Men’s Basketball Schedule For 09-10

Perhaps you’ve never seen Cornell play a basketball game. You can rectify that this season by being at Coleman Coliseum for the official start of the Anthony Grant Era of Alabama men’s basketball. After a couple of exhibition games, Bama opens the season for real on November 14 hosting Cornell, the defending Ivy League champion.

The Alabama 2009-10 men's basketball schedule features 30 contests, including 17 dates at Coleman Coliseum. Other than a trip to Orlando for the Old Spice Classic November 26-29, the Crimson Tide has only one road game before starting Southeastern Conference play.

Ten Bama games are scheduled for national television broadcast.

Six of Alabama's scheduled non-conference foes made postseason appearances last year and averaged 17 wins, with four recording 20 or more victories. The SEC worksheet features six opponents that advanced to postseason play a season ago.

"We were able to put together a schedule of very challenging non-conference opponents to prepare us for league play," said Grant. "We've got a variety of styles of play and levels of competition that will test our team early."

After a pair of home exhibition contests against Montevallo and Augusta State on Nov. 4 and 10, respectively, the Tide opens the season in earnest on Nov. 14 when defending Ivy League champion Cornell visits Tuscaloosa. On Nov. 20 the Tide will welcome Providence to Coleman Coliseum.

The Tide closes out November by traveling to Orlando to face NIT runner-up Baylor in the first round of the Old Spice Classic Nov. 26 on ESPN2. The Tide's second game at the tournament will come against either Florida State or Iona on Nov. 27 followed by an opponent to be determined on Nov. 29. Potential foes include, Creighton, Michigan and Marquette. All games at the Old Spice Classic will be carried on one of the ESPN networks.

Alabama returns home after the Thanksgiving holiday for a pair of games against North Florida and Louisiana-Monroe on Dec. 2 and 5 before hosting 2009 `Sweet 16' participant Purdue on Dec. 12. A week later, Grant faces fellow Miami, Fla. native and childhood friend Frank Martin's Kansas State squad in Mobile as part of the Coors Classic on Dec. 19. After a brief holiday break following a Dec. 23 home game against Mercer, the Tide returns to campus to host Tennessee State on Dec. 30.

The Tide tips off the New Year with its first true road contest of the season on Jan. 4 when Bama travels to Toledo, Ohio to face the University of Toledo. It is Alabama’s only true road game in preparation for the SEC schedule.

On Jan. 9 the Tide jumps straight into SEC play, going to Baton Rouge to face defending SEC Champion LSU. Last season, Alabama was one of just three teams to defeat the Tigers in league play.

The SEC slate continues with home games against all five Western Division opponents and Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Florida visiting from the Eastern Division. All 16 of the Tide's SEC contests will be televised in some capacity.

The regular season wraps up March 6 when Alabama hosts Auburn prior to the start of the SEC Tournament March 11-14 in Nashville.

2009-10 Alabama Men’s Basketball Schedule

Date Opponent

Nov. 4 Montevallo (Exh.)

Nov. 10 Augusta State (Exh.)

Nov. 14 Cornell

Nov. 17 Jackson State

Nov. 20 Providence

OLD SPICE CLASSIC @ Orlando, Fla.

Nov. 26 vs. Baylor Orlando, Fla.

Nov. 27 vs. Florida State/Iona Orlando, Fla.

Nov. 29 vs. TBA Orlando, Fla.



Dec. 2 North Florida

Dec. 5 Louisiana-Monroe

Dec. 12 Purdue

Dec. 16 Samford

Dec. 19 Kansas State @ Mobile

Dec. 23 Mercer

Dec. 30 Tennessee State

Jan. 4 at Toledo

Jan. 9 at LSU

Jan. 13 Vanderbilt

Jan. 16 at Arkansas

Jan. 19 Tennessee

Jan. 23 Mississippi State

Jan. 27 LSU

Jan. 30 at Auburn

Feb. 4 Florida

Feb. 6 at Ole Miss

Feb. 9 at Kentucky

Feb. 13 Arkansas

Feb. 20 at Georgia

Feb. 24 at Mississippi State

Feb. 27 Ole Miss

March 3 at South Carolina

March 6 Auburn

March 11-14 SEC Tournament @ Nashville