La Salle Explorers release non-conference schedule

With this upcoming season on the horizon, the La Salle Explorers release the out of conference schedule, including the other four Big 5 games.

Today, fans of the La Salle Explorers get a glimpse at the out of conference schedule for the 2017-2018 season. The schedule itself kicks off with La Salle taking on the St. Peter’s Peacocks on November 11th. Interestingly enough, the Explorers will compete in two separate Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame events.

The first of this breed comes in the form of the Naismith Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament. This will take place in Uncasville, Connecticut. La Salle will take on Northwestern on the first day and either Texas Tech or Boston College on the next. This event will go down on 18th and 19th of November.

Then, we have the first of its kind, the Belfast Classic. Obviously, this event will take place in Belfast, Northern Ireland. La Salle will take on Towson and either Manhattan or Holy Cross. Expect this event to take place on the 1st and 2nd of December.

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In terms of the other Big 5 schools, La Salle will face each throughout the season. First, the Explorers will take on Penn on November 13th. Second, La Salle goes up against Temple on the 26th of November. Finally, the La Salle Explorers get to test their fate with the Villanova Wildcats on December 10th.

Big-Time Programs

With regards to other matchups, the La Salle Explorers have a wide variety of opponents. They get to take on South Alabama on November 16th, and Mercer on December 17th. These will be tough matchups, to say the least. In terms of big time opponents, the Explorers will get to test their fate with the Miami Hurricanes and the Bucknell Bison. Both of these teams competed in the NCAA Tournament last year and have returning starts.

Next: How do the Villanova Wildcats Stack Up This Season?

This season will be an interesting, to say the least. With that said, head coach, Dr. John Giannini is up for the challenge. In fact, he promotes taking on the big time programs. In a press release by the school, Giannini stated: 

"We want to challenge ourselves, better ourselves, and gain quality wins to enhance postseason possibilities."

Clearly, Giannini wants his guys ready for anything that comes their way. Most teams will look to write off La Salle. However, this could turn around and bite these teams in the rear end. Remember, anything can happen in the NCAA. Hopefully, the La Salle Explorers are up for the challenge going into a potentially brutal 2017-2018 season.