The Saint Leo University Men's basketball Head Coach Lance Randall officially announced the Lions' 28-game schedule for the 2022-23 season Tuesday. Saint Leo will have 14 home games and will participate in two invitationals early on in November. The Lions' schedule also features four of the eight teams that recently participated in the NCAA South Regional tournament.
The Green & Gold are looking to improve on a 12-15 overall finish and a 7-13 conference record 2021-22, just missing the Sunshine State Conference tournament.
With the exception of season-opening weekend, the Lions have a generous travel schedule, as all but two games will be played in the Sunshine State. Additionally, the frequency of travel is balanced, as Saint Leo will neither travel to multiple venues nor stay at home more than two games at a time.
The Green & Gold tip off their season in Huntsville, Ala. for the team's first classic, opening with Alabama-Huntsville before taking on Montevallo the next day. The Lions return home on November 15 to host Johnson University (Fla.) before opening Sunshine State Conference play four days later against Florida Tech.
Following the Panthers at home, Saint Leo heads to Florida Southern for the Mocs' Thanksgiving Classic to play the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and Anderson (S.C.) before concluding November with an annual trip to Daytona Beach, Fla. to take on Embry-Riddle (Fla.).
Saint Leo will have a light load of opponents in December, but will truly be home for the Holidays, as three of the four games will be played at the Marion Bowman Activities Center.
Following the Lions' December 19th contest against Fontbonne University, the team will begin 2023 in Miami Shores, Fla. for some SSC New Year's Day action against Barry. Through February 4th, the Green & Gold will alternate travel two games at a time. Saint Leo will have one non-conference game in that stretch, playing Paine College on January 31st.
For the third time in the season, the Lions will begin a month with an NCAA Regional tournament opponent in the team's second meeting with Embry-Riddle (Fla.) on February 4th, followed by a road trip to Tampa to face the Spartans before hosting the defending South Region champions in Nova Southeastern February 11th. Saint Leo wraps up its road slate with trips to Rollins and Lynn before concluding at home with games against Florida Southern and Eckerd.
The 2022-23 Sunshine State Conference Championships will remain an eight-team field, with the Quarterfinals on February 28th and the Semifinals on March 2nd before the Championship game is played March 5th. The tournament winner receives the SSC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
This year's NCAA Regionals will be held March 11-15, with the Elite Eight in Evansville, Ind. set for March 21-25 at the Ford Center.
"We typically have one of the most difficult D2 non-conference schedules in the country" said Randall. "This year we have an early exhibition vs. NCAA Division I Stetson and then open our regular season at top 10 in the country Alabama-Huntsville. I expect the Sunshine State Conference to once again be among the top two or three leagues in the nation. As always, whether in the Bowman Center or on the road, I expect every night to be a significant challenge. We have the best fans in the South and we rely on them to help provide energy to our squad when we are back here at Saint Leo. I am looking forward to the competitive journey with this group of Lions."
Saint Leo MBB 2022-23 Schedule
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up