Finding games to fill out a basketball schedule was not easy, Augusta State men's coach Dip Metress said. Not after last season.
After his team won 27 games and advanced to the Division II national championship game, Metress ran into difficulty finding nonconference opponents. Scheduling an exhibition was even more laborious.
In his four years at the helm, Metress has led his Jaguars into exhibition action against Division I opponents Clemson, College of Charleston, George Washington, Georgia Tech and Virginia. This year, the best team -- the only team -- Augusta State could find was Presbyterian College, a former Division II school that played on the Division I level for the first time last season.
"If you have a good team and you have the seasons we've had," Metress said, "no one wants to play you."
Augusta State had an easier time finding tough Division II opponents.
The Jaguars, who finished the 2007-08 regular season with a No. 10 national ranking, play seven nonconference opponents with a combined 144-65 (.682) record from last season. Four of those teams (Benedict, Catawba, Lenoir-Rhyne and Virginia Union) advanced to the Division II Tournament.
"The only way the schedule could be any tougher," Metress said, "is if we were playing the Boston Celtics on St. Patrick's Day in the Boston Garden."
The toughest stretch begins Dec. 29. In an eight-day span, Augusta State plays Catawba and Lenoir-Rhyne on the road, South Atlantic Regional runner-up Clayton State away, and USC Aiken (No. 8 in the final 2007-08 regular-season poll) at home.
"That's a brutal stretch," Metress said. "There are no gimmes."
The Jaguars open the season at home against Benedict, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament champ, Nov. 22 -- one of 12 home contests.
Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.
TOP FIVE GAMES
1. USC Aiken at ASU, Jan. 5. Potential top-10 matchup when the league foes meet.
2. ASU at USC Aiken, Jan. 19. Winner of first matchup likely takes control of conference and region with win.
3. Clayton State at ASU, Feb. 7. Rematch of last season's region final.
4. Benedict at ASU, Nov. 22. Jaguars open season with a Tigers squad that finished eighth in nation last year.
5. ASU at Paine, Dec. 6. Always interesting rivalry game.
EXHIBITION
Nov. 7 at Presbyterian, 7
REGULAR SEASON
Nov. 22 Benedict, 7:30
Dec. 2 at West Georgia, 7:30
Dec. 6 at Paine, 7:30
Dec. 13 Virginia Union, 7:30
Dec. 15 * Georgia College & St., 7:30
Dec. 20 at Bowie St., TBA
Dec. 29 vs. Catawba in Hickory, N.C., 4
Dec. 30 vs. Lenoir-Rhyne in Hickory, N.C., 4
Jan. 3* at Clayton St., 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 5* USC Aiken, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 7* UNC Pembroke, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 10* Armstrong Atlantic St., 7:30
Jan. 14* at Lander, 7:30
Jan. 17* at North Georgia, 4 p.m.
Jan. 19* at USC Aiken, 7:30
Jan. 21* Francis Marion, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 24* Georgia Southwestern, 4
Jan. 31* at Georgia College & St., 7:30
Feb. 2* at Columbus St., 7:30
Feb. 4* at UNC Pembroke, 7:30
Feb. 7* Clayton St., 7:30
Feb. 11* Lander, 7:30
Feb. 14* at Armstrong Atlantic St., 4
Feb. 18* at Francis Marion, 7:30
Feb. 21* N. Georgia (Homecoming), 6
Feb. 25* Columbus St. (Senior Day), 7:30
Feb. 28* at Ga. Southwestern, 7:30
*-Peach Belt Conference games
Home games in bold
CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
March 3-8 at Marvin Vanover Peach Belt Conference Tournament in Aiken, TBA
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