Dolphins set the dates: JU will open basketball season at Duke, will play at Notre Dame in December
Jacksonville University's Diamond Anniversary in men's basketball will include two games against ACC powers and a mix of mid-majors leading up to an expanded ASUN schedule.
As was previously announced last spring, the Dolphins will open its 75th season of basketball at Duke on Nov. 7, their first game against the Blue Devils and their first game at the famed Cameron Indoor Arena. It will mark the first game for Duke since the retirement of legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski, with former Blue Devils player Jon Scheyer taking over.
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The other huge game on the Dolphins' non-league schedule is Dec. 27 when they play Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. JU has faced the Irish only once before, losing 100-74 on Dec. 20, 2018.
JU's home opener will be Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. against Johnson University of Kissimmee, where the Dolphins will be trying to extend their home winning streak to 16 games.
Jacksonville also will play home non-conference games against Voorhees (Nov. 20), Trinity Baptist (Dec. 3) and Charleston Southern (Dec. 17) but face tough tests on the road at Campbell (Nov. 23), VCU (Dec. 7), UNC-Wilmington (Dec. 10) and Louisiana-Monroe (Dec. 20).
JU opens its ASUN schedule on Dec. 31 at Florida Gulf Coast and plays its first conference game at home on Jan. 2 against Jacksonville State.
The Dolphins will play 18 conference games, including new members Austin Peay and Queens. The River City Rumble against North Florida will come in back-to-back games on Feb. 2 at Swisher Gym and Feb. 4 at UNF Arena.
JU is coming off its best season since 1985-86, going 21-10 under first-year coach Jordan Mincy. The Dolphins reached the ASUN championship game and Mincy was voted the nation's top first-year coach in NCAA Division I.
The Dolphins return six key players from last year's team, guards Kevion Nolan, Gyasi Powell of Jacksonville and Jordan Davis, and frontcourt players Mike Marsh, Bryce Workman and Osayi Osifo.
Added to the mix will be former Florida and Illinois center Omar Payne and freshman guard Josiah Sabino of Orange Park.
JU was fourth in the nation in scoring defense, allowing only 59.3 points per game.
Jacksonville University men's basketball schedule
Nov. 7: at Duke, 7 p.m.
Nov. 11: Johnson (Fla.), 2 p.m.
Nov. 20: Voorhees (S.C.), 2 p.m.
Nov. 23: at Campbell, 4 p.m.
Nov. 30: at UAB, TBA
Dec 3: Trinity Baptist, 4 p.m.
Dec 7: at Virginia Commenwealth, TBA
Dec. 10: at UNC-Wilmington, 4 p.m.
Dec. 17: Charleston Southern, 4 p.m.
Dec. 20: at Louisiana-Monroe, 1 p.m.
Dec. 27: at Notre Dame, TBA
Dec. 31: at Florida Gulf Coast, 1 p.m.
Jan. 2: Jacksonville State, 7 p.m.
Jan. 5: at Stetson, 7 p.m.
Jan. 7: Lipscomb, 6 p.m.
Jan. 12: at Kennesaw State, 7 p.m.
Jan. 14: at Jacksonville State, 5 p.m.
Jan. 19: Liberty, 7 p.m.
Jan. 21: Queens, 6 p.m.
Jan. 26: at North Alabama, 7 p.m.
Jan. 28: at Central Arkansas, 4 p.m.
Feb. 2: North Florida, 7 p.m.
Feb. 4: at North Florida, 5 p.m.
Feb. 9: Stetson, 7 p.m.
Feb. 11: Florida Gulf Coast, 4 p.m.
Feb. 16: at Austin Peay, 8 p.m.
Feb. 18: at Lipscomb, 5 p.m.
Feb. 22: Bellarmine, 7 p.m.
Feb. 24: Eastern Kentucky, 7 p.m.
Contact Garry Smits at gsmits@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @GSmitter
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Diamond Dolphins: JU's 75th college basketball season starts at Duke
