With 4 starters coming back, it's going to be an exciting season for the U-Albany men's basketball team.  After checking out the Great Danes' non-conference schedule, there's even more reason to get fired up!

Pittsburgh, last year’s Big East Conference regular-season champion, and Atlantic Coast Conference member Maryland top the list of opponents. UAlbany plays in the Dick’s Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off, beginning with the opening two rounds on Nov. 14-15.

The Great Danes will start their schedule on the road against a Big East Conference team for the third time in the last four years with a matchup at Pittsburgh on Friday, Nov. 11. The Panthers made their 10th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance last year, advancing to the third round and finishing with a 28-6 record. Head coach Jamie Dixon has two All-Big East guards returning in Ashton Gibbs and Brad Wanamaker. UAlbany travels to the 12,508-seat Petersen Events Center for the second time, having previously played there on Nov. 28, 2003.

UAlbany meets an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent for the fifth time in the last six seasons with a trip to Maryland’s Comcast Center, a 17,950-seat facility. The Terrapins, who posted a 19-14 record last year, have a new coach. Mark Turgeon, who previously coached at Texas A&M, has led three Division I programs to a combined 250 wins and five NCAA tournaments. Sophomore guard Terrell Stoglin was a member of the 2011 All-ACC Freshmen Team. The Great Danes previously played ACC members Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Duke and Virginia.

2011-12 University at Albany Men’s Basketball Non-Conference Schedule

Nov. 11 (Fri.), at Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Nov. 14 (Mon.), Brown, Syracuse, N.Y. (NIT Season Tip-Off)

Nov. 15 (Tue.), Syracuse or Manhattan, Syracuse, N.Y. (NIT Season Tip-Off)

Nov. 21-23, Consolation or Championship Rounds (NIT Season Tip-Off)

Nov. 25 (Fri.), Navy, SEFCU Arena

Nov. 27 (Sun.), Fairleigh Dickinson, SEFCU Arena

Dec. 5 (Mon.), at Siena, Albany, N.Y.

Dec. 7 (Wed.), Colgate, SEFCU Arena

Dec. 17 (Sat.), at Cornell, Ithaca, N.Y.

Dec. 19 (Mon.), at St. Francis, N.Y., Brooklyn Heights, N.Y.

Dec. 23 (Fri.), Dartmouth, SEFCU Arena

Dec. 28 (Wed.), at Maryland, College Park, Md.

Dec. 31 (Sat.), at Mount St. Mary’s, Emmitsburg, Md.

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