Florida Gators announce 2011-2012 non-conference men’s basketball schedule

Posted Aug 3, 2011 by Aaron Oberlin

Updated Aug 3, 2011 at 05:12 PM

The announcing of its non-conference schedule Wednesday revealed that the University of Florida men’s basketball team will face strong teams in the upcoming season.

Three of those teams—Ohio State, Syracuse and Texas A&M—made the Sweet Sixteen last season. Six played in the NCAA Tournament. Florida will play the Buckeyes and Orange on the road and the Aggies at a neutral site in Sunrise, Fla.

And that’s how Gators coach Billy Donovan wants it.

“We’ve made it a practice to play a difficult non-conference schedule,” Donovan said, “and this is perhaps the toughest one yet. That’s something that really helps prepare us for the NCAA Tournament.”

The Gators have done well in the tournament in recent years, winning back-to-back national championships in 2006 and ‘07. They were the first to repeat since Duke did it in 1991 and ‘92. Florida lost to Butler, 74-71, in the Elite Eight in 2011.

Also on the Gators schedule this season are several road games within the Sunshine State, with trips to Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville and Sunrise.(schedule listed below).

Said Donovan, “We’re also looking forward to playing games in front of our great fans from several different areas of Florida, and we host some exciting match-ups on our home court, as well.”

2011-12 Florida Men’s Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
Nov. 3
Catholic University (Exh.)
Gainesville, Fla.

Nov. 11
Jackson State
Gainesville, Fla.

Nov. 15
Ohio State
Columbus, Ohio

Nov. 17
North Florida
Gainesville, Fla.

Nov. 21
Wright State
Tampa, Fla.

Nov. 25
Jacksonville
Gainesville, Fla.

Nov. 28
Stetson
Orlando, Fla.

Dec. 2
Syracuse
Syracuse, N.Y.

Dec. 7
Arizona
Gainesville, Fla.

Dec. 9
Rider
Jacksonville, Fla.

Dec. 17
Texas A&M
Sunrise, Fla.

Dec. 19
Mississippi Valley State
Gainesville, Fla.

Dec. 22
Florida State
Gainesville, Fla.

Dec. 29
Rutgers
Piscataway, N.J.

Dec. 31
Yale
Gainesville, Fla.

Jan. 3
UAB
Gainesville, Fla.