2011-12 Detroit men's basketball schedule

DETROIT--  A slate that includes a robust 15 games against teams that qualified for the postseason a season ago highlights the 2011-12 University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball schedule, officially announced Tuesday.  The Titans' tough ledger includes tilts against NCAA runner-up Butler, NIT runner-up Alabama as well as BCS schools Notre Dame and St. John's from the Big East and the SEC's Mississippi State.

"It's a schedule that's going to challenge us with our veteran team," head coach Ray McCallum said. "I felt it was important to challenge ourselves for a tough Horizon League schedule and we were able to do that."

Detroit opens with a pair of exhibition games on Oct. 29 and Nov. 5 against Madonna and Ashland, respectively.  The regular season tips on Nov. 11 when NCAA Division II member Lake Erie comes to Calihan Hall for a 7:00 p.m. game.  UDM will then head to South Bend, Ind. for the Progressive CBE Classic against host school Notre Dame.  The Fighting Irish did not lose on their home floor a season ago and have won 19 straight at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center heading into this season.

A Saturday home game against NAIA Concordia precedes the rest of the CBE Classic Subregional to be held at Bowling Green.  The Titans will play three games in as many nights, with tilts against George Washington (Nov. 21) and Austin Peay (Nov. 23) book-ending a clash with the host Falcons on Nov. 22.

Detroit faces Mid American Conference champion Akron on Nov. 26 before opening Horizon League play the following week with Youngstown State and Cleveland State.  That stretch opens a four-game homestand that culminates in the much-anticipated duel with St. John's on Dec. 5 in the official dedication of Dick Vitale Court at Calihan Hall followed by a Dec. 8 matchup with long-time rival Western Michigan.

Three days later, the Titans will travel to Alabama, a team that advanced to the NIT Championship game last year.  Home games against Mississippi State (Dec. 17) out of the South Eastern Conference (SEC) and Alabama State (Dec. 22) close-out the non-league docket.

The 2011-12 ESPN BracketBusters weekend is slated for Feb. 17-19 with Detroit hosting an opponent to be announced mid-season.

All told, Detroit's Division I opponents racked-up an impressive 364-273 overall record last season, a .571 winning percentage.  Five teams qualified for the NCAA tournament with six more garnering postseason bids in other postseason brackets (NIT, CBI, CIT).  

In the near future Detroit will release its FOX Sports Detroit television schedule, which will include a minimum of four broadcasts on the regional cable outlet.  Earlier, the HL office announced that Detroit will be featured on the ESPN Family of Networks at least seven times as well as once on the Horizon League Game of the Week syndicated TV package.

Season tickets for the 2011-12 men's basketball season are now on sale. Don't miss your chance to have guaranteed priority seating to watch the Titans at historic Calihan Hall! For more information on season and general ticket information, click here or call the Titan Athletic Department at 313-993-1700.

2011-12 Detroit Opponents ('10-11 record)
NCAA Division I: 364-273 (.571)
NCAA Division II: 7-18 (.280)
NAIA: 17-15 (.531)
Overall: 388-306 (.559)

2011-12 Detroit Opponents ('10-11 Postseason)
NCAA (6 games- '10-11 finish)
@Notre Dame (3rd rd)
@Akron (2nd rd)
St. John's (2nd rd)
Alabama State (1st rd)
Butler (NCAA Finals)
@Butler (NCAA Finals)

NIT (5 games)
Cleveland State (2nd rd)
@Cleveland State (2nd rd)
@Alabama (NIT Finals)
Milwaukee (1st rd)
@Milwaukee (1st rd)

CBI (1 game)
vs. Austin Peay (1st rd)

CIT (3 games)
Western Michigan (2nd rd)
Valparaiso (1st rd)
@Valparaiso (1st rd)