Jim Baron and Canisius have four home games in non-league portion of schedule, which begins with visit to Hofstra. (Photo courtesy of The Buffalo News)
Jim Baron has found a way to get more out of Canisius than expected in each of his first three years at the helm, including last year, when a team loaded with new talent managed a fifth-place finish in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference despite the loss of his son, Billy, the reigning MAAC Player of the Year the previous season.
With the nonconference schedule his Golden Griffins released Friday morning, it is not inconceivable to suggest that the 61-year-old leader can do the same, as Canisius finds several winnable games to complement a handful of strong tests before league play.
The Griffs will open the season on Long Island, taking on Hofstra at the Mack Sports Complex on November 13. It will be the first time Canisius has gone against Hofstra coach Joe Mihalich since he joined the Pride after a 15-year tenure at the Griffs' fierce adversary, Niagara, where he became the winningest coach in MAAC history. Three consecutive home games follow on the ledger, with Lehigh, (November 16) Cornell, (November 21) and longtime local rival St. Bonaventure (November 24) all coming to the Koessler Athletic Center. Another geographically enhanced rivalry is next for Canisius, who visits Buffalo's campus for the first time since 2011 for a November 28 meeting with the defending Mid-American Conference champion Bulls.
The traditional opening weekend of MAAC play begins the month of December, with two road games against Penn State (December 10) and Kent State (December 12) on the slate immediately following for the Griffs, who visit the Nittany Lions and Golden Flashes in preliminary round games of the Continental Tire Classic, which Canisius will travel to Las Vegas for. Before making the journey to Sin City, however, a December 19 home game with Boston University will mark the final non-league contest on the Griffs' home floor. Once in Las Vegas, Louisiana-Monroe will be Canisius' first opponent on December 22, with a game the following day against an opponent still to be determined. Nonconference play does not end there, though, as the Griffs take a rare hiatus from the MAAC in January to meet Dartmouth on January 12, 2016, traveling to New Hampshire to face the Big Green. All tip times are to be determined unless noted.
2015-16 Canisius Golden Griffins Nonconference Schedule
Friday, November 13: at Hofstra
Monday, November 16: vs. Lehigh, 7 p.m.
Saturday, November 21: vs. Cornell
Tuesday, November 24: vs. St. Bonaventure
Saturday, November 28: at Buffalo
Thursday, December 10: at Penn State
Saturday, December 12: at Kent State
Saturday, December 19: vs. Boston University, 2 p.m.
Tuesday, December 22: vs. Louisiana Monroe, 5:30 p.m. (Continental Tire Classic)
Wednesday, December 23: vs. TBA (Continental Tire Classic)
Tuesday, January 12: at Dartmouth
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