Convocation Center update / Men's basketball schedule news

Construction on Coastal Carolina’s new Student Recreation and Convocation Center -- which will be the new home for CCU’s basketball and volleyball programs next year -- is a few weeks ahead of schedule, athletic director Hunter Yurachek said.

 

And that’s good news for the school because if that schedule holds, expect the Chants to play host to a big-name opponent when the men’s basketball team plays its first game in the building next year.

 

Louisiana State is set to play at Coastal Carolina to open the 2011-12 season as part of a home-and-home series that has the Chants going to Baton Rouge, La., this season.

 

Of course, the second part of that commitment is a bit contingent.

 

“It will be a great way to open the building, absolutely, so we’re looking forward to it,” Yurachek said. “[But] if for whatever reason the Convocation Center’s not completed [in time], I’m guessing LSU’s probably not going to play us in Kimbel Arena, so that will change a little bit.

 

“But right now, like I said, everybody’s very optimistic about the Convocation Center being done on time unless we have a direct-hit hurricane.”

 

Coastal Carolina also had an arrangement in place with Virginia, but that has since fallen through.

 

“Virginia had an opportunity to play a Pac-10 school on national television, so that scenario has changed for them,” Yurachek said. “So we’re tyring to fill in that gap right now.”

 

The Convocation Center is expected to seat more than 3,600 people for athletic events -- a significant increase from the cozy confines of Kimbel Arena.

 

As for the rest of the men’s non-conference schedule this season, Yurachek said it will include a game at the College of Charleston, a veritable home game against East Carolina at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center and the start of a four-game home-and-home series with The Citadel to be played over the next four years.

 

| Ryan Young, ryoung@thesunnews.com