Mens Basketballs Rugged 2004-05 Schedule Released

NORMAN, Okla. Oklahoma athletics director Joe Castiglione and head coach Kelvin Sampson announced the Sooners' 2004-05 men's basketball schedule today, a group of 29 games that Sampson proclaimed as OU's toughest since he arrived in Norman 10 years ago. Among the many highlights are contests against national champion Connecticut at home, versus national semifinalist Duke in New York City, versus national semifinalist Oklahoma State (twice) and at Purdue. OU will also participate in the eight-team Great Alaska Shootout and will face Tulsa in the All-College Classic. In Big 12 play, the Sooners will play at home against Baylor, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech. Road games will take place at Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas State, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech.

2004-05 Men's Basketball Schedule (PDF)

Twenty-five of Oklahoma's games are set to be televised, with two more possibly airing from Alaska on ESPN2. The Sooners are slated to appear on national networks a school-record 11 times (possibly 13). A school-record seven contests are scheduled for ESPN (a school-record five are Big Monday games), while two will air on CBS (Dec. 18 vs. Duke and Jan. 22 vs. Texas) and one on ABC (Feb. 12 at Missouri). If OU wins its first-round Great Alaska Shootout game, its semifinal contest will air on ESPN2. The tournament's championship game will also be shown by ESPN2, as will OU's December game against Tulsa. Six Oklahoma games will air on ESPN Plus regional television and eight will be televised by the Sooner Sports Network.

“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.”

Not including home exhibition games against Cameron (Nov. 10) and Central Oklahoma (Nov. 13), the Sooners will play 15 games at Lloyd Noble Center in 2004-05. OU begins the regular season Nov. 20 at home against CSU Northridge (14-16 last year) before heading to Anchorage, Alaska, for three games. Sampson's Sooners will play High Point (19-11) Nov. 25 in the first round of the Great Alaska Shootout. The second round will present either Utah (24-9) or Washington (19-12), both 2004 NCAA Tournament teams. The other half of the bracket includes Alabama (20-13), Alaska Anchorage (20-10), Furman (17-12) and Minnesota (12-18). Alabama advanced to the Elite Eight last March.

The month of December has OU at home for four games and away for three. The Sooners host Coppin State (18-14) on Dec. 1 before traveling to meet Purdue (17-14) on Dec. 8. Oklahoma hosts Northern Colorado (6-23) on Dec. 11 and then travels to New York City for a matchup with Duke (31-6) at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 18. OU sandwiches Dec. 23 and Dec. 30 home games versus Southwest Missouri State (19-14) and Florida A&M (15-17), respectively, around the Dec. 28 game versus Tulsa (9-20) in the All-College Classic at Oklahoma City's Ford Center.

The Sooners, who were 20-11 overall and 8-8 in Big 12 play last year, open conference competition against Colorado (Jan. 8 at home) in between their final non-conference games of the year. OU hosts Texas-Pan American (13-14) on Jan. 2 and reigning national champ Connecticut (33-6) visits Lloyd Noble Center on Jan. 10. The Connecticut contest is the first of five ESPN Big Monday games for the Sooners. The others are against Oklahoma State (Jan. 24 in Norman and Feb. 7 in Stillwater), Kansas (Feb. 21 in Norman) and Texas (Feb. 28 in Austin).

Besides Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma State, OU will host Big 12 foes Texas on Jan. 22, Texas A&M on Feb. 1, Texas Tech on Feb. 5, Nebraska on Feb. 16 and Baylor on Feb. 26. In addition to Oklahoma State and Texas, league road games will be played at Baylor on Jan. 15, at Texas A&M on Jan. 18, at Iowa State on Jan. 29, at Missouri on Feb. 12 at Kansas State on Feb. 19 and at Texas Tech on March 5.

The Big 12 Tournament will be held in Kansas City, Mo., at Kemper Arena March 10-13.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Mens Basketballs Rugged 2004-05 Schedule Released

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors