AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta University men's basketball team and 14-year head coach Dip Metress released their schedule for the upcoming 2017-18 season. Coming off a 24-8 season that saw them reach the NCAA Tournament, the Jaguars host 13 home games and play 29 total contests.
"We need to figure out how to survive the gauntlet of opening the season with five of the first six games on the road, but we are excited about the opportunity to grow as a team during this process," Metress said.
For the second season in a row, the Jaguars begin the year with an exhibition game against Division-I competition. Augusta clashes with the Clemson Tigers in Clemson, S.C., on Thursday, Nov. 2 at the Littlejohn Coliseum for the first on-court action of the year.
"Anytime you can play at an ACC school, you jump on the opportunity because it is great exposure for your team, your university, and your fan base," Metress said.
The season officially begins Nov. 10-11 in Wilson, N.C., on the campus of Barton College. Augusta meets region-rival Mount Olive on Friday for the first game of the year and faces Barton on Saturday. Augusta stays on the road and plays at West Georgia Nov. 18 and at Benedict Nov. 21.
The Jags' first home game is Nov. 25, where they will face the Bulldogs of Bowie State in Christenberry Fieldhouse. After a six day break, Augusta heads to Milledgeville, Ga., to take on Georgia College on Saturday Dec. 2 for the Peach Belt Conference opener. Every Peach Belt Conference team will play each other twice, once at home and once on the road.
Before the holiday break, Metress and the men host three consecutive home games in the 'Berry. Crosstown rival Paine College visits Augusta on Dec. 9, Young Harris on Dec. 17, and North Georgia Dec. 19. The fourth-annual Education Day game with over 2,000 Richmond County fifth graders will be held Tuesday, Dec. 19.
Augusta plays 10 Peach Belt games in the month of January. After a trip to Flagler on Jan. 3, AU hosts Columbus State on Jan. 6. The Jags play three consecutive road games against UNC Pembroke (Jan. 10), North Georgia (Jan. 13) and Young Harris (Jan. 15) and Francis Marion visits Augusta for a game on Jan. 17, before the Jags battle Georgia Southwestern on Jan. 20 and Flagler on Jan. 31 at home.
The Jaguars open the month of February at Columbus State on Feb. 3 and return to Christenberry Fieldhouse to host UNCP (Feb. 7), Georgia College (Feb. 10) and Clayton State (Feb. 12). After two final PBC road games, Augusta welcomes rival USC Aiken (Feb. 21) and Lander (Feb. 24) to close out the regular-season schedule. The PBC Tournament quarterfinal games will be held Feb. 28 followed by the PBC semifinals and finals March 3-4. See format here
Visit the full 2017-18 men's basketball schedule by clicking here
About Augusta Men's Basketball
The Augusta University men's basketball team is led by head coach Dip Metress. On May 10, 2004, Metress was introduced as the fifth head coach in program history. He previously led the Belmont Abbey Crusaders (1996-04) and was an assistant for the Jaguars under Clint Bryant (1989-95). He has never had a losing season in his 14 seasons at the helm of the Jaguars. A two-time Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year, Metress and the Jags hosted five straight NCAA Regional Tournaments from 2007-11 and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight three seasons in a row. He was named the South Atlantic Coach of the Year in 2007, the Southeast Region Coach of the Year in 2009, and the NABC Southeast District Coach of the Year in 2011.
Augusta men's hoops has retired four numbers in its 52-year history: Ben Madgen (1), Keshun Sherrill (10), Tyrekus 'AJ' Bowman (23), and Keenan Mann (32). The Jaguars have reached the NCAA tournament 11 times and won their region three times.
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