SCHEDULE FLAWS

Every season, the men’s basketball schedule has a few quirks. There are always a handful of games during the breaks in the academic calendar that are nearly impossible for students to attend.

Villanova’s home opener in the ’06-’07 season was over Thanksgiving break against Navy; few students were able to attend. This season, the schedule “quirk” one ups last year’s misplaced home opener, with Senior Night taking place during spring break.

The Wildcats will host the South Florida Bulls in the season’s last home game on March 5, right in the middle of Villanova’s spring break. The vacation begins on March 3 and runs until classes resume on March 10. This year’s squad does not feature any senior players; however, the band, cheerleaders, dance team, managers and the rest of the Class of 2008 will have to deal with this scheduling conflict.

Fans hoping to attend the Big East Tournament in New York City will also have a tough time seeing the Wildcats play at Madison Square Garden. This year’s tournament will take place a week after spring break, instead of during the break, like in years past.

KEY DATES ON THE ’07-’08 SCHEDULE

The team will be facing a tough set of games during the ’07-’08 season; its schedule was finalized on Monday.

The Wildcats will begin the season by playing Stony Brook and Bucknell at the Pavilion in mid-November. After the home slate, they travel down to Orlando, Fla., to play in the Old Spice Classic. Villanova leads off the Classic playing the host, Central Florida, on Thanksgiving night. The ‘Cats will have two more games in the tournament before heading north.

Big 5 play begins when ‘Nova hosts UPenn at the Pavilion on Dec. 1. The Wildcats also host La Salle and travel to Temple in December. St. Joseph’s will host the 2008 Holy War at the Palestra in February.

Villanova begins play at the Wachovia Center with a neutral game against Louisiana State on Dec. 6. The game is the nightcap of a Big East/SEC Invitational doubleheader.

The first home game for Villanova at The Wac will be Jan. 26 when the ‘Cats host Notre Dame. The other opponents that Villanova will face at the Wachovia Center are Syracuse, Connecticut and Marquette, three key Big East games in the latter portion of the schedule.

The Wildcats 18-game Big East schedule begins in Chicago, where ‘Nova will play DePaul on Jan. 3.

Villanova’s first home conference game will be a matchup with Pittsburgh at the Pavilion during winter break. Games at the Pavilion against Columbia and La Salle also take place over winter break.

Perhaps the Wildcats toughest opponents this season will be Georgetown and Louisville, the two favorites to win the Big East. ‘Nova faces both teams on the road in February and March, respectively.

The Wildcats will end the regular season when they travel to Providence to take on the Friars on March 8.