USF men's basketball will be headed to Veterans Classic at Naval Academy

Filling out the non-conference portion of his schedule hasn't been easy for new USF men's basketball coach Chris Mack. By the time he arrived in Tampa, many top programs -- the caliber of teams he wants the Bulls to play -- were already filling most of their available slots.

However, the Bulls did snag a high-quality opponent with the announcement on Monday that they will face St. Joseph's on Wednesday, November 11, as part of the 13th annual Veterans Classic at the U.S. Naval Academy. The game will be televised on the CBS Sports Network.

USF tips off at 3 p.m. Navy will face Penn in the second game of the doubleheader.

The Veterans Classic coincides with Veterans Day, honors our nation's veterans and showcases the U.S. Naval Academy.

USF, like the other visiting teams in the event, will get an in-depth guided tour of the U.S. Naval Academy followed by lunch with the Brigade of Midshipmen on the day before the games.

"Hosting the Veterans Classic on Veterans Day is one of the great honors for our program, our Academy and our city," Navy head coachJon Perry said.  "Through our partnership with CBS Sports, we have the opportunity to showcase the values of service, leadership and competition on a national stage while providing a first-class experience for the student-athletes, coaches and fans who visit Annapolis.

"We are excited to welcome South Florida, Saint Joseph's and Penn to the Naval Academy and know they will experience not only a special event but also the incredible hospitality and support of the Annapolis community.  This event is a celebration of our nation's veterans and the game we all love."

St. Joseph's is coming off of a 24-12 season that included two wins in the NIT.

"The University of South Florida is honored to join the distinguished group of programs that have participated in the Veterans Classic as the event enters its 13th season," Mack said.

"We look forward to a great match-up with a St. Joe's program coming off a 24-win season, while also giving our student-athletes the opportunity to visit the U.S. Naval Academy and pay tribute to our nation's veterans and the sacrifices they have made to protect our freedom."

The Bulls, under then-coach Bryan Hodgson, finished 25-9 and won both the regular-season and tournament championships in the American Conference.

"The Veterans Classic is always a special event," St. Joe's head coach Steve Donahue said. "It gives our student-athletes a different perspective and a greater appreciation for the daily lives of those who serve our country.

"It is also an exciting opportunity for us to play a top-level opponent in South Florida. They have won their conference regular season title and won 25 games each in two of the last three seasons and also took Louisville to the final buzzer in the NCAA Tournament last season. This will be a great early-season challenge for our team."

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