NEWPORT NEWS - The Apprentice School head men's basketball coach Evan Kee has announced the slate of contests for the 2023-24 basketball season.
"After making it to the USCAA semifinals last season and losing a one-possession game in double overtime, we are eager to make it back to the USCAA National Tournament," said Kee. "We return a strong core group of players and have added some high-level, experienced transfers in this recruiting class that should allow us to compete again on a national level. This season's schedule is very balanced and we are playing championship level programs from NCAA DI, NCAA DIII, the NJCAA and USCAA. Our regular season games will help prepare us to hopefully repeat as New South Athletic Conference Tournament Champions and for another run in the USCAA Division 1 National Tournament.
"Historically, our program has always had strong records playing at home. Our players really feed off the energy from the crowd. This season, we were fortunate to schedule 14 regular season home contests, including bringing back the Great Ships Classic and the MLK Classic. We look forward to seeing the Newport News Shipbuilding and Hampton Roads community in the stands here in a few months!"
The season kicks off with the annual Alumni Game exhibition on October 29. The regular season gets started at the Benchoff Tournament at Penn State Mont Alto before the first of two exhibitions against NCAA Division I opponents on November 9 against Norfolk State. The home schedule starts with a matchup against Mountain Gateway Community College on November 18, followed by Carlow and VPCC within the next three days.
After the final exhibition of the year at Longwood on November 30, the Builders will play in the Roger Taylor Invitational at N.C. Wesleyan December 1-2. Then, Apprentice will return home to take on Regent before hosting the Great Ships Classic on December 9-10. The 2023 portion of the schedule concludes with a trip to Methodist and a home game against Cheyney.
In 2024, the home schedule picks up with four straight at home, starting with a New South Athletic Conference matchup with Blue Lights and a non-conference showdown with Gallaudet January 6 and 7, respectively. Then, the homestand finishes up with the MLK Classic January 13-14. After a pair of NSAC games on the road, the Builders stop back in Newport News to take on Johnson & Wales before another two-game road swing to kick off February.
Apprentice will finish the regular season with home games against NSAC opponents Atlantis and MACU before a road trip to Cheyney wraps up the regular season slate. The Builders will host the New South Athletic Conference tournament February 29-March 3.