ASHEVILLE, N.C. ? A first-time meeting with Duke, road games at North Carolina, Ohio State and Tennessee plus 14 home games highlights the 2008-09 UNC Asheville men's basketball. The schedule was released today by Bulldog head coach Eddie Biedenbach.
UNC Asheville finished with a school-record 23-10 last season and was co-champions of the Big South Conference during the regular season. They advanced to post-season play for the first time in five years when the Bulldogs played at Ohio State in the National Invitational Tournament.
“The schedule is challenging but we're excited about it,” stated Biedenbach. “I'm glad to have 14 home games this year and we're starting out at home once again this year.”
Asheville plays one exhibition game this year against Lees-McRae on Nov. 3 before opening the 2008-09 season against Belmont-Abbey on Nov. 14. The Bulldogs host Montreat (Nov. 16) before opening Big South Conference play early against Liberty (Nov. 18).
The men of Eddie Biedenbach hit the road for their next four games. Asheville travels to Campbell (Nov. 22) and meets Wofford (Nov. 25) for the first time since the 1995-96 season. The Dogs take on potential Final Four teams North Carolina (Nov. 30) and Tennessee (Dec. 3). Asheville's meeting with the Tar Heels marks the fourth straight year the teams have played at the Smith Center.
The Bulldogs get back to league play when they welcome high-scoring VMI (Dec. 6) to Justice Center. A home game with Catawba (Dec. 6) is followed by three straight road games.
On Dec. 17, Asheville travels to Cameron Indoor Stadium to face Duke for the first time ever.
“We're really happy to work out a game at Duke,” commented Biedenbach. “Duke will provide a very tough test for our guys but it will be a great experience for our team to play at Cameron Indoor Stadium.”
The road trip continues with a trip to Buffalo (Dec. 20) and finishes off with a NIT rematch against Ohio State (Dec. 22).
Asheville ends 2008 with a home game against mountain rival Western Carolina on Dec. 31 at Justice Center.
The rest of the season regular season will have the Bulldogs playing Big South Conference games. Asheville starts 2009 with three straight road games as the Bulldogs play at Charleston Southern (Jan. 3), league newcomer Gardner-Webb (Jan. 7) and Radford (Jan. 10). The game with Gardner-Webb will mark the first time that the teams have played since the 1984-85 season.
Asheville plays host to High Point (Jan. 13) before playing road games at Winthrop (Jan. 17) and Coastal Carolina (Jan. 19).
The Bulldogs start a two-game homestand with future league member Presbyterian (Jan 24) and then welcome defending Big South champion Winthrop (Jan. 28). Asheville journeys to Virginia for a two-game trip with dates at Liberty (Jan. 31) and VMI (Feb. 2).
Biedenbach's club finishes February up with four home games, including a three-game homestand early in the month. The Bulldogs entertain Charleston Southern (Feb. 7), Gardner-Webb (Feb. 11) and Radford (Feb. 14). Asheville plays High Point (Feb. 18), hosts Coastal Carolina (Feb. 25) and competes the regular season at Presbyterian (Feb. 28).
The Big South Conference Tournament will once again be at home sites for the quarterfinals (March 3) and then those four winners go to the top seed for the semifinals (March 5). The highest remaining seed will host the Big South Conference title game (March 7)
For more information on the UNC Asheville men's basketball team or other information on Bulldogs athletics, contact www.uncabulldogs.com.
