Monday, August 15, 2005

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The wait is over. Now let the real fun begin.

After three years of discussion, planning, anticipation and curiosity regarding UNF's transition to Division I, the UNF men's basketball team is ready to see what its new neighborhood has to offer.

UNF head coach Matt Kilcullen released the squad's 2005-06 schedule on Monday, which consists of 27 games, including 25 against Division I opponents.

In addition to a 20-game Atlantic Sun Conference schedule, the Ospreys will face Division I foes College of Charleston (Dec. 14) and Binghamton (Dec. 17) on the road and play in the UCF New Year's Classic against UCF, Birmingham-Southern and Western Illinois on Dec. 29-30. Savannah State will become the first Division I opponent to play at UNF Arena on Dec. 12.

"I think this schedule is very competitive for our first year in making the transition," said Kilcullen, who is beginning his seventh season as the Ospreys' head coach. "Our non-conference schedule is very competitive. We wanted to get some good Division I games on the road and play a Division I opponent at home. We accomplished both of those goals."

UNF will count in the Division I RPI rankings this season for its opponents but will not count as a Division I opponent until the 2006-07 season. The Ospreys will not be eligible for the A-Sun's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament until 2009-10.

"Because we don't count fully as a Division I opponent this year, that kept some major- conference programs from being able to play us," Kilcullen said. "But that will change (in 2006-07). But we're not complaining, because we have a schedule that is going to test us plenty."

The Ospreys will open play in the Atlantic Sun Conference on Nov. 30 at Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton and then travel to city rival Jacksonville two days later on Dec. 2. Jacksonville will visit UNF Arena on Jan. 25, while regional foe Stetson will come to UNF on Feb. 17. UNF also plays A-Sun home games against Belmont (Jan. 7), Lipscomb (Jan. 9), Campbell (Jan. 19), Gardner-Webb (Jan. 21), Kennesaw State (Feb. 3), East Tennessee State (Feb. 5), Mercer (Feb. 19) and Florida Atlantic (Feb. 23).

Gardner-Webb (18-12, 13-7 A-Sun in 2004-05) is the defending regular-season champion. Belmont, Jacksonville and Lipscomb followed the Bulldogs in the standings last season.

"The best players are back for all of the top teams in the conference," Kilcullen said. "Gardner-Webb has all five starters back, and there are a lot of good players in this league. Having watched a lot of the teams on tape, this is a great basketball league with some tremendous athletes and great coaches. It will be a challenge every night out."

All of UNF's games will be broadcast locally on WIOJ- AM 1010 and carried via the Internet at www.UNFOspeys.com.

UNF will play Edward Waters in an exhibition game at UNF Arena on Nov. 12 and open its season at home against North Greenville on Nov. 22.