UAlbany Announces Men's & Women's Basketball Schedules; Big Purple Growl on Feb. 4th

Albany, N.Y. - University at Albany Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy announced on Wednesday, Sept. 7 the school's men's and women's basketball schedules for the 2011-12 season. The America East Conference has released the entire league schedule for all nine member institutions. The conference's men's and women's championship tournaments will be held at the University of Hartford for the third consecutive year. The Chase Family Arena will serve as the venue for both tournaments on March 1-4.

UAlbany will host the 15th annual Big Purple Growl at SEFCU Arena on Saturday, Feb. 4th. The school's Winter Homecoming featured a crowd of 4,000-plus for the seventh season in a row last year. Big Purple Growl will feature a men's and women's doubleheader against America East opponent Stony Brook. UAlbany's basketball programs will also play a non-conference doubleheader on Sunday, Nov. 27.

The UAlbany men 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. In addition, 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. Mark Turgeon, who has led three Division I programs to a combined 250 wins and five NCAA Tournaments, is in his first season as head coach.

In the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season-Tip-Off, UAlbany faces Ivy League member Brown in the opening round on Monday, Nov. 14 as part of a doubleheader at Syracuse's Carrier Dome. The SU Orange, who reached the NCAA with a 27-win campaign last year, squares off with Manhattan in the other contest. The NIT's third and fourth rounds are slated for Nov. 21-22.

UAlbany begins America East regular-season play against Hartford on Monday, Jan. 2 at SEFCU Arena. The Great Danes host defending conference champion Boston University of Monday, Feb. 6. The America East TV package and the Time Warner Cable broadcast schedule will be announced at a later date.

The women's basketball program begins a 16-game America East schedule on the road against defending league champion Hartford on Monday, Jan. 2. Hartford makes the return trip to the Capital Region on Jan. 28. The Great Danes tangle with UMBC in the conference home opener at SEFCU Arena Wednesday, Jan. 4.

The Great Danes open up the 2011-12 season at Fordham on Nov. 11. The home slate begins on Sunday, Nov. 13 with UAlbany's second consecutive Atlantic 10 Conference opponent as LaSalle comes to SEFCU Arena. The Great Danes then embark on a three-game road swing that is highlighted by a matchup with highly-regarded Iowa. The Hawkeyes finished with a 22-9 record and advance to the NCAA Tournament one year ago. UAlbany has previously met Wisconsin and Indiana from the Big Ten Conference.

UAlbany will make its second appearance in Florida International's Sun and Fun Classic. The Great Danes, who last played in the tournament during the 2003-04 season, face the host school on Dec. 29 and Auburn or Charlotte in the consolation/championship round on Dec. 30. In addition, the Great Danes make the trip to downtown Albany's Times Union Center on Dec. 3 to take on crosstown-rival Siena. In a non-league doubleheader with the men on Nov. 27, UAlbany faces St.
Francis, N.Y. in the first game.

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2011-12 Men's Basketball Schedule
Nov. 11 (Fri.), at Pittsburgh
Nov. 14 (Mon.), Brown+
Nov. 15 (Tue.), Syracuse or Manhattan+
Nov. 21 (Mon.), NIT Season Tip-Off
Nov. 22 (Tue.), NIT Season Tip-Off
Nov. 25 (Fri.), Navy
Nov. 27 (Sun.), Fairleigh Dickinson
Dec. 5 (Mon.), at Siena
Dec. 7 (Wed.), Colgate
Dec. 17 (Sat.), at Cornell
Dec. 19 (Mon.), at St. Francis, N.Y.
Dec. 23 (Fri.), Dartmouth
Dec. 28 (Wed.), at Maryland
Dec. 31 (Sat.), at Mount St. Mary's
Jan. 2 (Mon.), Hartford*
Jan. 5 (Thu.), at UMBC*
Jan. 8 (Sun.), at Stony Brook*
Jan. 11 (Wed.), New Hampshire*
Jan. 14 (Sat.), Maine*
Jan. 16 (Mon.), at Boston U.*
Jan. 19 (Thu.), at Vermont*
Jan. 25 (Wed.), Binghamton*
Jan. 28 (Sat.), at Hartford*
Feb. 1 (Wed.), UMBC*
Feb. 4 (Sat.), Stony Brook* (BPG)
Feb. 6 (Mon.), Boston U.*
Feb. 9 (Thu.), at New Hampshire*
Feb. 11 (Sat.) ,at Maine*
Feb. 15 (Wed.), Vermont
Feb. 23 (Thu.), at Binghamton*

+NIT Season Tip-Off (Syracuse, N.Y.)
BPG - Big Purple Growl

2011-12 Women's Basketball Schedule
Nov. 11 (Sat.), at Fordham
Nov. 13 (Mon.), La Salle
Nov. 16 (Wed.), at Iowa
Nov. 19 (Sat.), at Brown
Nov. 22 (Tue.), at Toledo
Nov. 27 (Sun.), St. Francis, N.Y.
Nov. 30 (Wed.), at Long Island
Dec. 3 (Sat.), at Siena
Dec. 6 (Tue.), Niagara
Dec. 18 (Sun.), Sacred Heart
Dec. 22 (Thu.), at Canisius
Dec. 29 (Thu.), at Florida International+
Dec. 30 (Fri.), Auburn or Charlotte+
Jan. 2 (Mon.), at Hartford*
Jan. 4 (Wed.), UMBC*
Jan. 8 (Sun.), at Stony Brook*
Jan. 11 (Wed.), at New Hampshire*
Jan. 14 (Sat.), at Maine*
Jan. 16 (Mon.), Boston U.*
Jan. 19 (Thu.), Vermont*
Jan. 25 (Wed.), at Binghamton*
Jan. 28 (Sat.), Hartford*
Feb. 1 (Wed.), at UMBC*
Feb. 4 (Sat.), Stony Brook* (BPG)
Feb. 8 (Wed.), New Hampshire*
Feb. 11 (Sat.), Maine*
Feb. 15 (Wed.), at Vermont*
Feb. 18 (Sat.), at Boston U.*
Feb. 22 (Wed.), Binghamton*

+Sun and Fun Classic (Miami, Fla.)
BPG - Big Purple Growl

Courtesy: UAlbany Athletics