VIDEO: MBB Players Announce Non-Conference Schedule | 2021-22 Schedule | Series Records Against 2021-22 Opponents

LORETTO, Pa. – Saint Francis University men's basketball head coach Rob Krimmel has announced his 2021-22 schedule. The slate includes 12 games at DeGol Arena, and the Jack Phelan Classic at Hartford. The event is in honor of the Saint Francis and Hartford Hall of Famer, who passed away in July 2020.

"I'd like to thank Associate Head Coach Andrew Helton for all of his efforts to help put the schedule together," said Krimmel. "I am excited to be able to begin preparations for an 11-game non-conference schedule that will help prepare us for the NEC. One of the challenges for our group will be to develop on court chemistry. We were unable to do this last year as a result of injuries and some disruptions as a result of COVID-19."

The Red Flash will start the season on the road for the 10th-straight season under Krimmel with the squad's first of two trips to the DMV at George Washington on November 9. It will be the sixth meeting between the two teams and the fourth meeting in nation's capital. The squad will open the season in Washington, D.C., for the second time in program history after opening the 1972-73 season at Georgetown.

Saint Francis will renew its rivalry with Francisan on November 15. It will be the fourth time in the last five years the two teams will play in Loretto with the Red Flash holding a 28-9 advantage in the all-time series.

After the home game against Francisan, the Red Flash hit the road for two games at Virginia Tech on November 18 and at Cornell on November 24. It will be the third meeting against the Hokies with each team winning one game in the series. Saint Francis defeated Virginia Tech in the first meeting in the 1950-51 season, while the Hokies took the last tilt between the two teams in 2018-19.

"Like most years, our non-conference schedule will have us playing more road games than home games," said Krimmel. "In order for us to be where we want to be in March, we will need to learn to win games on the road."

The game the day before Thanksgiving at Cornell will be the ninth meeting between the two programs with the series tied at four games each. The Red Flash defeated the Big Red 72-62 in the last matchup during the 2013-14 season.

Saint Francis returns home to start the month of the December against Bucknell on December 1. The Bison have won the last four meetings and hold an 18-11 advantage in the all-time series, but the Red Flash hold an 8-6 edge in games in Loretto. The two also renew one of the oldest matchups for Saint Francis that started in 1926-27.

The squad will then hit the road for four games at Ohio University (December 4), American (December 8), Hartford (December 14) and Illinois (December 18). It will be the 11th meeting against Ohio University with the Bobcats holding an 8-1 advantage in the series.

The second trip on the schedule to the nation's capital will feature the 23rd meeting against the Eagles with American holding a 13-9 lead in the series.  The Loretto program defeated American 79-76 in 2019-20.

The contest at Hartford will be called the Jack Phelan Classic. Phelan played basketball at Saint Francis and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019. He also was the head coach at Hartford from 1981-92 and led the Hawks through the transition from an NCAA Division II to Division I. Phelan was inducted into the Hartford Hall of Fame in 2009 as a pioneer.

"I am especially excited to partner with Coach (John) Gallagher and the University of Hartford in the Jack Phelan Classic," said Krimmel. "Jack meant so much to both of our programs and to honor him in this way will be special for both institutions, his teammates, his friends and his family."  

Saint Francis concludes its road trip with its first meeting with the University of Illinois. The contest will also be the squad's final road non-conference game of the season.

The Red Flash will wrap up the non-conference slate at DeGol Arena against former Northeast Conference foe Robert Morris on December 22. The Colonials moved to the Horizon League in 2020-21 and the tilt was cancelled due to COVID-19 last season. It will be the 90th meeting in the all-time series and the first since the 2020 NEC Championship Game in Loretto.

Last season, the NEC played the two-game series at one location due to CoVID-19 meaning that Wagner, Sacred Heart and Long Island will make their first trips to Loretto since 2019-20 and the Red Flash will travel to St. Francis Brooklyn, Central Connecticut State, Fairleigh Dickinson and Bryant for the first time in two years. Merrimack will be making its first trip to Loretto in 2021-22.

Saint Francis will open the conference slate at home against Wagner (December 29) and Fairleigh Dickinson (December 31).

The Red Flash will then spend the next two weekends on the road at St. Francis Brooklyn (January 6), Long Island (January 8), Merrimack (January 15), Bryant (January 17).

Saint Francis returns home to host Central Connecticut State (January 21) and Sacred Heart (January 23) before heading back out on the road for games at Wagner (January 27) and Mount St. Mary's (January 29).

After being on the road for six of the eight games in January, the Red Flash will be at DeGol Arena for five of the eight games in the month of February, including five of six contests to start the month.

Saint Francis will host Bryant (February 3) and Merrimack (February 5). After traveling to Fairleigh Dickinson on February 10, the team will host Mount St. Mary's (February 12), Long Island (February 17) and St. Francis Brooklyn (February 19) to wrap up its 2021-22 home schedule.

The Red Flash wrap up the season on the road at Central Connecticut State (February 24) and at Sacred Heart (February 26).

The NEC Tournament returns to its eight-team format in 2021-22 with the quarterfinals on March 2, semifinals on March 5 and championship game on March 8.

Saint Francis has advanced to the league postseason in eight of the nine seasons under Krimmel, including playing in the championship bout in 2016-17, 2018-19 and 2019-20.

For information on season tickets, click HERE, or call 814-472-3286.