As we reported was a possibility last week, the Siena Saints men's basketball team will open up its 2015-16 season as part of the 2K Wounded Warrior Classic.

It had previously been thought that the Saints would open in the same tournament against VCU.

The Blue Devils and Badgers represent an incredible challenge for the Saints, as both programs played in the National Championship game this past season. Duke beat Wisconsin. The meeting against Duke will represent the first time that Siena is playing a defending national champion since they visited Kansas in 2009.

"This event was an opportunity that Coach Patsos and I identified as being beneficial for the program," Siena vice president and director of athletics John D'Argenio said. "Like the multi-team exempted events we have participated in in the past the field is extremely challenging."

Siena went 11-20 this past season, including a 7-13 MAAC Conference record.

If the Saints are to improve this year, perhaps this tough opening schedule will be a reason why.

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