Published Aug 23, 2024
Nova releases 2024-25 non-conference schedule
Josh Naso  •  NovaIllustrated
Publisher
Twitter
@JoshNaso

The 2024-25 college basketball season is inching closer, and we reached another milestone on the journey to tipoff on Friday when Villanova released its non-conference schedule for the season.

The season will kick off on Monday, November 4 when 'Nova hosts Lafayette.

One immediate quirk of the schedule sticks out: Villanova plays three games in the first week of the season (Lafayette 11/4, Columbia 11/6 and NJIT 11/8).

The slate is highlighted by three high-major clashes: one from the ACC, one from the Big Ten and one from the Big 12.

Villanova will take on Virginia on Friday, November 15 in a neutral site clash in the Hall of Fame Series Baltimore at CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore. The Wildcats will then take on Maryland in another neutral site meeting at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ as part of the Empire Classic on Sunday, November 24. The final high-major matchup will come on Tuesday, December 3, when the 'Cats host Cincinnati at the Pavilion as part of the Big 12/Big East Battle.

Virginia went 23-11 last season, losing to Colorado State in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament. Maryland went 16-17 in 2023-24. Cincinnati went 22-15, losing to Indiana State in the quarterfinals of the NIT.

The 'Cats will travel to St. Joe's on Tuesday, November 12 to open Big Five play and will host Penn on Tuesday, November 19 to wrap up Big Five pod play. The Big Five Classic will take place on Saturday, December, at the Wells Fargo Center.

Interestingly, no non-conference games (besides the Big Five Classic) are scheduled at the Wells Fargo Center, leaving all those dates to be filled with conference opponents.

Non-conference play will wrap on Wednesday, December 11, when the 'Cats host FDU.

'Nova will have seven home non-conference games, three neutral site games and one true "road" game at St. Joe's.

The unofficial start of the season will commence on Tuesday, October 8, with the annual Blue/White Scrimmage. Additionally, the 'Cats will host Robert Morris on Sunday, October 27, in a charity exhibition game that will benefit Team Impact, an organization that works with children facing serious illness and disability.

You can see the full non-conference schedule below. Times and TV coverage will be announced at a later date (likely with the release of the full schedule, which is expected in mid-September.

Tuesday, Oct. 8: Blue White Scrimmage

Sunday, Oct. 27: Robert Morris (exhibition)

Monday, Nov. 4: Lafayette

Wednesday, Nov. 6: Columbia

Friday, Nov. 8: NJIT

Tuesday, Nov. 12: at Saint Joseph's (Big Five)

Friday, Nov. 15: vs. Virginia (Baltimore, Md.)

Tuesday, Nov. 19: Penn (Big Five)

Sunday, Nov. 24 : vs. Maryland (Newark, N.J.)

Wednesday, Nov. 27: Rider

Tuesday, Dec. 3: Cincinnati (Big 12/BE Battle)

Saturday, Dec. 7: Big 5 Classic (Wells Fargo Center)

Wednesday, Dec. 11: FDU