Four opponents to be announced at later date

SIU men’s basketball’s 2004-2005 schedule, released Thursday, could be its toughest and longest since 2001-2002 – and four of its opponents have yet to be announced.

The Salukis will begin their 31-game (excluding exhibitions) regular-season at the SIU Arena when they host two games of the Las Vegas Tournament Nov. 21 and Nov. 23.

The University of Texas El-Paso, Arizona State and Vanderbilt-which advanced to the Sweet Sixteen last season-are some of the teams joining the Salukis in the Las Vegas Tournament.

“That’s huge because the other three teams that are hosting are high majors in big- time conferences,” said Head Coach Chris Lowery. “We feel very fortunate to be considered at that level to get a home game out of the tournament.”

Although schools are normally limited to a 27-game schedule, the Salukis participation in the four-game Las Vegas Tournament and their road game at Hawaii count as one game under NCAA rules.

In addition to Vanderbilt, the Salukis will also play four other teams that made NCAA tournament appearances last season in Murray State, Louisiana-Lafayette, UTEP and Missouri Valley Conference foe Northern Iowa. Five of the Salukis’ non-conference opponents had a rating percentage index in the top 100 last season.

The Salukis will begin MVC play two days before Christmas at home against Illinois State. Their final conference game will on be the road against Indiana State.

Lowery said this year’s schedule is similar to the one the Salukis faced in 2002, when they advanced to the Sweet Sixteen.

“Now we’re playing teams with names and teams who went to the NCAA tournament,” Lowery said. “Getting a chance to play Vanderbilt, who had a great year last year and has very good players returning, is really important for us.”

For the first time in three years the Salukis will have to travel to play their Bracket Buster opponent. SIU beat Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Hawaii at home in its previous appearances. Their opponent for the Feb. 19 game will be announced in early February.

As of Thursday, the team had not yet seen the schedule.

Lowery said he is happy with where the program is, but would like to see better teams come to Carbondale.

The Salukis have been unable to attract major teams to Carbondale since their win against Indiana in 2001, when the Hoosiers were trounced 72-60 in front of a sellout crowd at the SIU Arena. The loss hurt Indiana’s RPI initially, but it did go on to play in the NCAA championship game.

“Nobody with aspirations of doing well nationally wants to lose to a program that’s considered below them,” Lowery said. “That’s the tough part about being a very good mid-major program.”