RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University’s men’s basketball team will play Manhattan College and the University of North Carolina Wilmington each of the next four seasons. The Colonels will play two games at home and two on the road against both teams, Head Coach Dan McHale announced today.
Manhattan, an NCAA Tournament team a year ago, will visit McBrayer Arena on Dec. 29. The game will feature a head coaching match-up of McHale and Steve Masiello. McHale (1997-01) was a manager for the University of Kentucky program while Masiello (1996-00) was a walk-on player.
“We are really excited to start a series with Steve and the Manhattan Jaspers,” said McHale. “Getting the back-to-back MAAC champions to start a series at McBrayer arena only enhances our non-conference slate. Coach Masiello and I go way back from our years at UK together and have worked on the same staff at UofL. He is someone that I have always admired and I’m thrilled to begin this rivalry between the two schools.”
EKU will play at Manhattan in 2016-17 and 2018-19. The Jaspers will return to McBrayer Arena during the 2017-18 season.
The Colonels will begin their series with UNCW in Wilmington on Nov. 16. The Seahawks went 18-14 last season and played in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. UNC Wilmington tied for first in the Colonial Athletic Association with a 12-6 league mark.
McHale and UNCW Head Coach Kevin Keatts have both worked under Hall of Famer Rick Pitino.
“We are thrilled to start a series with UNC Wilmington and Kevin Keatts,” McHale said. “Anytime we can play a team from the CAA, especially one that is coming off a near 20-win season, it’s going to enhance our already challenging schedule. Kevin is a good friend who I have always had a lot of respect for, and we obviously share a common connection with his time as an assistant for coach Pitino at Louisville.”
The Seahawks will come to Richmond in 2016-17 and again in 2018-19. The Colonels will play a second game in Wilmington during the 2017-18 season.
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