Bryant unveils 2018-19 non-conference slate
2018-19 Non-Conference Schedule
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University head men's basketball coach Jared Grasso has announced the Bulldogs' non-conference schedule for Grasso's first season leading the Black and Gold in 2018-19.
The Bryant schedule includes the Bulldogs' first meeting with in-state opponent Rhode Island since 1986 and a clash with Big Ten member Iowa. Bryant will play five of its 11 non-conference home games at the Chace Athletic Center – the most since hosting five in 2013-14. The home slate begins with a Nov. 14 contest against Saint Peter's.
The Bulldogs will face three teams that made postseason appearances a year ago and three that won 20 or more games. Bryant will square off with four teams from the Ivy League in non-conference play, two from the America East, and one each from the Atlantic 10, Big Ten, MAAC, Patriot League and WAC.
"We're excited about the non-conference schedule we've been able to put together," said Grasso. "We have several regional home-and-home series already in progress against some very good teams. We'll really challenge ourselves to open the season with a trip to URI and travel to Iowa after Christmas."
Coach Grasso's Bryant debut will be a short drive to Kingston for a Tuesday night opener at Rhode Island (Nov. 6), scheduled on the night of the NCAA's new start date for Division I basketball in 2018-19. The Rams posted a 26-8 record a year ago and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. The contest will be the first between the Ocean State foes in the Bulldogs' Division I era.
Bryant will follow the season opener with a trip to the West Coast for a contest at Seattle (Nov. 11). The Redhawks went 20-14 a year ago and earned an invite to the CBI. The game will be the first between Bryant and Seattle, but the Bulldogs' third trip to Washington in six years.
The home opener will take place three days later with a Wednesday night clash with Saint Peter's (Nov. 14). The Peacocks were 12-18 in 2017-18, but knocked off two teams in the MAAC tournament, including top-seeded Rider, to advance to the conference semifinals. The meeting will be the first between the Bulldogs and Peacocks.
The series between Bryant and Navy continues with a Nov. 18 game in Annapolis. The teams are meeting for the fifth time in seven years, most recently a 79-71 Midshipmen victory on the same date a year ago. Navy, which is 3-1 in the all-time series, went 20-14 last season.
Bryant will take the short trip to the East Side of Providence for a game the following Sunday against Brown (Nov. 25). The teams are meeting for the 11th time in the Division I era with Brown holding an 8-2 advantage. The Bears picked up an 81-67 win in Smithfield last season and posted an 11-16 record on the year.
Another Ivy League opponent follows when Bryant hosts Yale (Nov. 28). The teams of Bulldogs will meet for the 11th consecutive season, most recently an 84-67 Yale victory in New Haven last season. Yale, which is 7-3 in the all-time series, recorded a 16-15 mark in 2017-18 and qualified for the Ivy League tournament.
New Hampshire visits Smithfield Dec. 1 for a Saturday contest at the Chace Athletic Center. It marks the seventh consecutive season the Wildcats and Bulldogs will square off with each team having won three previous meetings, most recently a 75-59 New Hampshire victory in Durham last December. The Wildcats went 10-21 last season.
Bryant will travel down to New York City for the Bulldogs' first game against Columbia since 2010 (Dec. 7). The Lions, who are 3-0 in the all-time series, posted an 8-19 record in 2017-18. The game will be the Bulldogs' first in the borough of Manhattan since a 2013 game against Delaware at Madison Square Garden.
The Bulldogs will host Hartford Dec. 12 in the second all-time meeting between the New England opponents. Bryant picked up a 78-73 victory in West Hartford a year ago with a double-double from Ikenna Ndugba (Boston, Mass.). Hartford went 19-14 a year ago and earned a CIT berth.
The final non-conference home game will be against the fourth Ivy League opponent of the season in a Friday contest against Dartmouth (Dec. 21). The Bulldogs and Big Green will meet for the eighth straight year with Dartmouth holding a 4-3 advantage in the series following a 75-58 win in Hanover last season. The Big Green posted a 7-20 mark in 2017-18.
Bryant will close out non-conference play with a trip to Iowa (Dec. 29). It will be the first meeting with the Hawkeyes since 2008, a game won by the home team in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes were 14-19 a year ago.
Game times and television arrangements will be announced prior to the season and are subject to change. All five home games will be streamed free of charge on NEC Front Row and available over the air on WOON with veteran play-by-play announcer Jon Wallach and analysis provided by Cam Boon and Tristan Hobbes. Ticket information will be announced later this summer.
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