Hoya Staff Writer Friday, September 8, 2006 File Photo: Tim Kehrer/The Hoya
The Big East conference released its men’s basketball schedule yesterday, and though some of Georgetown’s league games may be too far for students, fans will not have much trouble finding the Hoyas on television. Though the Big East had previously announced matchups for the 2006-07 season, Thursday’s announcement included dates, times and national television coverage. And while Georgetown (23-10 last year) has two high-profile home games during winter break and another on the first day of spring break, the Hoyas will be featured on either CBS or an ESPN network 12 times, including a Dec. 2 non-league date with the Duke Blue Devils on ESPN2. The Hoyas’ 12 appearances is more than Connecticut (11) and almost as many as Pittsburgh and Villanova (15 each). Georgetown was on national television nine times during the 2005-06 regular season. The Hoyas kick off their conference slate with a home contest against Notre Dame on Saturday, Jan. 6, four days before second semester classes begin. Two days later, they entertain Villanova, 28-5 and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament last season, at Verizon Center. According to the Georgetown Academic Housing calendar, students will not be allowed to move back into their dorms until the next day. The Hoyas’ tussle with the Wildcats will be televised on ESPN. Other notable dates include a Jan. 13 trip to Pittsburgh, the No. 4 team in ESPN’s Andy Katz’s pre-season rankings, a Feb. 7 visit to Rick Pitino’s Louisville squad, a Feb. 10 visit from a Marquette team that many are predicting will finish in the top-25 and near the top of the Big East, and a Feb. 12 home contest with West Virginia, a squad that beat Georgetown twice last year but graduated its top two players in forward Kevin Pittsnoggle and guard Mike Gansey. Pittsburgh comes to town on Saturday, Feb. 24 for what could be the highlight of the Hoyas’ home slate. Just two days later, the Hoyas head up to frigid Syracuse, N.Y. to take on the Orange. Georgetown rounds out the regular season on ar. 3 – the first day of Spring Break – with a visit from perennial-power Connecticut, picked 14th in the nation by Katz.