NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State men's basketball team announced its schedule for the 2023-24 season on Thursday afternoon, highlighted by an island mid-season tournament and a nonconference matchup with nationally-ranked Tennessee.
 
"We are excited about this year's schedule," NSU head coach Robert Jones said. "It's going to be very challenging for this group of newcomers!"
 
The Spartans open the season with three consecutive games on their home floor, starting with a matchup against Penn State Wilkes-Barre at Echols Hall on Monday, Nov. 6. NSU will host Apprentice School just a few days later on Nov. 9.
 
Norfolk State hosts the Battle of the Bay on Nov. 13, a historic rivalry matchup against Hampton that dates back to the 1958-59 season. NSU, who leads the all-time series 90-50, defeated the Pirates twice last season in a pair of neutral-site showdowns.
 
The Spartans will then leave the contiguous United States to compete in the 23^rd annual U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam, taking place Nov. 17-20 at the University of Virgin Islands Sports and Fitness Center in St. Thomas. NSU opens the event on Friday, Nov. 17 against Fordham at 2 p.m., before taking on either Abilene Christian or San Jose State the following day.
 
"It is an honor to be selected to the Paradise Jam again this year," said Jones. "It is a great field of mid-major power and we are looking to compete."

A road test at Wichita State awaits the Spartans back on the mainland, set for Saturday, Nov. 25. NSU will host William & Mary on Nov. 28, looking for its third consecutive win over the Tribe.
 
"Playing William & Mary is always a great local 757 rivalry as we look to defend homecourt," Jones said.

Norfolk State will open December with a highly anticipated in-state showdown at VCU. The Spartans and Rams will go head-to-head on Dec. 1, the first meeting between the programs since 1998.
 
"The big in-state rivalry game with VCU is one that a lot of Spartan fans have circled," Jones said. "It will be our first time playing VCU under my tenure and it will be exciting.
 
NSU heads to Illinois State on Dec. 9, before a pair of road matchups in the Empire State against Stony Brook and Hofstra on Dec. 13 and Dec. 16, respectively. Hofstra won the CAA Regular Season Title in 2022-23, eventually upsetting top-seeded Rutgers in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
 
"It's always fun to go back home to the state of New York to play some games," said Jones, a New York City native. "This time we will be playing CAA regular-season champ Hofstra and Stony Brook in back-to-back games. It will be tough."
 
The Spartans then travel to El Paso, Texas for the two-day WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational event. After battling the host school UTEP on Dec. 20, NSU will go up against South Dakota State or Wyoming the next day.
 
"The Spartans are going back to El Paso!" said Jones. "This is my third time going back to the Sun Bowl Invitational and the hospitality and the competition is second to none."
 
Norfolk State opens the 2024 calendar year on Jan. 2 at Tennessee, potentially the toughest stop of the Spartans' road slate. The Volunteers finished the 2022-23 campaign with a 25-11 record, earning a No. 8 national ranking in ESPN's 2023-23 "Way-Too-Early Top 25."
 
Last, but not least, we get the ultimate regular season test with a top-10 opponent in the University of Tennessee," Jones said. "This will be our biggest test of the regular season and we must be prepared for it."
 
The Spartans begin conference play at South Carolina State on Jan. 6, facing their first three MEAC opponents on the road. When NSU returns to Echols Hall on Jan. 15 to face Virginia Lynchburg, it will be the Spartans' first home game in 48 days.
 
NSU will play each MEAC team twice, once at home and once away, culminating in the regular season finale against defending conference champion Howard at Echols Hall on Mar. 7. The MEAC Tournament will begin on Mar. 13 at Norfolk Scope Arena, with the championship game taking place on Mar. 16.