A Look at Canisius Men's N-L Schedule

And, so we begin the look at every non-league schedule of conference men’s teams for the coming season. Each will include a little bit about opponents.

Up now …

CANISIUS MEN

11/13 at James Madison University.
JMU, which finished 21-12 overall and 10-8 in the Colonial Athletic Association last season, is coached by former Siena standout Matt Brady, who also coached four seasons at Marist. The Dukes are picked to finish fourth in the 12-team CAA (all predictions come from The Sporting News’ College Basketball preview issue).

JMU’s top players are Devon Moore, a point guard whose 137 assists last season set a school conference record. Small forward Julius Wells , a senior, already ranks 12th at JMU in career points (1,311) and third in career 3-pointers.

11/15 at Longwood College (Farmville, Va.)
The Lancers finished 12-19 as an independent last season. The team’s top player is 6-8 senior center Antwan Carter, who averaged 18.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per game last season, and three other starters return.

11/17 at UNLV
The Rebels finished 24-9 last season, 11-5 in the Mountain West Conference and advanced to the NCAA tournament, losing a first-round game to Illinois, 73-62. UNL Is picked to finish second in the MWC and has a new coach in Dae Rice, a member of the program’s 1990 Runnin’ Rebels national championship team. Top players are 6-8 senior forward Chace Stanback (13.0 points per game) and 6-2 senior point guard Oscar Bellfield (11.2 points, 3.7 assists).

11/22 at Buffalo
Canisius has to travel all of about five miles for this “away” game against the Bulls, who finished 20-14 overall last season and 9-8 in the Mid-American Conference. Buffalo is picked to finish fourth in the MAC’s six-team East Division. Top players are 6-3 senior guard Zach Fitzen (15.1 points) and 6-6 sophomore forward Javon McCrea (11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds).

12/8 South Dakota
South Dakota finished 10-8 in the Summit League and 19-12 oerall last season and is picked to finish 9th in the 10-team conference this year. Top players are senior guards Charlie Westbrook (16.2 points) and Louie Krogman (14.8). The team also has highly reguarded freshman Nimrod Hilliard IV, who was Wisconsin’s Mr. Basketball last season.

12/10 at Saint Bonaventure
The Bonnies finished 8-8 in the Atlantic 10 Conference last season and 16-15 overall. The program has either equaled or improved on the previous year’s victory total every year since the 2006-07 season. This marks the 160th meeting between the programs. The Bonnies are picked for fifth in the 14-team conference. Top players are 6-9, 250-pound senior forward Andrew Nicholson (20.8 points, 7.3 rebounds) and 6-5 senior forward Michael Davenport (11.1 points, 4.9 rebounds). Four starters return along with incoming junior college transfer Eric Mosely, who is expected to start at point guard.

12/16 UMKC

The Universiuty of Missouri at Kansas City finished 9-9 in the Summit League last season, 16-14 oerall and are picked to finish 8th in the 10-team league. Top player is senior guard Reggie Chamberlain (10.6 points).

12/18 at South Dakota
Completes a rare home-and-home in-season series with a non-league opponent.

12/28 Binghamton
Binghamton finished 4-12 in the America East Conference, 8-23 overall and are picked to finish last in the 9-team league. The team’s top three scorers graduated. Key returnees are guard Jimmy Gray and 6-9 forward Kyrie Sutton with two freshmen and a junior college transfer expected to get significant minutes.