The Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Men’s Basketball Team has unveiled its non-conference schedule, which includes two Invitationals, three Classics, and five home games. The announcement was made via Florida Atlantic Basketball Instagram.
FAU will commence its season at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois, taking on Loyola University Chicago in the Barstool Sports Invitational, which is in its second year and features four teams competing in the opening week of college basketball. The Invitational will also host a game between Arizona State University and Mississippi State University, with Mississippi State being the previous year’s winner.
Following this, Florida Atlantic Basketball will have two home games against familiar opponents, Eastern Michigan University on Nov. 14 and Bryant University on Nov. 18, both of which FAU defeated last season.
The team will then head to Orlando, Florida, to participate in the ESPN Events Invitational at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. This tournament, featuring eight schools, including FAU, carries significant AP Top 25 ranking implications. FAU’s first match in the Invitational is against Butler University on Nov. 23, with potential games against Pennsylvania State University and Texas A&M University.
Afterward, FAU will host the inaugural “Field of 68 Classic,” focusing on showcasing three top mid-major programs in the country. This Classic will begin with a game against Liberty University on Nov. 30 and conclude with a match against the College of Charleston on Dec. 2.
FAU will then return to Madison Square Garden in New York City to face the University of Illinois on Dec. 5 in the “Jimmy V Classic,” an event honoring the late coach Jim Valvano and raising funds for cancer research. FAU’s last appearance at Madison Square Garden was during their Final Four run last season.
The schedule continues with FAU hosting Florida International University (FIU), their former-conference opponent and school rival, on Dec. 13, where FAU aims to extend its six-game winning streak against FIU.
FAU will travel to Springfield, Massachusetts, for the “Basketball Hall of Fame Classic” on Dec. 16, facing St. Bonaventure University.
The non-conference schedule concludes with a matchup against the University of Arizona in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Dec. 23, at the T-Mobile Arena.
Finally, FAU will play against Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) on Dec. 30 in an away game, with FGCU known for its Cinderella March Madness run in 2013 when they reached the Sweet 16 as a 15th seed.
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