Huskers Set for Exciting Home Matchups in 2003-04

Lincoln --- The Nebraska men's basketball schedule, announced Tuesday, will pit the Huskers against a daunting slate in 2003-04, including contests versus non-conference foes from the SEC, Pac-10, Conference USA and Big Ten. The Huskers will also face a Big 12 schedule that includes eight teams that reached postseason play last year, with six squads advancing to the 2003 NCAA Tournament. The Big 12 had two teams reach the Final Four for the second straight season in 2003.

The schedule could be one of the toughest in several years for the Huskers, and comes on the heels of Nebraska ranking in the top 60 nationally in strength of schedule for the third straight season in 2002-03.

"This is a highly competitive schedule, not only in conference play but in the non-league portion, during which we will face many good teams from a variety of the top leagues across the nation," NU head coach Barry Collier said. "With nine home games before we start Big 12 play, this schedule will test us but will also help us prepare for the league, which will again be one of the best in the country. In non-conference and league play, our fans will see some outstanding matchups at the Devaney Center. We hope they will give us the same tremendous support as past years."

NU opens with five straight home contests, starting with Fairleigh Dickinson (15-14 in 2002-03) on Saturday, Nov. 22. The Huskers follow up with a contest against Eastern Michigan (14-14) on Saturday, Nov. 29.

Nebraska then starts a tough stretch when it faces five teams in an 11-day span. Those five opponents combined for an 83-52 record last year with three earning postseason bids (two NCAA, one NIT). Overall, 12 teams on Nebraska's schedue reached either the NCAA Tournament or NIT last year.

The Huskers begin the two-week assignment against Arizona State (20-12) on Wednesday, Dec. 3, in Lincoln, before facing South Florida (15-14) at home on Saturday, Dec. 6. Two days later, on Monday, Dec. 8, the Huskers will play host to Delaware State (15-12). A Wednesday night matchup on Dec. 10 follows, as NU and Creighton (29-5) renew their I-80 rivalry in Omaha. Nebraska ends the 11-day stretch by it playing host to Tennessee (17-12) on Saturday, Dec. 13.

NU hits the Devaney Center court against Bethune-Cookman (8-22) on Saturday, Dec. 20, in the teams' first-ever meeting, and takes on Lipscomb (8-20) on Monday, Dec. 22, in Lincoln before a short break for Christmas.

Nebraska's second and final road game in the non-conference season comes on Monday, Dec. 29, when the Huskers take on Minnesota (19-14) in Minneapolis. Rounding out the Huskers' pre-Big 12 schedule will be St. Francis (Pa.), as the Red Flash (14-14) will face NU in the Devaney Center on Tuesday, Jan. 6, in the first-ever meeting between the schools.

In their first six league games, Nebraska faces five teams that made 2003 postseason play, starting with rival Iowa State (17-13) on Saturday, Jan. 10, in Ames, Iowa. It marks the seventh straight season NU begins the league slate away from Lincoln.

Opening the home league schedule, the Huskers face Colorado (20-12) on Wednesday, Jan. 14, and then go back on the road to take on Texas (26-7) on Saturday, Jan. 17, in Austin. Baylor (14-14) comes to Lincoln on Wednesday, Jan. 21, before the Huskers face their second stiff road test at Missouri (22-11) on Satuday, Jan. 24.

Nebraska continues alternating home and away games for two more weeks, facing Oklahoma (27-7) and Missouri in the Devaney Center and Kansas State (13-17) and Texas A&M (14-14) on the road. NU's first consecutive home appearances in the Big 12 season starts when NU plays Kansas (30-8) at the Devaney Center in a game televised by ABC on Sunday, Feb., 15. Nebraska then plays host to Kansas State on Wednesday, Feb. 18.

A road game at Stillwater, Okla., against Oklahoma State (22-10) on Saturday, Feb. 21, sets up the Huskers' final homestand, with contests against Texas Tech (22-13) on Tuesday, Feb. 24, and Iowa State on Saturday, Feb. 28. The Huskers round out the regular season on the road, facing Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., on Wednesday, March 3, and Colorado in Boulder,Colo., on Saturday, March 6. The Big 12 Tournament runs March 11-14 in Dallas, Texas.

For Husker ticket information on the upcoming season, contact the Nebraska Athletic Ticket Office at 1-800-8BIGRED or 1-402-472-3111. Ticket orders can also be placed on-line at Huskers.com.