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FOND DU LAC, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – The Marian University men's basketball team is gearing up ahead of schedule this season with a much-anticipated exhibition match-up with Division I UW-Milwaukee scheduled for 7 p.m. today, Oct. 31. The contest marks the Sabres' first-ever contest against a Division I opponent. Marian is set to bring two fan buses to tonight's game, which will be played at the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Milwaukee.

A PROGRAM FIRST

For the first time in school history, Marian will have the opportunity to compete against an NCAA Division I institution in UW-Milwaukee. The game will take place at the Panthers' home arena, the U.S. Cellular Center, located downtown.

     Division I teams often schedule an exhibition contest against a school from NCAA Division II or III, as well as schools from NAIA.

Other Notable Division I vs. non-Division I match-ups:

•   UW-Platteville men take on UW-Madison, Oct. 30.

•   NAIA's Viterbo men travel to UW-Green Bay, Nov. 3.

•   Rockford men play Northern Illinois, Nov. 2.

•   Wis. Lutheran's women face UW-Milwaukee, Nov. 3.

•   Division II Winona State take on UW-Madison, Nov. 3

•   UW-Stevens Point women visit UW-Madison, Nov. 7.

FAMILY MATTERS

There will be a Boyle present on each bench for Thursday's match-up between Marian and UW-Milwaukee. The venerable Mark Boyle, of course, will man the sidelines for his 26th season with the Sabres, while his nephew, Tone Boyle, serves as graduate manager on the UW-Milwaukee staff. Tone was the team's video coordinator a season ago and helped the Panthers to the Horizon League regular season title and NIT berth after finishing second on the team in scoring during his senior season in 2010-11.

THE MECCA

It's the arena that once saw Kareem Abdul Jabbar and 'the Big O' Oscar Robertson lead the Bucks to the 1971 NBA title. It witnessed the Marquette glory years under the legendary coach Al McGuire, who guided the Golden Eagles to a 1977 national championship. The arena formerly known as the MECCA, and has since been renamed the U.S. Cellular Center, was opened in 1950 and is currently the home to the UW-Milwaukee Panthers men's basketball team.

DEMO

UW-Milwaukee Head Coach Rob Jeter and the Marian men's basketball team crossed paths not too long ago. In a clinic conducted at Sheboygan Falls High School back in the Fall of 2011, Jeter was the lecturer and he asked the Marian men's basketball team to stand in as a demonstration unit.

FOR THE 41ST TIME

Marian University men's basketball begins its 41st season in program history when it opens up with a home game against Martin Luther College, Nov. 16. Men's basketball played its first season at Marian back in 1972-73.

WHAT IT REALLY "BOYLES" DOWN TO

Head Coach Mark Boyle, who enters his 26th season at the helm of the Marian University men's basketball program has  compiled 324 career victories on the Sabre sidelines.

     The Madison native took over the program for his first season in 1988-89 and led the team to a Lake Michigan Conference tournament championship. He arrived in Fond du Lac by way of UW-Green Bay, where he served as assistant under the legendary Dick Bennett for three seasons.

     Boyle is currently the longest-tenured college coach in the state of Wisconsin.

COMING BACK FOR MORE

The Sabres feature 12 returners from their 2012-13 squad that finished 15-11 overall, 10-6 in the NACC, which was good enough for the fifth-best league mark. Five seniors highlight the slew of returners, including captains Sam Koslowski and 2012-13 First Team selection Cody Veleke.

     The entire projected starting lineup remains intact with a mix of youth and veteran leadership. Sophomores Alex Stecker and Drew Binversie made immediate impacts as freshmen last season, while junior Mike Keller is coming off his second straight season as a defensive backbone in the starting lineup for the Sabres.

     Three seniors in James Bartelt, Jeff Harris and Elan Solvik will lead a talented bench that could emerge as one of the deepest in the NACC.

SCHEDULE

The 2013-14 schedule will be as challenging as ever with four of Marian's five non-conference games taking place on the road. Following a season opening home match-up with Martin Luther, which Marian needed double-overtime to get past a season ago, the final four non-league bouts will be played away from the friendly confines of Sadoff Gymnasium.

                The Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference has altered its format, getting away from two divisions to a single division format that features 22 conference games, which is six more than last season. All 12 teams will play each other twice followed by a six-team league tournament slated to begin the final week in February.