse group of opponents will challenge us on the court and prepare us for the demands of the MAAC schedule."
The home opener brings Coach Young's squad back to Webster Bank Arena for the first time since Feb. 9, 2020. Fairfield will host Medgar Evers in Bridgeport on Nov. 16 for the first of 15 home games on the docket for the Stags.
Up next, the Stags will renew their crosstown rivalry with Sacred Heart. Fairfield travels to the Pitt Center on Nov. 20 for the first meeting with the Pioneers since opening the 2016-17 season with an 85-63 win at Webster Bank Arena.
"We're excited to revive our rivalry with Sacred Heart with our first-ever visit to the Pitt Center, and we look forward to hosting Coach Latina and his team next season for one of the first games to be played at our new Convocation Center," noted Young.
D-111 program. Apparently the MAAC rules have changed as (to my knowledge) playing D-11, D-111 or NAIA programs was not allowed. But actually this procedure is normal in almost every other conference and in fact is employed by many schools to help fill out a schedule. So I'm sure given the authorization to do such a thing and probably resulting from the inability to match up a date and opponent to arena availability, Jay Young decided to do this rather than not play at all. Going back many MANY years ago, this type of match-up was a normality in the annual schedules that Fred Barakat put together, so this won't be the first time this has happened at Fairfield. Anyway, it is what it is and I'm glad we get to finally see the Stags in action quite a few times before the league season actually begins.
I was just curious if there was some specific reason for that matchup (coaching connection, etc.).
