Somerset, NJ - With bragging rights at stake, the inaugural Northeast Conference (NEC) Rivalry Week is set to take flight with six pairs of men's and women's hoops rivals set to meet in home-and-home contests this Thursday and Saturday. The pairings are as follows: Long Island-St. Francis (NY), Fairleigh Dickinson-Monmouth, Robert Morris-Saint Francis (PA), Quinnipiac-Sacred Heart, CCSU-Bryant and Mount St. Mary’s-Wagner.
The unique concept of playing back-to-back games against a local rival in a 48-hour span is the only one of its kind among the nation's 31 NCAA Division I conferences.
"NEC Rivalry Week provides an exciting and unique approach to creating a buzz among our fanbase," said Noreen Morris, NEC Commissioner. "By highlighting a number of long-standing rivalries, it should make for a dynamic weekend of hoops action across the Conference. In many cases, the geographic proximity of our institutions will allow fans the opportunity to attend both ends of the home-and-home series."
As part of Rivalry Week, there were be four games televised on NEC-TV, beginning with a Constitution State doubleheader on Thursday pitting Quinnipiac at Sacred Heart. The games will air on Fox College Sports (FCS), Connecticut Sports Network (CTSN), ESPN Full Court, ESPN 360 and DIRECTV (Ch. 617). The women take center stage at 5:00 pm while the men tipoff at 7:30 pm. On Saturday, the Garden State Rivalry Series heads to the jersey Shore as Monmouth plays host to Fairleigh Dickinson in a noon start airing live on MSG Network and FCS. The second half of the Saturday matinee showcases the annual Battle of Brooklyn as Long Island hosts St. Francis (NY) at 2:00 pm, also on MSG and FCS.
Likewise,
NortheastConference.TV will air a pair of women's basketball webcasts. On Thursday, Long Island makes the one-mile trip to take on borough rival St. Francis (NY). Tipoff is at 5:00 pm. Saturday's webcast pits Mount St. Mary's at Wagner in a 3:00 pm showdown.
The latest
NEC on the Run podcast is also a Rivalry Week themed edition, based around an interview with St. Francis (NY) head coach Brian Nash, who takes an improved Terrier squad into this week's showdowns with Long Island.
NEC Rivalry Week Schedule
Thursday, February 4
Monmouth at Fairleigh Dickinson, 5 pm (w)/7:30 pm (m)
Quinnipiac at Sacred Heart, 5 pm (w)/7:30 pm (m)
Robert Morris at Saint Francis (PA), 5 pm (w)/7:30 pm (m)
Long Island at St. Francis (NY), 5 pm (w)/7:30 pm (m)
CCSU at Bryant, 5 pm (w)/7:30 pm (m)
Wagner at Mount St. Mary's, 5 pm (w)/7:30 pm (m)
Saturday, February 6
Fairleigh Dickinson at Monmouth, 12 pm (m), 3 pm (w)
Sacred Heart at Quinnipiac, 12 pm (w), 3 pm (m)
Saint Francis (PA) at Robert Morris, 4 pm (w), 7 pm (m)
St. Francis (NY) at Long Island, 2 pm (m)
Bryant at CCSU, 1 pm (w), 3:30 pm (m)
Mount St. Mary's at Wagner, 3 pm (w), 7 pm (m)
Sunday, February 7
St. Francis (NY) at Long Island, 2 pm (w)
NEC Rivalry Week: Television Schedule
Thursday, February 4
Quinnipiac at Sacred Heart (women) - 5:00 pm - Fox College Sports, CTSN, ESPN FC, ESPN 360, DIRECTV (Ch. 617)
Quinnipiac at Sacred Heart (men) - 7:30 pm - Fox College Sports, CTSN, ESPN FC, ESPN 360, DIRECTV (Ch. 617)
Saturday, Feburary 6
Garden State Rivalry Series: Fairleigh Dickinson at Monmouth - 12:00 pm - MSG, Fox College Sports
Battle of Brooklyn: St. Francis (NY) at Long Island - 2:00 pm - MSG, Fox College Sports
NEC Rivalry Week: Women's Basketball PackCasts on NortheastConference.TV
Thursday, February 4
Battle of Brooklyn: Long Island at St. Francis (NY) - 5:00 pm - NortheastConference.TV
Saturday, February 6
Mount St. Mary's at Wagner - 3:00 pm - NortheastConference.TV