Mens Basketball Releases 2004-05 Non-Conference Schedule

NORMAN, Okla. OU athletics director Joe Castiglione and head coach Kelvin Sampson announced the Sooners' 2004-05 men's basketball non-conference schedule today, a pre-Big 12 slate that features a home game versus national champion Connecticut, and contests versus Final Four participant Duke, Tulsa and Purdue. Also featured is a November appearance in the Great Alaska Shootout. With at least two games against Oklahoma State and the Connecticut and Duke matchups, Oklahoma will play no less than four contests against teams from last year's Final Four.

“It's a good schedule for us,” noted Sampson. “Up and down the board, this is probably the toughest, most ambitious non-conference schedule we've assembled. You're always concerned about playing tough teams, but we're a tough team. I think to be the best you have to play the best. We're excited about it and looking forward to it. Hopefully it will prepare us for what I think is the toughest conference in the country.”

The Sooners, who finished 20-11 last year, will start the regular season Nov. 20 by hosting Cal State Northridge (14-16 last year) before playing three games in the Great Alaska Shootout beginning on Nov. 24. The tournament will feature potential opponents Alabama (20-13), Alaska-Anchorage (20-10), Furman (17-12), High Point (19-11), Minnesota (12-18), Utah (24-9) and Washington (19-12). Alabama, Utah and Washington participated in last year's NCAA Tournament. OU returns home for a Dec. 1 meeting with Coppin State (18-14) before heading to West Lafayette, Ind., to take on Purdue (17-14) Dec. 8. The Sooners beat the Boilermakers 47-45 on a last-second shot last season in Norman.

Oklahoma will host Northern Colorado (6-23) Dec. 11 and then travel to New York City to face Duke (31-6) Dec. 18 inside Madison Square Garden. The OU-Duke contest will be televised nationally by CBS. Castiglione said the athletics department will be exploring travel package options for the Duke game and make information known to fans when it becomes available.

Rounding out the December schedule will be games on the 23rd against Southwest Missouri State (19-14) at home, the 28th against Tulsa (9-20) in the All-College Classic in Oklahoma City and the 30th against Florida A&M (15-17) in Norman. Florida A&M made last year's NCAA Tourney while SMS lost in two overtimes in its league tournament title game.

The Sooners will play two non-conference games in January, both at home. The first will be against Texas-Pan American (13-14) on the 2nd and the other versus reigning national champion Connecticut (33-6) on the 10th.

The Big 12 schedule has not been announced yet, but Oklahoma will play home games against Baylor, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech. OU will go on the road for games against Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas State, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech.

The Sooners will play a pair of home exhibition games, although only the Nov. 13 contest against Central Oklahoma has been set. UCO is coached by former OU point guard and director of basketball operations Terry Evans.

Game times for OU's non-conference games have yet to be determined.

2004-05 Men's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
TBA: TBA (Exhibition)
Nov. 13: Central Oklahoma (Exhibition)
Nov. 20: Cal State Northridge
Nov. 25-27: at Great Alaska Shootout
Dec. 1: Coppin State
Dec. 8: at Purdue
Dec. 11: Northern Colorado
Dec. 18: vs. Duke (New York, N.Y.)
Dec. 23: Southwest Missouri State
Dec. 28: vs. Tulsa (Oklahoma City)
Dec. 30: Florida A&M
Jan. 2: Texas-Pan American
Jan. 10: Connecticut

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Mens Basketball Releases 2004-05 Non-Conference Schedule

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