Marquette University Athletics
Marquette Releases 2005-06 Men' Basketball Schedule
9/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Golden Eagles will play a minimum of 17 games against teams that qualified for the postseason in 2005
Click here for complete 2005-06 schedule.
MILWAUKEE, September 8 - Marquette men?s basketball?s first season in the BIG EAST Conference will be highlighted by match ups against five preseason top 25 teams - Cincinnati, Connecticut, Louisville, Villanova and West Virginia, an appearance in the Carrs Safeway Great Alaska Shootout and tough road contests at Wisconsin and Nebraska, the department announced today with the release of the 2005-2006 schedule.
Seventh-year head coach Tom Crean and the Golden Eagles, which welcome seven new players to this year?s squad, will play at least 17 games this season against teams which qualified for postseason play in 2004-05: Cincinnati, Connecticut, DePaul, Delaware State, Georgetown, Louisville, Notre Dame, Oakland, Pittsburgh, Rice, San Francisco, Villanova, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
?This is as challenging a schedule as we have had in my seven years at Marquette,? said Crean. ?As difficult as the schedule is, it provides our players, university and fans an opportunity to be part of something special. There is no doubt that the BIG East Conference is the greatest league ever assembled. Seeing these match ups on paper reaffirms that.?
The Golden Eagles open the 2005-06 regular season on Friday, November 18 against Rice, winners of 19 games last season, in the 44th annual Pepsi Blue and Gold Classic. The other two participants in the classic are 2005 NCAA participant and 27-game winner Winthrop and IUPUI. Following the Classic, MU will participate in the Carrs Safeway Great Alaska Shootout. The 28th annual eight-team tournament will be held from November 22-26 at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage. The Golden Eagles are one of four teams in the field to reach postseason play in 2005 (Oral Roberts, South Carolina and Southern Illinois). Marquette will face Eastern Washington in the opening round on Wednesday, November 23.
After a brief return home from Alaska, the Golden Eagles will travel to Nebraska (Nov. 30). Expected to contend for an NCAA tournament berth in 2006, the Cornhuskers return four of their top six scorers from last season.
MU returns to the Bradley Center for two games against South Dakota State (Dec. 3) and Valparaiso (Dec. 7) before heading to Madison for its annual tussle with in-state rival Wisconsin on December 10. It will be the 112th meeting between the teams. The two have split the last four games including Marquette?s nine-point victory at the Bradley Center last December.
The Golden Eagles close out the calendar year with four consecutive home games against San Francisco (Dec. 17), Oakland (Dec. 19), Delaware State (Dec. 22) and Lewis (Dec. 28).
Marquette opens the new year and its inaugural season of BIG EAST Conference play by hosting consensus preseason top five pick Connecticut (Jan. 3) and Cincinnati (Jan. 7). The Golden Eagles will then hit the road for three straight against Seton Hall (Jan. 11), West Virginia (Jan. 14) and DePaul (Jan. 17). MU finishes January with home games against Notre Dame (Jan. 20) and DePaul (Jan. 25), and a road contest at Pittsburgh (Jan. 28).
The Golden Eagles play six games in the month of February, beginning with a home game against St. John?s on February 1, and two consecutive road games against Villanova (Feb. 4) and Rutgers (Feb. 12). Marquette returns to the Bradley Center for two straight match ups with Georgetown (Feb. 16) and Pittsburgh (Feb. 18), before finishing the month at Notre Dame (Feb. 25).
The regular season comes to a close in March when Marquette visits Louisville (March 1) and then hosts Providence (Mar. 4) on senior day.
The 2006 BIG EAST Conference Tournament will be held from March 8-11 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The top 12 teams of the 16 team conference from the regular season will qualify for conference tournament.
Nine of MU?s 13 BIG EAST Conference opponents qualified for postseason play in 2005, including Villanova and West Virginia who reached the Sweet 16 and Elite 8, respectively, and return the core of their teams.
Start times and television arrangements for conference games will be announced at a later date.
Marquette basketball full season ticket packages and mini-plans are on-sale now. Full season ticket packages are available for as little as $162. For more information call (414) 288-GOMU or log on to www.gomarquette.com.
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