Games against Pac–10 titan UCLA, Big East Conference power Cincinnati and perennial national contender Gonzaga University headline the 2009–10 CSUB basketball schedule, the University released Thursday.
The Roadrunners will face 23 different opponents from 10 different conferences, as well as two independent members. They are playing their third full NCAA Division I schedule.
“This is without question the most exciting schedule in terms of both quality and depth, in the history of Roadrunner Basketball,” said Head Coach Keith Brown.
“Given the current budget situation, we scheduled ambitiously to help support the entire athletic program,” he added. “The high–caliber opposition will provide both challenges and opportunities. We have a talented young team and we're looking forward to testing ourselves against some of the nation's best NCAA Division I competition.”
CSUB will open with a pair of home games versus Santa Clara (Nov. 13) and Utah Valley (Nov. 17). A showdown with UCLA (Nov. 20) kicks off a five–game roadtrip that includes stops at Big West Conference champ Cal State Northridge (Nov. 30) and Pac–10 member Oregon State (Dec. 6).
The 'Runners return home to face defending Western Athletic Conference champ Utah State, a 30–win team last season, on Dec. 16 before hitting the road for four more games, including a Boxing Day clash with Cincinnati.
They return home to play eight of 11 games in Rabobank Arena, beginning with a New Year's Eve tilt with Cal Poly. The homestand includes the return to Bakersfield of former CSUB Head Coach Pat Douglass when UC Irvine makes its first regular–season visit on Feb. 3.
CSUB will take to the road for its final five games, capping the season with a first–ever appearance at Gonzaga University, a fixture in the top 25.
“Finishing the season at Gonzaga will be a fitting way to end our last season of transition,” said Brown. “Although we won't be eligible for the NCAA Tournament, it's a game that will have that feel, that atmosphere. It will give us a taste of what we hope to experience starting in 2010-11.”
CSUB will face a mix of teams from five of the six NCAA Division I conferences in the West this season: Big Sky, Big West, Pac–10, Western Athletic, and West Coast in addition to Seattle University, the west region's other Division I independent member.
Due to the late addition of games at Cincinnati and Southern Mississippi, the 'Runners have gone from and expected 13 home games to 11 for this season. CSUB is already contracted to play at least 13 home games for the 2010–11 season, its first season as a full NCAA Division I member.
Note that several game times are still tentative pending the release of national and regional television schedules.
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