VMI basketball will open its 2012-13 season in Charleston, S.C., where the Keydets will be a part of the second All-Military Classic tournament. The Keydets will tip the season off Saturday, Nov. 10 at 4 p.m., facing The Citadel Bulldogs on their home court. The early game, meanwhile, will feature Air Force, last year's tournament winners, and Army at 2 p.m. The losers of the two contests play for third place Sunday at 2 p.m., while the winners return to battle for the tournament title Sunday at 4.
Audio broadcasts of both games will be available via WREL.com, while CitadelSports.com will offer a video streaming package for the entire tournament ($12.95 for all four games). Live stats will also be available, with all pertinent links posted above. NOTE: Fans can also listen to the Sunday game on VMIKeydets.com, however, Saturday's game will not be accessible through VMIKeydets.com, only through WREL.com.
The Keydets have turnover on their roster this year, as they lost four seniors including two long-time starters in Ron Burks and Keith Gabriel. VMI does return Big South Preseason Player of the Year Stan Okoye, who had 19 points and five rebounds in last year's opener against The Citadel, as well as junior forward D.J. Covington and his classmate, point guard Rodney Glasgow. The Keydets enter the season after being picked second in the Big South's North Division, trailing only Campbell.
Last Meeting with The Citadel (11/11/2011):
Every VMI starter had at least 11 points, and the Keydets survived a late Citadel rally to win the 2011-12 season opener, 103-100, at the first All-Military Classic in Colorado Springs, Colo. Stan Okoye led VMI with 19 points.
Last Meeting with Army (11/13/2009):
Austin Kenon had 24 points, including 17 from the foul line, as VMI defeated Army 93-86 to open the 2009-10 season. Ron Burks, Stan Okoye, Keith Gabriel and Michael Sparks all scored in double figures as well.
Last Meeting with Air Force (11/12/2011):
Michael Lyons had 20 points, Taylor Broekhuis had a double-double and Air Force outscored VMI 38-16 in the paint en route to a 75-65 win in the championship game of the first All-Military Classic, contested in Colorado Springs, Colo. Ron Burks led VMI with 15 points.
A VMI win against The Citadel would:
Give the Keydets their fifth consecutive season opening win, a first for VMI since a streak that ran from 1975 through 1979.
A VMI win against Army/Air Force would:
Give the Keydets their third consecutive win over the Black Knights or their first-ever win over Air Force.
A VMI sweep of the two games would:
Give VMI its second 2-0 start in the past three years, and earn the Keydets the All-Military Classic title.
