Familiar foes on Bryant basketball's nonconference schedule. Here's who they'll play

Familiar foes on Bryant basketball’s nonconference schedule. Here’s who they’ll play

Posted by Admin September 12, 2024 Basketball

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Bryant will spend the majority of its men’s basketball nonconference schedule catching up with old friends.

No fewer than seven games announced Wednesday night will feature a significant tie between members of the current roster or coaching staff and the opponent. The highlights include a visit to St. Bonaventure, a home date with in-state rival Brown, a trip to Big East foe St. John’s and a place in a Mohegan Sun doubleheader against Fordham.

The Bulldogs have reshaped their lineup through the transfer portal and will put it to the test starting Nov. 4 against Dean. Bryant hosts Siena to make it two straight home games at Chace Center before hitting the road for nearly a month. Phil Martelli Jr. and his program won’t be in Smithfield again until a Dec. 6 meeting with the Bears, the latest in what has become a spicy Rhode Island series.

The Bulldogs play Nov. 18 at Delaware and Dec. 2 at Drexel. Kvonn Cramer will enjoy a homecoming against the Blue Hens as a state native and assistant coach Ryan Daly will visit the school where he started his college playing career. Martelli will return to his native Philadelphia area against the Dragons, a city where his father carved out a storied career as the head coach at Saint Joseph’s.

Bryant has also booked dates at the Bonnies on Nov. 24 and at the Red Storm on Dec. 11. Bulldogs forward Barry Evans is a transfer from St. Bonaventure who will debut with Bryant in 2024-25. Rafael Pinzon left St. John’s for the Bulldogs prior to 2023-24 and never suited up for Rick Pitino, the Hall of Famer entering his second season in Queens.

Bryant will figure to need several tickets for the back end of a home-and-home series at Towson on Dec. 22. Earl Timberlake and Khalil Williams are both natives of nearby Washington, D.C., Connor Withers is driving distance away in Virginia and two transfers – Favour Aire and Jakai Robinson – prepped in Maryland. Associate head coach Chris Cole is also a Virginia native who was hired away by the Bulldogs from Maryland prep power Rock Creek Christian.

Two games on neutral floors and a road date as part of a two-day tournament also await Bryant. The Bulldogs will play Tennessee State and host Chattanooga back-to-back on Nov. 26-27 at McKenzie Arena. The Mocs have been a launching pad for coaches moving on to bigger jobs – Will Wade (VCU), Matt McCall (Massachusetts) and Lamont Paris (South Carolina) were all 20-game winners with the program from 2013-22.

Bryant also shares a doubleheader with Providence at the Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase on Dec. 14. The Bulldogs meet the Rams and the Friars square off with St. Bonaventure in Connecticut, with tip times yet to be announced. Bryant captured its lone previous meeting with Fordham early in the 2019-20 season, posting a 69-61 victory at Rose Hill Gym.

A break for the holidays ends with a Dec. 30 trip to Grand Canyon, Bryant’s last game prior to starting its America East schedule. Martelli will share the sidelines with another noteworthy coach’s son, as Bryce Drew enters his fifth season with the Antelopes. Grand Canyon won 30 games and captured its third WAC tournament title in four years last season, reaching the NCAA Tournament and upsetting Saint Mary’s in the first round.

The Bulldogs closed 20-13 overall last season and earned a home quarterfinal in the conference tournament. Bryant blew out Maine before dropping a road semifinal against UMass Lowell. Timberlake will be among the Player of the Year favorites in the league while Withers and Pinzon both come off playing major roles last season.

Game times and broadcast information will be available at a later date.

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On X: @BillKoch25

Bryant basketball’s nonconference schedule

Nov. 4 – Dean Nov. 8 – Siena Nov. 14 – at Buffalo Nov. 18 – at Delaware Nov. 21 – at Stonehill Nov. 24 – at St. Bonaventure Nov. 26 – Tennessee State (Chattanooga MTE) Nov. 27 – at ChattanoogaDec. 2 – at Drexel Dec. 6 – Brown Dec. 8 – Northern Vermont Dec. 11 – at St. John’s Dec. 14 – Fordham (Mohegan Sun) Dec. 22 – at Towson Dec. 30 – at Grand Canyon