Villanova spends lots of time at home early in schedule

Villanova's basketball team, which returns virtually everyone from a team that finished 22-13 and made it to the third round of the NCAA Tournament for the third time in 4 years, opens its season on Nov. 14 at home against Albany.

The Wildcats will leave Philadelphia only once in their first 13 games. And that's a ride to New York for the Jimmy V Classic against Texas on Dec. 9. They will play four times (two at home, two at the Palestra) in the second Philly Classic (Nov. 19, 25, 28 and 29) and go to Penn (Dec. 2) and La Salle (Dec. 14). They also will host Saint Joseph's (Dec. 11, ESPN2) and Temple (Dec. 29).

Their Big East schedule begins at Marquette on New Year's Day. They get Louisville (Jan. 10), Syracuse (Feb. 7) and Georgetown (Feb. 28) at the Wachovia Center, and Pitt (Jan. 28) in a farewell game at the Spectrum. For the 'Cats to be eligible to play at the Wachovia Center in the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament, they can't have more than three dates there.

They play at Connecticut (Jan. 21), West Virginia (Feb. 13), Syracuse (Feb. 22, CBS) and Notre Dame (March 2). Marquette is at the Pavilion Feb. 10. The 'Cats, who close at home March 5 against Providence, can be seen 11 times on ESPN or ESPN2. *

- Mike Kern

SCHEDULE

Unless Noted, Home Games at Pavalion

Thursday, Nov. 6: NORTHWOOD (Exhibition/WS)

Friday, Nov. 14: ALBANY

Monday, Nov. 17: FORDHAM

Nov. 19-29: Philly Classic

Wednesday, Nov. 19: NIAGARA

Tuesday, Nov. 25: MONMOUTH

Friday, Nov. 28: Towson (Palestra)

Saturday, Nov. 29: Penn St./Rhode Island (Palestra)

Tuesday, Dec. 2: at Penn

Thursday, Dec. 4: HOUSTON BAPTIST

Tuesday, Dec. 9: Texas (MSG)

Thursday, Dec. 11: SAINT JOSEPH'S

Sunday, Dec. 14: at La Salle

Monday, Dec. 22: NAVY

Monday, Dec. 29: TEMPLE

Thursday, Jan. 1: at Marquette

Tuesday, Jan. 6: at Seton Hall

Saturday, Jan. 10: LOUISVILLE (WC)

Sunday, Jan. 18: ST. JOHN'S

Wednesday, Jan. 21: at Connecticut

Saturday, Jan. 24: at South Florida

Wednesday, Jan. 28: PITTSBURGH (WS)

Sunday, Feb. 1: CINCINNATI

Wednesday, Feb. 4: at Providence

Saturday, Feb. 7: SYRACUSE (WC)

Tuesday, Feb. 10: MARQUETTE

Friday, Feb. 13: at West Virginia

Thursday, Feb. 19: RUTGERS

Sunday, Feb. 22: at Syracuse

Wednesday, Feb. 25: at De Paul

Saturday, Feb. 28: GEORGETOWN (WC)

Monday, March 2: at Notre Dame

Thursday, March 5: PROVIDENCE

March 10-14: Big East Tournament (MSG)

WC: Wachovia Center; WS: Wachovia Spectrum.