2007-08 Men's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule Released
July 11, 2007 The Saint Louis University department of athletics today announced its 2007-08 men's basketball non-conference schedule highlighted by games against Boston College and Pittsburgh. With new head coach Rick Majerus leading the way, the Billikens will face four teams that earned NCAA Tournament bids last spring. Regional rivals and Missouri Valley Conference contenders Southern Illinois and Missouri State are again on the slate. The Billikens face nine teams coming off 20-win seasons and seven schools that were ranked in the official NCAA RPI Top 100, including four in the RPI Top 50. "We are excited about this non-conference schedule because we wanted to be as aggressive as we could to play excellent competition," Billikens head coach Rick Majerus said. "In that vein, we scheduled Sweet Sixteen teams in Pittsburgh and Southern Illinois, as well as Boston College, which made it to the NCAA second round. Our fans will look forward to the Boston College game as it will be returning the next season to Chaifetz Arena. In addition, we were also able to get another NCAA Tournament team in Long Beach State which had a fantastic record and handily won its league. "We want to continue this pattern of scheduling by pursuing as many teams as possible that would make it attractive to our recruits and our fans to play games on a national level," Majerus said. "Our commitment to a marquee schedule is evident by the fact that again we are playing elite teams from the Big East and ACC. We wanted to prepare for a difficult Atlantic 10 Conference and lay the groundwork for an excellent schedule for our season ticket holders that will coincide with the opening of Chaifetz Arena." The Majerus era begins as the Billikens open the regular season playing in the "Hispanic College Fund Classic" an exempted tournament hosted by Pittsburgh. The Billikens face North Carolina A&T on Fri., Nov. 9, and Houston Baptist, which was 22-7 and is making the transition to Division I, on Sat., Nov. 10. SLU closes out the tournament on Sun., Nov. 11, against the host Panthers, who are coming off a 29-8 record. The Billikens' final home opener at Scottrade Center is against Detroit on Wed., Nov. 14, followed by a home contest against Furman on Sat., Nov. 17. SLU then heads down Interstate 44 to take on NIT qualifier Missouri State in a Wed., Nov. 21, game before hosting Pacific on Sat., Nov. 24. To close out November, the Billikens travel to Mid-American Conference contender Kent State on Wed., Nov. 28. The Golden Flashes were 21-11 a year ago.
NCAA tournament team Long Beach State is the foe to open December as the 49ers come to town on Sat., Dec. 1. The 49ers were 24-8 last season and will be under the direction of new head coach Dan Monson. SLU's final non-conference road game is at the Atlantic Coast Conference's Boston College on Tue., Dec. 4. The Eagles were 21-12 last year and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Billikens close out 2007 with four-straight home games. After a game on Sat., Dec. 8, against Sam Houston State, a 21-game winner in 2006-07, the Billikens welcome defending MVC regular-season champion Southern Illinois on Sat., Dec. 15. Loyola (Chicago), another 21-game winner last season, is the opposition on Wed., Dec. 19. The final game in 2007 is against IUPUI on Sat., Dec. 29. The Billikens begin their third season in the Atlantic 10 in January with exact dates still to be announced. SLU will play home-and-home games with Dayton, George Washington and Massachusetts. The Bills will also host Fordham, Rhode Island, St. Bonaventure, Temple and Xavier. The Billikens' other road games will be at Charlotte, Duquesne, La Salle, Richmond and Saint Joseph's. Last season, the Billikens posted their first 20-win season in a decade with a 20-13 mark. SLU will play two exhibition games at Scottrade Center against opponents to be announced. Season ticket information is available by calling (314) 977-4SLU or by visiting www.slubillikens.com. Single-game ticket information will be available at a later date. |
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