Men's Basketball Announces 2009-10 Schedule

Greensboro, N.C. (10/7/09) -- Guilford College men’s basketball coach Tom Palombo announced the Quakers' 2009-10 schedule Wednesday. The Quakers begin the campaign with a home matchup against Methodist University Nov 17. This year's slate also includes a return to the Greensboro Coliseum to play Greensboro College, tournament appearances at the University of the South and Marietta College, and three meetings with 2009 NCAA Tournament teams. Guilford went 26-6 last year and placed third in the national tournament.

A day after the season opener, Guilford meets crosstown-rival Greensboro College in the Greensboro Coliseum, where the rivalry returns for the first time in two seasons. Last year’s matchup in Guilford's Ragan-Brown Field House went to the Quakers, their fifth win in six meetings with the Pride. Guilford handed Greensboro a 77-56 loss on its way to a 3-0 start.

The Quakers travel to Tennessee Dec. 19-20 to participate in the Lon Varnell Classic at the University of the South. Guilford will play South-region rivals Rust College and Huntingdon University for the first time in the tournament. After Christmas, Guilford heads to Ohio for the Marietta Shrine Tournament where it meets Ohio Wesleyan University Dec. 29. The Quakers will play either the host Pioneers or Grove City College in the consolation or championship game.

Guilford squares off with fellow 2009 NCAA Tournament participant Averett University in a re-match of last year's NCAA Tournament second-round game. The Quakers downed the Cougars, 81-71, in Centre, Ky., to advance to the third round of the NCAA playoffs and posted a 73-63 triumph in Danville, Va., Nov. 25. Guilford hosts Maryville (Tenn.) College Dec. 16 and has two games with Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC)-rival Virginia Wesleyan College, both of whom participated in the 2009 NCAA Tournament.

Guilford returns three starters among 14 letter winners from last year’s club that captured the ODAC regular-season title for the second time in as many years. Guilford shook off an early exit in the ODAC Tournament and earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament, its third in as many years. On the shoulders of First Team All-ODAC performers Clay Henson and Tyler Sanborn, the Quakers weaved through the field of 64 to their first NCAA Tournament semifinal appearance. Guilford fell to eventual champion Washington University in St. Louis, 77-58, in the semifinals, but rebounded to defeat Franklin & Marshall College for third place. The Quakers are ranked second in The Sporting News College Basketball Magazine Preseason Top-10 Poll, trailing only Washington-St. Louis.

2009-10 Guilford College Men’s Basketball Schedule

November

17 METHODIST 7 pm

18 vs Greensboro$ 7 pm

24 AVERETT 7:30 pm.

December

2 at N.C. Wesleyan 7 pm

5 at Virginia Wesleyan* 2 pm

9 at Hampden-Sydney* 7 pm

16 MARYVILLE (Tenn.) 7 pm

19 vs. Rust^ 3 pm (CST)

20 vs. Huntingdon^ 1 pm (CST)

29 vs Ohio Wesleyan# 5:30 pm

30 vs. Marietta or Grove City# 5:30/7:30 pm

January

6 at Lynchburg* 7 pm

9 RANDOLPH* 3 pm

13 at EMORY & HENRY* 7 pm

16 VIRGINIA WESLEYAN* 7 pm

18 ROANOKE* 7 pm

20 BRIDGEWATER* 7 pm

27 at Roanoke* 7 pm

30 at Randolph-Macon* 4 pm.

February

3 HAMPDEN-SYDNEY* 7 pm

6 at Washington and Lee* 3 pm

10 EASTERN MENNONITE* 7 pm

13 LYNCHBURG* 3 pm

17 EMORY & HENRY* 7 pm

21 at Randolph* 2 pm.

HOME GAMES IN CAPS

$ - at Greensboro Coliseum

* - Old Dominion Athletic Conference game

# - Marietta Shrine Tournament (Marietta, Ohio)

^ - at Lon Varnell Classic (Sewanee, Tenn.).