Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Facing Hoop Heavyweights
9/2/2005 8:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 2, 2005
BY DAVID JONES
Of the Patriot-News
Funny that while their big-shot brethren at Pittsburgh and Penn State compose one non-conference basketball schedule after another with all the heartiness of broth, the little Bucknell Bison of the academically enriched Patriot League seem unafraid of anyone.
Bucknell coach Pat Flannery has constructed a slate that, while not Temple caliber, is not far off. In a schedule released yesterday, the Patriot champs will face national heavyweights Duke, Syracuse, Villanova and Saint Joseph's, plus travel to MAAC champion Niagara, MAAC finalist Rider, Conference USA contender DePaul and the Santa Clara's Cable Car Classic where they'll face America East contender Boston University in the first round.
The big home dates: Tue. Dec. 6 against 'Nova; and Wed. Dec. 21 against Saint Joe's.
In all, Bucknell will play seven teams from the top 85 of last season's Rating Percentage Index among its first 13 games. And that doesn't count a probable eighth at the home of a midmajor contender in an ESPN Bracket Buster game on Feb. 18.
The season opens Nov. 18 at Rider. The home opener is Nov. 26 against Yale.
The Bison are fresh off a dazzling season in which they whipped Kansas, Saint Joe's and Pitt -- all away from Sojka Pavilion -- and played extremely well in their first NCAA tourney in 16 years.
