LBSU to face daunting schedule in 2011-2012 season

Long Beach State men's basketball head coach Dan Monson announced the 49ers' schedule for the 2011-12 season last Thursday, which features four of last year's top 12 teams in the final ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, including five teams ranked in the top 25.

The ‘Niners' nonconference schedule includes No. 4-ranked Kansas, No. 8 North Carolina, No. 11 San Diego State, No. 12 Pittsburgh, and No. 22 Louisville — games that will all be played on the road.

"We are extremely excited to be playing one of the most challenging preseason schedules in the nation, if not once again the toughest in the country," Monson said in a statement. "We are hopeful that this ambitious scheduling will not only prepare us for the Big West season, but will enable us to understand the improvements that we need to challenge the elite teams in the country and help us elevate our game to a new level."

Monson added: "Our goal this year is to not just play a rigorous schedule, but to have success against these teams."

The Beach is guaranteed to play at least seven games against teams that qualified for the 2011 NCAA Tournament, and could play as many as 10 depending on the pairings at the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii in December.

LBSU will open its season on Nov. 12 at the Walter Pyramid against Idaho on homecoming weekend before playing six of their next eight games on the road, five coming against teams ranked in the 2011 final top 25 poll.

LBSU starts the road trip playing at Pittsburgh (Nov. 16) and San Diego State (Nov. 19), before returning home to face Boise State (Nov. 22).

The 49ers then return to the road playing at Montana (Nov. 26) and Louisville (Nov. 28), before a home game against BYU-Hawaii (Dec. 2).

LBSU wraps up its non-conference schedule with games at No. 4 Kansas (Dec. 6), at No. 8 North Carolina (Dec. 10), Eastern New Mexico (Dec. 19), and at the Diamond Head Classic (Dec. 22-25).

The Diamond Head Classic is an eight-team tournament that will feature three teams (Clemson, Kansas State, Xavier) that played in the NCAA Tournament last season.

Teams will play three games in four days, with the opening round taking place on Dec. 22, the semifinals on Dec. 23, and the championship round on Dec. 25.

The ‘Niners will then begin Big West Conference play at home against UC Santa Barbara on Dec. 29.

The Gauchos have captured the NCAA Tournament bid in the Big West the past two seasons after defeating LBSU both times in the Big West tournament.

The 49ers' last NCAA Tournament appearance was in 2007.

LBSU men's basketball schedule

11/12/11     vs. Idaho (Homecoming) 4:05 PM PT

11/16/11     at Pittsburgh TBA

11/19/11     at San Diego State TBA

11/22/11     vs. Boise State 7:05 PM PT

11/26/11     at Montana TBA

11/28/11     at Louisville TBA

12/02/11     vs. BYU Hawaii 7:05 PM PT

12/06/11     at Kansas 5:00 PM PT

12/10/11     at North Carolina 4:00 PM PT

12/19/11     vs. Eastern New Mexico TBA

Diamond Head Classic

12/22/11     TBD     Honolulu, Hawaii TBA

12/23/11     TBD     Honolulu, Hawaii TBA

12/25/11     TBD     Honolulu, Hawaii TBA

Big West Conference play

12/29/11     vs. UC Santa Barbara TBA

01/02/12     at UC Irvine 7:00 PM PT

01/05/12     vs. Cal Poly 7:05 PM PT

01/07/12     at Cal State Northridge 7:00 PM PT

01/12/12     vs. UC Davis 7:05 PM PT

01/14/12     vs. Pacific 4:05 PM PT

01/19/12     at UC Santa Barbara 7:00 PM PT

01/21/12     at Cal Poly 7:00 PM PT

01/26/12     at UC Riverside 7:00 PM PT

01/28/12     vs. Cal State Fullerton 4:05 PM PT

02/04/12     vs. Cal State Northridge 4:05 PM PT

02/09/12     at Pacific 7:30 PM PT

02/11/12     at UC Davis 7:00 PM PT

02/18/12     BracketBuster TBA

02/23/12     vs. UC Irvine 7:05 PM PT