Head Coach Dave Klatsky is excited to reveal the New York University men's basketball schedule for the 2024-25 season.
In 2023-24, Klatsky's second season at the helm, the Violets posted a 21-6 overall record and shared the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship for the first time in 30 years with a 10-4 mark.
After back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, Klatsky is excited to once again showcase the Violets on a national level with an ultra-competitive schedule.
"We are excited for the challenge ahead," Klatsky explained. "Our non-conference schedule will be extremely difficult and will no doubt prepare us for what should be one of the toughest UAA seasons to date."
The season will begin at the John A. Paulson Center when NYU hosts the Tip-Off Classic. On November 9, the Violets face perennial power Babson College, who is coming off of an NCAA Tournament berth and a NEWMAC Tournament Championship. The second day does not get any easier as Rowan University takes I-95 up to the Big Apple to face the Violets. The Profs appeared in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament last season before bowing out to eventual National Runner-Up Hampden-Sydney College.
A three-game road schedule ensues with games at Kean University, York (NY) College, and Farmingdale State College. Those will be the last games on the road for the remainder of 2024, as the Violets begin a six- week span where they will not play outside the cozy confines of the Paulson Center.
Marywood College opens the stretch on December 3 followed by a rematch within the UAA Challenge that will take place against Connecticut College on December 7. The Violets defeated the Camels 78-73 in New London last season. Prior to that contest, the first rendition of the NYU Men's Basketball Alumni Game in the new Paulson Center will take place.
Finishing up the semester will be another rematch against Yeshiva University, in an all-Manhattan match-up. The Violets visited a boisterous Max Stern Center last season and came out with a 97-78 victory.
The second semester begins on December 29-30 with the Violets hosting the NYU Holiday Tournament. NYU takes on SUNY Purchase, while Kenyon College and Williams College will face off subsequently. The winners and losers of each game will face each other the following day.
In the last tune-up before UAA play, Drew University visits Washington Square on January 4. It will mark the return of Rangers' Head Coach Mike McSloy, who served as an assistant for the Violets from 2016-18 under the Violets' all-time winningest coach, Joe Nesci.
The UAA slate begins on January 11 as Brandeis University heads down from Massachusetts. The Judges return most of their roster from a year ago, as do both Emory University and the University of Rochester, who arrive at Paulson the following weekend. The Violets swept all three opponents in '23-24.
On January 24 and 26, the Violets will travel to Carnegie Mellon University and Case Western Reserve University, respectively, marking a weekend of games against teams that made the NCAA Tournament last season.
Klatsky and his crew will not rest for long as they hop back on a plane the following weekend to visit the University of Chicago and Washington University of St. Louis.
NYU then faces each UAA squad one more time before the end of the regular season.
Throughout the campaign, the men will play their Friday UAA games at 5:30pm, followed by the women at 7:30pm. Alternatively, on Sundays, the women's games will begin at noon with the men following at 2:00pm.
"With the losses of All-Conference players Spencer Freedman and Michael Savarino to graduation, this season's team will look a little different," Klatsky added. "But, we are hopeful the experience of our returning players coupled with the jolt from our newcomers will put us in a great spot to compete for another UAA Championship."
