11/1/2006 - (Riverdale, NY) - One of the most competitive schedules in the history of Mount Saint Vincent Men's Basketball program is in store for Head Coach Michael Murphy as he enters his first full year at the Mount Saint Vincent helm. Hired as the Interim Head Coach shortly before the start of the 2005-06 season, Murphy returns to the sidelines for the 2006-07 campaign no longer the Interim Head Coach, and with the entire off-season to prepare his troops for what will be a challenging season night in and night out. Mount Saint Vincent Director of Athletics, Cathy Ingram, said the decision to hire Murphy as the team's Head Coach was not a difficult one.

"Michael Murphy is our Head Men's Basketball Coach, and it is my hope that he will remain here for a very long time," Ingram said. "The decision to remove the Interim title was an easy one after a year of incredible work by Michael and his staff to develop a program that in every way represents the values of our institution and department as well. Michael has worked tirelessly to develop a program built on character, determination, and a spartan work ethic that I believe will translate to incredible success on the court before long. We are very proud of the great basketball tradition Mount Saint Vincent has developed over the years, and I am equally proud to have Michael Murphy as our Head Coach."

Murphy will not have it easy this season as 10 of 14 players are freshman and will be battle-tested early and often. The Dolphins open the 2006-07 campaign at the Eastern Connecticut State Tip-off Tournament before coming home for consecutive games against SUNY powerhouse SUNY IT and CUNY rival Hunter College. After a showdown with local rival Lehman College on Nov. 29, the Dolphins begin Skyline Conference play at home against Yeshiva on Dec. 2. The Mount will close 2006 with home games against Centenary on Dec. 6 and Farmingdale on Dec. 9.

2007 begins with with four of the Mount's toughest games of the season. On Jan. 2, the Mount will travel to meet national power NYU, whom the Mount took to overtime a year ago. On Jan. 5 and 6, the Dolphins will travel to the Sig Makofski Invitational at Union College. Four days later the Dolphins host Skyline Conference powerhouse Mount Saint Mary. From there, 12 of the Mount's final 13 games will be against Skyline Conference rivals. Highlights during the latter portion of the schedule include home dates with Manhattanville on Jan. 24, Stevens on Feb. 5, and Old Westbury on Feb. 14. The Dolphins also travel to USMMA-Kings Point on Jan. 18, Yeshiva on Feb. 3, and Farmingdale State on Feb. 17.

The Skyline Conference playoffs begin on Feb. 20.

Mount Saint Vincent finished the 2005-06 season with a 9-16 overall record.