Head coach Mike McGuire has unveiled the 2020-21 Radford University women’s basketball schedule.
The season begins with four non-conference slate against North Carolina, North Carolina State, Marshall and Georgia, all on the road, before Big South Conference play commences in mid-December.
Each institution will play a 20-game double round-robin schedule, and all games will be back-to-back contests against the same opponent at the same location on consecutive days. The 2020-21 schedule format has been adjusted to limit travel and ensure the health and safety of student-athletes, coaches and staff. In lieu of a traditional home-and-home series format, teams will alternate home and away dates on most occasions and have a minimum of three days in-between scheduled contests.
The conference season will commence with 10 teams playing from Dec. 12-22 before the schedule resumes Dec. 30 through Feb. 27. The schedule, which is subject to change, includes a bye for each squad during the league season.
Contingencies were built into the schedule to allow flexibility for completing the season in full, as any games impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic could be made up on various alternate dates, including the week of Feb. 28-March 6.
“First of all, I would like to thank Robert (Lineburg) and the entire athletic department for working to provide a plan for our team to compete this season,”said head coach Mike McGuire. “The sports medicine staff has been incredible as well. There are still quite a few unknowns but the level of planning and detail has been awesome. I’m grateful that our team will have the opportunity to compete this season. Due to COVID- 19, it will be a season that we will always remember.
“This year’s team is the youngest I have had since the 2014-15 season.” the head Highlander said. “So there will be a lot of opportunity for our ladies to step up and accept the expectations we have here. This team is talented, but we need game experience, and we have to learn to compete at a high level. I’m very excited to watch them grow together this season. As always, we expect to compete for a Big South championship.”
McGuire was blunt about that non-conference gauntlet his team will run to begin the season.
“Our non-conference schedule is demanding,” he said. “Due to the conference moving to a 20-game schedule, our four non-conference opportunities will be on the road and we may lose our only non-conference home game. That home game may be a work in progress. However, having the opportunity to play North Carolina, NC State, and Georgia will help us prepare for Big South play.”
“This is my eighth year at Radford, and I am proud of the growth of women’s basketball in the Big South,” McGuire said. “We have head coaches that care and work hard to compete in this league. I believe you will see a lot of parody this season. The change in conference schedule will be an interesting adjustment for all of us as we will play the same school on back-to-back days.
“Our primary goal will be to keep our team healthy and safe all season long to give us a chance to win the conference tournament,” the head Highlander said. “This season is going to demand flexibility and adaptability from everyone. It may be a wild season.”
Radford University Women’s Basketball 2020-21 schedule
Nov. 25 at North Carolina Nov. 29 at North Carolina State
Dec. 6 at Marshall Dec 12 at Georgia
Dec. 15 at Longwood* Dec. 16 at Longwood*
Dec. 30 Presbyterian* Dec. 31 Presbyterian*
Jan. 4 at Hampton* Jan. 5 at Hampton*
Jan. 9 Charleston Southern* Jan. 10 Charleston Southern*
Jan. 15 at Gardner-Webb* Jan. 16 at Gardner-Webb*
Jan. 22 UNC Asheville* Jan. 23 UNC Asheville*
Jan. 29 at UNC Upstate* Jan. 30 at UNC Upstate*
Feb. 5 Campbell* Feb. 6 Campbell*
Feb. 12 at Winthrop* Feb. 13 at Winthrop*
Jan. 19 High Point* Jan. 20 High Point* (*Big South Conference games)