Virginia Men’s Basketball Schedule released for 2017-2018 season

The ACC announced the full 2017-18 Virginia Men’s Basketball schedule today, and the Hoos will open the season with UNC-Greensboro on November 10.

For the first time since Joe Harris led the 2013-14 season, Virginia isn’t included in ESPN’s “Way-Too-Early Top 25” rankings. The Hoos have been ranked in 63 straight AP polls, a streak that could be ended this season as expectations for this Virginia squad are lower with the departure of London Perrantes and a less-than-stellar showing in their season ending loss to Florida in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Tony Bennett adds newcomers Nigel Johnson, a transfer from Rutgers, and first years Francesco Baddochi and Marco Anthony. Badocchi, who had recent knee surgery, will redshirt this season. Dre Hunter and Jay Huff will take the court for the first time, coming off of their redshirt seasons with high expectations.

Virginia’s first test of the early season comes against VCU on November 17 in Richmond. The Hoos and Rams haven’t squared off since 2014, when we got this moment en route to a 74-57 victory:

VCU finished last season 26-9 and lost to St. Mary’s in the first round of the NCAA tournament. This will be Virginia’s first matchup with the Rams under new head coach Mike Rhoades (the Cavaliers never faced Will Wade—now at LSU—in his two-year stint as head coach after Shaka Smart).

Virginia will participate in the NIT Season Tip-Off November 23-24 against Vanderbilt and either Seton Hall or Rhode Island. Next season, though, get your bathing suits and flip flops ready.

The Hoos face Wisconsin in their ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchup on November 27 in Charlottesville. The Hoos have played the Badgers twice since 2012 with Virginia winning 60-54 in Madison in 2012 and UW returning the favor in Charlottesville in 2013 as the Hoos lost 48-38 (in the worst basketball game ever played). Wisconsin lost to Florida (like all the cool kids do) in the Sweet Sixteen last season, 84-83.

A trip to Press Virginia and Morgantown will test the Hoos December 5th as Virginia returns the home-and-home. West Virginia beat Virginia last season in JPJ, 66-57, and this game will be a challenge as the Mountaineers are considered to be a top-ten caliber team in 2017.

Games with Austin Peay, Monmouth, Lehigh, Davidson, Savannah State, and Hampton round out the non-conference.

The ACC schedule kicks off on December 30 with Boston College in Charlottesville, and doesn’t let up. A trip to Blacksburg—where Virginia lost last season on the physics-defying rim—looms as the second conference game on January 3. Virginia will face a particularly brutal stretch with VT, UNC, and Syracuse in the span of a week to kick off 2018.

At Duke on January 27 and at Miami on February 13 will be huge games as they are both predicted to be top-15 teams.

The Hoos play Syracuse twice this season—January 9 and February 3—the first time with a home and home since the Orange joined the league.

Virginia closes the season with Notre Dame at home on March 3.

The ACC tournament returns to Brooklyn, NY, March 6-10.

Check out the full schedule below:

Stay with Streaking the Lawn for more schedule analysis and breakdown in the coming days.