Maryville Taking on Championship Schedule

2023-24 Maryville Schedule
 
MARYVILLE – The Maryville women's basketball schedule has a distinctly national championship feel.
 
The Scots are taking on both finalists from last year's NCAA Division III title tilt, won by Transylvania over Christopher Newport in a 57-52 thriller.
 
Maryville meets CNU in the second game of the year, Nov. 12, over in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, as part of the N.C. Wesleyan Classic. The Scots then play Nov. 25-26 at the Transy Classic in Lexington, opening against the host Pioneers.
 
"We've got some good teams right off the bat," Maryville head coach Darrin Travillian said. "If you want to be the best version of yourself, you have to play the best competition. We're excited about it, and that's not to take anything away from all the other really good teams we are playing."
 
Travillian is referring to Methodist, Berry and either Alma or Wisconsin Lutheran – sprinkled throughout the nonconference slate.
 
Old Rivals, New Foes
"I love our nonconference schedule," Travillian said. "It's challenging, but we've always tried to play the best teams we could play. We're going to play really good teams and figure out what we need to do to get better.
 
"I like the fact we are playing some teams we've never played before, we are playing some old rivals who we play every year, and some teams we haven't played in a long time. We used to be in a conference with Christopher Newport, but we haven't played them in about eight years. It will be good to play them too."
 
The 2023-24 schedule tips off at the North Carolina Wesleyan Classic on Nov. 11-12 in Rocky Mount. Tournaments hosted by Emory and Transylvania follow before the Scots play their home openers against Ferrum and Centre.
 
"We do get to come home and play Ferrum, which is always a great rivalry game for us. And then Centre comes in and they won their league last year," Travillian said. "It's a good schedule to get us ready for the grind of our conference opponents."
 
Early Jump on Practice
Closing in on 85 days until the season opener, practice officially begins Oct. 15. But this year, the Scots get eight additional practice days prior to the start date. Travillian says he plans to begin Sept. 17 and go twice a week, inserting terminology and philosophy to alleviate some of the nervousness and anxiety that comes with a new season.
 
"We have a lot of new players coming in to go with a good core of returners," Travillian said. "I'm excited to put the pieces together to see what we have. The players are energized about the games, and that's what you want."