Harvard's definitely on the 2005-2006 schedule

[dcpony]

Crimson opens Nov. 19 against Vermont at Lavietes Pavilion


June 24, 2005

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Last year, Harvard started things off against one of the nation's storied programs. In 2005-06, the Crimson will open by facing a team coming off a storybook season.

Intriguing opening-night contests are becoming a staple of Harvard's men's basketball schedule. Last year, Harvard played its first game against Notre Dame since the 1941-42 season and gave the nationally ranked Fighting Irish all it could handle - standing tied with less than five minutes to play - before falling, 66-59.

The 2005-06 season will open Nov. 19 when Vermont - winner of the last three America East championships - visits Lavietes Pavilion. The Catamounts were one of the most interesting stories of the 2005 NCAA tournament, thanks to their upset of Syracuse in the first round and strong showing against a Final Four-bound Michigan State squad in the second round.

"This is a tremendous way for us to open the year," said Harvard head coach Frank Sullivan, who will begin his 15th year with the Crimson in 2005-06. "Vermont energized college basketball with its win over Syracuse and has set a standard with its outstanding play in recent years. This game will create a tremendous opening-night atmosphere in our gym, and I'm certain that our players will be looking forward to it every bit as much as they did Notre Dame last year."

Harvard's nonleague schedule also includes a Dec. 22 trip to Boston College - last year's Big East regular season champion which finished the season at 25-7. The Crimson will look for its first win against the Eagles since 1998, when Mike Beam's three-pointer at the buzzer delivered a 62-61 win for Harvard at Conte Forum.

In all, the 27-game schedule includes four dates against America East opponents, three each against the Patriot League and the Northeast Conference, and one game each against representatives from the ACC, the Big West and Conference USA. Harvard will also play its traditional 14-game Ivy League schedule.





Harvard's post-Christmas trip will send the Crimson to Dallas to face new Conference USA member Southern Methodist. The game will be the first between the schools since 1997, when the Mustangs held on for an 81-80 win in Dallas.

The home schedule includes a Nov. 27 visit from UC-Davis of the Big West Conference in what will be the first meeting on the hardwood between the schools. The other nonleague home games are against New Hampshire, Central Connecticut, Long Island and Colgate.

The nonleague road schedule will send Harvard to Holy Cross, which reached the NIT last season, Boston University, Sacred Heart, Lehigh and Albany.

The Ivy League schedule will begin just prior to Harvard's January exam period with back-to-back dates against Dartmouth. A stretch of four straight Ivy road games follows, after which Harvard will play six of its last eight games at home, including the Alumni Weekend series of Feb. 10 and 11 against Princeton and Penn.

Harvard will welcome back 10 letterwinners from last year's team, which finished in a tie for third place in the Ivy League standings. The Crimson will boast the league's top two returning scorers and rebounders in the person of senior forward Matt Stehle and junior center Brian Cusworth.

Season ticket packages will be available in the early fall through GoCrimson.com or by calling 877-GO-HARVARD.