A Look at Marist's Non-League Schedule

Here's another installment in the series looking at non-league schedules of conference teams.

Up now, Marist.

The Red Foxes play home games on Nov. 27 (UC Irvine), Dec. 10 (Leigh), Dec. 19 (Holy Cross), Dec. 29 (Penn) and either Feb. 19 or 20 (a BrackeBusters game).

Marist plays away games in the preseason NIT on Nov. 16 (at Villanova), Nov. 17 (vs. either George Washington or Boston University at Villanova), Nov. 19 (at Boston University), Nov. 22 and 23 (preseason NIT games at sites and vs. opponents to be determined), Dec. 7 (at Rutgers), Dec. 12 (at Vermont), and Jan 5 (at Princeton).

Here's a game-by-game breakdown of Marist's non-conference opponents:

- Villanova: Picked for 3rd in the 16-team Big East Conference. Finished 25-8 last season. Best players: 6-8 senior forward Antonio Pena (10.5 points, 7.0 rebounds), 6-5 senior guard Corey Stokes (9.5 points). The Wildcats also have incoming 6-7 freshman forward JayVaughn, a McDonald's All-American; and, 6-5 freshman guard James Bell, a High School All-American by USA Today and Parade Magazine.

- Boston University: Picked for 3rd in the 9-team American East Conference. Finished 21-14 last season. Top players: 6-5 senior guard/forward John Holland (19.2, 6.1), 6-8 junior forward Jack O'brien (13.8, 6.4).

- UC Irvine: Picked for 9th in the 9-team Big West Conference. Finished 14-18 last season. Best player: 6-5 senior forward Eric Wise (16.3, 6.5).

- Rutgers: Picked for 14th in the 16-team Big East Conference. Finished 15-17 last season. Best player: 6-7 senior forward Jonathan Mitchell (11.8 points).

- Lehigh: Picked for 5th in the 8-team Patriot League. Finished 22-11 last season. Best player: 6-3 freshman guard C.J. McCollum (19.1, 5.0). McCullum led all freshmen nationally in scoring last season.

-Vermont: Picked for 4th in the 9-team America East Conference. The Catamounts won the conference last season and finished 25-10 overall. Top Player: Evan Fjed, a 6-foot-8 senior forward (10.7 points, 6.1 rebounds per game last season). He is the team's only returning starter.

- Holy Cross: Picked for 3rd in the 8-team Patriot League. Finished 9-22 last season. Best players; 6-3 junior guard R.J. Evans (13.4, 5.1), 6-9 senior center Andrew Keister (10.2, 8.9). Keister led the Patriot League in rebounding last season.

- Penn: Picked for 5th in the 8-team Ivy League. Finished 6-22 last season. Best player: 6-1 junior point guard Zack Rosen (17.7, 44 assists).

- Princeton: Picked for 2nd in the eight-team Ivy League. Finished 22-9 last season. Best Player: Sophomore forward Ian Hunter (6.9, 3.1)