Quinnipac released its men's basketball schedule today and it looks to be a good fit for the Bobcats.

There are 15 home games, a record for the program, including seven of the first nine games to open the season (find me a program Quinnipiac's size that can say that.)

Better than that, is that six of those games are on Saturday afternoons. Too many schools these days stack up on evening games.

Even better than that is the fact Quinnipiac has some quality programs coming in to TD Bank Sports Center.

UMass and Rhode Island, both of the Atlantic 10 visit Quinnipiac. Not many programs from higher conferences want to come to schools like Quinnipiac, so these are good games for the Arena.

The only shame is we don't get to see Hamden's Lamont Ulmer and New Haven's Keith Cothran play for URI, as both graduated. UConn transfer Ben Eaves will suit up for the Rams though.

Vermont, which won the America East title last season, is one of four America East teams on the schedule (one could read into this, but we won't ... at this time). Quinnipiac coach Tom Moore is thrilled the Bobcats won't have to see Marqus Blakely, but fans probably would have enjoyed a few of these break-away type dunks or these, which include one against Quinnipiac last year.

There are three Ivy opponents, with Brown and Dartmouth joining Yale.

Patriot League foe Lehigh, which was 22-11 a year ago, also visits Hamden.

A trip to Niagara (18-15) last year, should be challenging. The Purple Eagles are usually in the thick of the MAAC race.

Some might complain that there is not a trip to a high-profile major, but the reality is, sometimes it's better to play solid competition. In the end, playing Kansas or UCLA or Kentucky to six at the half to then lose by 24, or 30, isn't always the best route.

The complete schedule is here for Quinnipiac.