No St. John's again for Niagara
Auburn highlights Niagara University’s non-league schedule which was released today, but missing once again off the slate is St. John’s.
The two schools didn’t play last season for the first time in 26 years. Niagara and St. John’s have met 98 times since 1908 with the Red Storm winning 72 (including 30 of the last 35). St. John’s was expected to play in the Gallagher Center this season. Two years ago, Niagara pulled off a historic 77-73 victory over the Red Storm, its first win at Carnesecca Arena in 44 years. Niagara had beaten St. John’s twice in the last four meetings.
Niagara AD Ed McLauglin said it came down to the Red Storm not willing to play the Purple Eagles in the Gallagher Center this season.
"I couldn't give up a home game," he said. "They felt that they really needed to have the game at home and they didn't want to come up here and play. Not that they don't ever want to come here and play they just felt that they really needed to have the game at home."
McLaughlin said he hopes the two schools can come to an agreement and continue the series beginning next season.
"We would certainly be open to talk about anything to continue the rivalry," he said. "That's not to say we would absolutely go there without question, but I think it's safe to say I want to continue the discussion because we want to play and I have a sense that they want to play."
The Purple Eagles open the 2009-10 season on the road against the Tigers as part of the 2009 Glenn Wilkes Classic. The third-year in-season tournament features a 10-team field with one on-site contest and three games at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Fla. Niagara will take on Auburn on Nov. 13 before facing Howard, Central Florida and Austin Peay from Nov. 20-22. Auburn, coached by former North Carolina guard Jeff Lebo, finished 24-12 and won two games in the NIT last season.
Three home games and a pair of holiday tournaments highlight the slate of 12 games, while seven of the 13 potential opponents played in the 2009 postseason. Niagara opens its home portion of the schedule against Drexel on Nov. 17.
After the Glenn Wilkes Classic, the Purple Eagles will play a pair of road contests, at Mount St. Mary’s (Nov. 25) and defending MAC champion Akron (Nov. 29). The Purple Eagles travel to Illinois State (Dec. 13) as part of the ESPNU BracketBuster agreement. Last season, Niagara defeated Illinois State at home. Niagara and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference will again participate in the BracketBuster event, as Niagara will be a road team this season.
The final non-conference contests will come on the final days of 2009, as Niagara will play in the Sun Bowl Basketball Tournament in El Paso, Texas. Niagara will open the four-team tournament with Air Force on Dec. 28 before playing either host UTEP or Norfolk State on Dec. 29.
---Rodney McKissic
(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)
swing and a miss
Posted by: commenting on e | July 17, 2009 at 07:41 PM
Not by my logic. Hockey programs are not revenue producers in the NCAA. Those are football and basketball, which pay for the other sports at the top schools.
Posted by: David,Amherst | July 16, 2009 at 07:05 PM
then by your logic, niagara is afraid of canisius in hockey...
Posted by: afraid? | July 16, 2009 at 01:32 PM
Yes, and like I said, this is where fear makes money and reputation. A Big East school would rather lose to a Big Ten school, than be ridiculed for losing to a MAAC school. If I were St. John's, I'd be afraid, very afraid, all the way to the bank.
Posted by: David,Amherst | July 16, 2009 at 12:17 PM
St. John's is just afraid of Niagara. It's that simple.
Posted by: E | July 16, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Dumb, and Dumber.
When will these lower conference schools realize their conference is their problem.
Siena is profiled for scheduling "problems" by Rivals.com.
In NCAA basketball, "Fear Hits a Home Run".
It's about Big Business, baby.
Since when does a college education get you street smart?
http://collegebasketball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=964497
Posted by: David,Amherst | July 14, 2009 at 01:26 PM