Notes and thoughts on Longwood’s full schedule release

Just a few days after releasing the 2019–20 non-conference slate, the Big South released their schedule today to give us the first full glimpse of what Longwood’s full 2019–20 campaign will look like.

Nov. 5 vs Marymount (Non-D1)
Nov. 8 at George Mason
Nov. 12 vs Maryland-Eastern Shore
Nov. 14 vs St. Francis (Brooklyn)
Nov. 15 vs Randolph (Non-D1)
Nov. 18 at Nothern Illinois
Nov. 26 at UC Riverside
Nov. 29 at Pacific
Dec. 4 at North Carolina A&T
Dec. 7 at Morgan State
Dec. 15 at Stetson
Dec. 19 vs The Citadel
Dec. 28 at George Washington
Jan. 2 at Winthrop
Jan. 4 vs USC Upstate
Jan. 8 at Charleston Southern
Jan. 11 at Hampton
Jan. 16 vs Presbyterian
Jan. 18 at Campbell
Jan. 20 vs UNC Asheville
Jan. 25 at High Point
Jan. 30 vs Radford
Feb. 1 at Gardner-Webb
Feb. 6 vs Charleston Southern
Feb. 8 vs Winthrop
Feb. 10 vs Campbell
Feb. 13 at UNC Asheville
Feb. 15 vs Hampton
Feb. 20 at USC Upstate
Feb. 22 vs High Point
Feb. 27 at Presbyterian

Notes, thoughts, and observations:

• Since the Big South switched to an 18-game slate last year, the first thing a lot of fans will do is see which teams you’re not playing twice. Last year that meant solo games against Winthrop and Radford, and this year it means the same against Radford and Gardner-Webb. On paper, this looks great for LU. Radford was the league’s top-rated team last year and Gardner-Webb won the conference. Playing the Highlanders just once though kind of stinks. Longwood is hungry for a rivalry since Liberty left the conference and Radford was the most natural fit given proximity and the type of school it is. The Lancers have historically played tight games in Dedmon, with every match up being decided by seven points or less.
• The second thing savvy fans usually check out is the opportunity for Longwood to be on an ESPNU (or ESPNews this year) flex game. This year those opportunities come January 16 vs. PC, January 30 vs Radford (maybe?), February 6 vs Charleston Southern, February 13 at UNCA, February 20 at USC Upstate, and February 27 at PC. All in all the Lancers shot at being on national TV seem pretty bleak, but maybe that January 30 affair could attract ESPN and the Big South? The other choices that evening are High Point at Campbell, Winthrop at Charleston Southern, Gardner-Webb at Asheville, and Upstate at PC. In other words…

• Finally some Saturday games! The non-conference slate brought no Saturday home games earlier this week and last year the Big South only gave LU three Saturday match ups in Willett. This season Longwood will see Upstate, Winthrop, Hampton, and High Point on Saturday in “the Asylum”.
• Some more Saturday good news as Longwood will head to Hampton this year on Saturday, January 11. The game is a good opportunity for 757 Lancer fans who won’t have to scurry to Hampton while fighting rush hour tunnel traffic.
• What an opportunity Longwood will have when the calendar flips to February. After playing the defending champs in Boiling Springs, the Lancers will host four out of five games in Willett Hall. That stretch could be vital as LU will then head down the stretch with three games in late February to cap the regular season off.
• All in all, this is probably the most favorable conference schedule Longwood could have received. It gives the team some opportunities to really build momentum at pivotal times and features some games that are already circled on the calendars of Lancer fans.