SAN FRANCISCO – The University of San Francisco's season is starting a little farther east than anticipated.  The Dons will begin the year taking on Stephen F. Austin, No. 4 Virginia, and Rhode Island.
 
USF was originally supposed to begin the season taking on LSU at the 2020 Golden Windows Classic in Lincoln, Nebraska but when the Tigers exited the event, head coach Todd Golden and the Dons turned their sights to Uncasville, CT.  USF is replacing St. Bonaventure, who withdrew from its Bubbleville games on Thursday.
 
The Dons will open up the 2020-21 taking on Stephen F. Austin at 8:00 a.m. PT tip-off time. This will be the first ever meeting between the fourth between the Dons and Lumberjacks.  The teams last faced each other on November 30, 2018, when the Dons took down the Jacks 76-58 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
  
SFA finished 2019-20 with a 28-3 overall record, including a 19-1 record in the Southland Conference.  In the preseason coaches' poll the Lumberjacks were picked to repeat as champions, with seniors Gavin Kensmil and Roti Ware earning first and second team preseason all-conference honors.
 
USF was scheduled to play Army on Thursday.  That game is no longer on the schedule, USF will now play No. 4 Virginia on Friday, November 27 at 8:30 a.m. PT.  Fridays' contest is slated to be televised on ESPN. This will be the first ever matchup between the Dons and Cavaliers.  UVA returns three starters and nine letterwinners from last year's team that went 23-7 and 15-5 in the ACC.  

The Dons' East Coast swing wraps up with a Sunday afternoon showdown against Rhode Island on November 29.  The Rams were picked to finish sixth in the Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll.  They are led by senior guard Fatts Russell, who is on the Bob Cousy Watch List, Naismith Player of the Year Watch List and the A-10 Preseason All-Conference Team.

The Dons and Rams have faced each other six times previously, with Rhode Island owning a 5-1 advantage in the series.  USF took the last meeting 94-88 on Dec. 14, 1999.

The Dons' first three contests will be streamed live via FloSports. Fans interested can subscribe to FloSports for $30 per month or $150 for the year and have access to all 25 FloSports channels. FloHoops is scheduled to stream 26 total games from Bubbleville.
 
Sunday's game against the Rams is slated to be broadcast on ESPN2. Check back to USFDons.com for any updates on tipoff times and schedule changes.