OU Releases Men's Basketball Schedule

Aug. 17, 2000

2000-2001 Schedule

NORMAN, Okla. - The University of Oklahoma announced its 29-game 2000-01 regular season schedule today, a slate which will feature 14 home games and three tournaments -- the Sooner Invitational Nov. 17-18 in Norman, the Big Island Invitational Nov. 24-26 in Hilo, Hawaii, and the 65th annual Touchstone Energy All-College Tournament Dec. 29-30 in Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma, which posted a 27-7 record last season, its best in 10 years, and competed in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament title game before advancing to its sixth straight NCAA Tournament, begins its regular season Nov. 17 when it hosts Alcorn State in the first round of the Sooner Invitational at Lloyd Noble Center. The Sooners will play either La Salle or UNC Wilmington the following evening.

In the Big Island Invitational, Oklahoma will face Montana State Nov. 24 and play either host Hawaii-Hilo or Tulane Nov. 25. The Sooners will face Appalachian State, Long Beach State, Oregon State or San Francisco in the final round Nov. 26.

In addition to its 16-game Big 12 Conference schedule, Oklahoma will travel to Mississippi Dec. 2, host Arkansas Dec. 23 and will play at Maryland Feb. 24. The Maryland (ABC) game is one of five games scheduled for national telecast. Other games set for national television are: Kansas (Jan. 13, ABC, home), Texas (Feb. 10, ESPN, away), Missouri (Feb. 19, ESPN, away) and Oklahoma State (March 3, ESPN, home). At least 14 other games are scheduled to be televised either regionally as part of the Big 12 syndicated package or locally on the Sooner Sports Network.

The 65th annual All-College Tournament, the nation's longest-running tournament, will feature Oral Roberts (OU's opponent Dec. 29), SMU and Texas-Pan American. The event will be held at the Myriad in downtown Oklahoma City.

OU could play as many as eight teams that made the 2000 NCAA Tournament. Five more possible opponents competed in the National Invitation Tournament last March.

"As in past years, the aim of this schedule is to prepare our team for conference play," said Head Coach Kelvin Sampson. "We'll face a lot of tough challenges and a lot of potential NCAA Tournament teams. It's a great schedule and a balanced schedule. That should be a goal when putting together a schedule -- make it competitive yet balanced."

Oklahoma will prepare for the regular season with a pair of home exhibition games against California All-Stars Nov. 4 and Global Sports Nov. 11.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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