The University of Dayton men’s basketball team has signed an agreement to play a home-and-home series with the University of Alabama beginning next season.  The Crimson Tide will visit UD Arena on Wednesday, December 7.  The game time will be announced at a later date, as will the return game in Tuscaloosa during the 2012-13 season.

The game will be a homecoming for Alabama head coach Anthony Grant.  Grant played four seasons for the Flyers from 1983-87.  Team MVP and co-captain as a senior, Grant played on two NCAA teams and an NIT team in his college playing career.  After three seasons as head coach at VCU, Grant just completed his first year as the ‘Bama head coach, taking the Tide to a 25-12 record.

Another familiar face will join Grant on the visiting sidelines on December 7.  Alabama Associate Head Coach Dan Hipsher was an UD assistant coach on Don Donoher’s staff from 1980-89.

Alabama will be the third team from a “Big Six” conference to visit UD Arena in 2011-12.  Ole Miss (a member of the SEC with UA) and Seton Hall (Big East) are returning series games game with the Flyers.  UD defeated both of them on the road last year.

“This kind of series fits perfectly within our scheduling model,” University of Dayton Vice-President and Director of Athletics Tim Wabler said.  “We look for series games that will give us an opportunity for increased television exposure and opponents that we will be competing with for at-large postseason berths in March.  It’s an added bonus that our fans will be able to welcome back Anthony to the Arena.”

The remainder of the non-conference schedule will be released later in the summer.

New coach Archie Miller’s team returns three starters from last year’s 22-14 club that reached the championship game of the Atlantic 10 tournament.  The Flyers reached the postseason for the fourth consecutive season, playing in the NIT.