Drew Releases 2003-04 Men's Basketball Schedule
9/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Sept. 18, 2003
WACO, Texas - Baylor's men's basketball head coach Scott Drew announced the team's 2003-2004 schedule Thursday. The schedule features a trip to Hawai'i to go with 17 home contests, including seven home games against in-state non-conference rivals and a run through the competitive Big 12 Conference slate.
"There's a reason the Big 12 has been the best conference in the nation the last two years," Drew said. "We feel this year will be no different, and we are looking forward to the challenge."
Baylor plays 10 home games in 2003-2004 against in-state rivals, welcoming Big 12 foes Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech to the Ferrell Center, along with former Southwest Conference opponent SMU and Texas rivals Texas Southern, Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Midwestern State, Texas-San Antonio and Texas-Pan American. The Bears also host Purdue, Louisiana-Monroe, Iowa State, Kansas State, Missouri, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, for a total of 17 home games in 2003-2004.
Seven of the Bears' 2003-2004 opponents made the NCAA Tournament last season: Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Purdue, Texas and Texas Southern. The Longhorns, who come to Waco Feb. 10, advanced to last season's Final Four, while the Jayhawks were last year's national runners-up.
The 29-game regular-season schedule includes a trip to Hawai'i for the Surf N' Slam-Hawai'i Tournament, Dec. 19-22. Baylor will face the host, BYU-Hawai'i, followed by games against San Jose State and Northern Illinois.
"The team is very excited about the trip to Hawai'i," Drew said. "I know that the players who stayed are really looking forward to playing for Baylor University and representing the community in a way they feel would be appropriate."
A total of 10 Baylor games - three more than last season - are scheduled to be televised regionally, including four on ESPN Regional as part of the Big 12's television package. Six additional games will be telecast on Fox Sports Net Southwest.
The Bears' first action will be Nov. 4, in an exhibition game vs. the Raiders Select. A second exhibition game will be played Nov. 12, against the World HoopStars. The regular season tips off Nov. 22 at home against Texas Southern.
