The High Point University men’s basketball team’s non-conference schedule is set for the 2013-14 season and provides challenging preparation for the Big South schedule and postseason play. HPU opens the season against UNC Greensboro at the Greensboro Coliseum, hosts Wofford, Stephen F. Austin and James Madison and goes on the road to Georgetown, Syracuse and Arkansas.
“I am really looking forward to this season with our returners and the newcomers we have added to the program,” said HPU head coach Scott Cherry. “We are looking to capitalize on the success we had last year and achieve our goal of playing in the NCAA tournament. To prepare ourselves for the Big South and the postseason, we have put together a very difficult non-conference schedule.
“The trips to Syracuse, Georgetown and Arkansas will give us the experience needed to win games late in the season. Those games, along with match-ups against very good teams from the Southern, Ohio Valley, CAA and MEAC on the road and at home, will help us build our RPI. It will be an exciting season at the Millis Center and for all HPU fans.”
The non-conference schedule includes five teams that made it to postseason play in 2013, including Syracuse, which went 30-10 and made it to the NCAA Final Four. Georgetown and James Madison also made it to the NCAA Tournament, Stephen F. Austin played in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) and Eastern Kentucky played in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.
The Panthers went 17-14 last season, winning the North Division of the Big South with a 12-4 record and advancing to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. It was HPU’s first postseason appearance since moving up to NCAA Div. I in 1999-2000 and the team returns 11 players who accounted for 79 percent of scoring and 63 percent of rebounding.
High Point will tune up for the season with an exhibition game against Bridgewater College on Nov. 1 at the Millis Center before the official opener at UNC Greensboro on Nov. 8. The Panthers host Ferrum on Nov. 12 before going on the road to face a pair of last season’s opponents, Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 16 and William & Mary on Nov. 20. High Point plays a home-and-home series with Wofford, hosting the Terriers on Nov. 24 and playing in Spartanburg, S.C., on Dec. 30.
The Panthers host Stephen F. Austin on Dec. 1, James Madison on Dec. 14 and Lees McRae on Jan. 3, which is the last game before HPU begins its Big South schedule. High Point’s road games also include Georgetown on Dec. 5, Morgan State on Dec. 18, Syracuse on Dec. 20 and Arkansas on Dec. 28.
The Panthers return all five starters from last season, including two All-Big South selections from last year – first-team honoree John Brown and second-team selection Allan Chaney – as well as All-Freshman selection Adam Weary. Starting guards Dejuan McGaughy and Derrell Edwards also return as well as junior Devante Wallace and sophomores Lorenzo Cugini and Haiishen McIntyre. It will be Cherry’s fifth season as HPU head coach.
High Point University’s conference schedule will be released at a later date.
High Point University Men’s Basketball
2013-14 Non-Conference Schedule
Date Opponent Location Time 11/1/2013 Bridgewater (exhib.) High Point, N.C. 7:00 p.m. 11/8/2013 UNC Greensboro Greensboro, N.C. 7:00 p.m. 11/12/2013 Ferrum High Point, N.C. 7:00 p.m. 11/16/2013 Eastern Kentucky Richmond, Ky. 8:00 p.m. 11/20/2013 William & Mary Williamsburg, Va. 7:00 p.m. 11/24/2013 Wofford High Point, N.C. 5:00 p.m. 12/1/2013 Stephen F. Austin High Point, N.C. 2:00 p.m. 12/5/2013 Georgetown Washington D.C. 7:00 p.m. 12/14/2013 James Madison High Point, N.C. 7:00 p.m. 12/18/2013 Morgan State Baltimore, Md. 7:00 p.m. 12/20/2013 Syracuse Syracuse, N.Y. 7:00 p.m. 12/28/2013 Arkansas Fayetteville, Ark. 8:00 p.m. 12/30/2013 Wofford Spartanburg, S.C. 7:00 p.m. 1/3/2014 Lees McRae High Point, N.C. 7:00 p.m.