SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. The BIG EAST unveiled the 2008-09 men’s basketball conference schedules for all 16 member schools on Thursday. Combined with their non-conference schedule, Seton Hall will host 16 games in its second season at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
The Pirates will open the season at home on Friday, November 14 vs. St. Francis (N.Y.). Their first BIG EAST game of the season will be at Syracuse on Tuesday, December 30. Seton Hall’s first home BIG EAST game will be on Saturday, January 3 against West Virginia. To purchase tickets, or for more Seton Hall ticket information, please call (973) 275-HALL.
Seton Hall will host Molloy College in exhibition action on Friday, November 7 at Walsh Gym before beginning the regular season on November 14 vs. St. Francis. In addition to the Terriers, the Pirates non-conference schedule features home games against Columbia (Nov. 16), Delaware (Nov. 29), Monmouth (Dec. 2), IUPUI (Dec. 20) and Fairleigh Dickinson (Dec. 27). Seton Hall will also play a home game on Tuesday, Dec. 9, but the opponent is still to be determined.
Seton Hall will participate in the 2008 O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off, November 20-23 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Eight teams comprise the field with the Pirates drawing USC as their first round opponent on November 20. Their opponent the following day, November 21, will be determined by the outcome of their game with USC and the Memphis / UT-Chattanooga game with winners playing winners and losers playing losers. Seton Hall’s third and final game will be played on Sunday, November 23 with start time and opponent to be determined. The remaining teams in the 2008 field include Fairfield, Missouri, Virginia Tech and Xavier.
Other non-conference road opponents for the Pirates include St. Peter’s (Dec. 13) and James Madison (Dec. 22).
Seton Hall’s BIG EAST schedule features a home-and-home series with Connecticut, Rutgers and St. John’s. The Pirates will open the conference schedule on the road against Syracuse on Dec. 30. Additionally, the Pirates will play road games at Notre Dame (Jan. 10), Connecticut, (Jan. 18), Rutgers (Feb. 8), DePaul (Feb. 10), Marquette, (Feb. 17), St. John’s (Feb. 22), Louisville (March 4) and Cincinnati (March 7). Seton Hall will host West Virginia (Jan. 3), Villanova (Jan. 6), Providence (Jan. 22), Georgetown (Jan. 25), Rutgers (Jan. 29), St. John’s (Feb. 5), Connecticut (Feb. 14), USF (Feb. 25) and Pittsburgh (Feb. 28).
The BIG EAST Championship, which will include all 16 schools this year, begins on Tuesday, March 10 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
All game times, plus complete television and radio information, will be announced at a later date.
