Fairfield and Sacred Heart both understand that it will take more than just one game to build a rivalry. But the two universities will try to start the process as the men’s and women’s teams both play each other for the first time as Division I opponents this season.
“We don’t expect that in one year we will start something, but maybe it will,” said Fairfield Athletic Director Gene Doris. “Enough has been spoken about it over time that indicates that people will come and I hope that is the case.”
The two schools will play a double-header at the Arena at Harbor Yard on Nov. 18, with the women playing at 4:30 p.m. and the men at 7 p.m.
The men’s game will be the first time that the two schools have ever played, while the women will play for the first time as Division I opponents.
The Fairfield community has been discussing the possibility of a series between the two local schools for years, but until now it was not possible. Doris cited the expansion of the amount of games allowed by the NCAA, the lowering of RPI requirements by the MAAC and the development of the Sacred Heart programs as the reasons why the series will start this year.
“I believe fans and alums of both schools will be proud when these programs take to the floor,” said Doris, “because they will see four teams playing to the best of their ability in an exciting college basketball atmosphere.”
The rivalry could become a premier match-up in Connecticut, where few rivalries currently exist between the in-state schools. Doris hopes that the rivalry will be sparked in the same way that local rivalries such as Xavier-Cincinnati, Stony Brook-Hofstra and Providence-URI have in the past few years.
“It’s nice that we now have our own game in the area that has significance to people,” said Doris.
The men’s team will face a difficult challenge from Sacred Heart, who fell one game short of the NCAA tournament last season and have been picked to finish at the top of the Northeast Conference again this season by most experts.
Head Coach Dave Bike, who has helped turn around a program that was in the bottom of its conference a few seasons ago, will rely on Sacred Heart. Seniors Joey Henley (11.1 points per game) and Drew Shubik (9.8 ppg) to lead the Pioneers.
Men’s Head Coach Ed Cooley he said understands the added importance of the game to the University community and said he has been asked about the game many times during the preseason. But to him, every game has the same importance.
“I know there’s a great deal of interest from the community as well as the alumni and fans of both schools in this game,” said Cooley. “I look forward to playing a fine institution like Sacred Heart University.”
“That game will be fun,” said senior forward Mamadou Diakhate. “We want to show them from the get-go that we play tough, so that we can prove we are the best team in Fairfield.”
The women’s team has also been one of the best in the Northeast Conference the past two seasons, with back-to-back 20-win seasons.
Women’s Head Coach Joe Frager, who has coached in Connecticut, is not new to the southern Connecticut basketball atmosphere and is also looking forward to the game.
“I think there is definitely a lot of local interest in the two schools, and I think it is a game that is good for the area because it gets a lot of people talking,” said Frager. “Anytime there are two fine universities so close together, I think it is a natural fit.”
“I’m definitely pumped for that game,” said junior Baendu Lowenthal. “We know a lot of the players at Sacred Heart, so it should be a lot of fun.
“But we are looking forward to it as much as we look forward to every game, that goes along with a winning mentality. Every time we step onto the court, we are trying to prove that we are the best team,” she added.
Fairfield and Sacred Heart are both programs on the rise on both the men’s and women’s sides. No matter what, the games will be exciting for the players and fans.
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