Air Force Basketball Schedule 2012: Air Force To Play Florida In Orange Bowl Classic

The Air Force Falcons aren't exactly known for rigorously testing themselves in out-of-conference play, but that won't be the case in the 2012-2013 season. It was announced on Tuesday that the Falcons will travel to South Florida to face the Florida Gators on Dec. 29 in the 2012 Orange Bowl Basketball Classic. The game will be played in the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla., which is normally the home of the NHL's Florida Panthers, and though it's nominally a neutral-site game, the Gators' sizable alumni and fanbase in South Florida will make it something closer to a road game.

This will be the marquee game on Air Force's non-conference slate, if not the entire schedule outright. Falcons head coach Dave Pilipovich told the press that he's excited to give his team an early season test.

"It gives our program a chance to play against an SEC team, a team that's been to the NCAA Tournament multiple times and won a couple national titles," Pilipovich said. "It gives you a chance to play against the best, against teams with outstanding resources and great coaching staffs and elite players."

(via The Gazette)

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