Men's basketball to face Syracuse, Kansas

Schedule features Alaska tournament, 11 home games

An exciting and very challenging men's basketball schedule highlights the upcoming 2003-04 winter sports season. Head coach Al Walker's squad has a 27-game schedule that is again dotted with several high-profile opponents, most notably defending NCAA champion Syracuse and runner-up Kansas. The Bearcats are one of just three teams in the entire nation that will face both finalists.

In addition, BU will open its season at the Eighth Annual Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska, Nov. 20-23. In the eight-team tournament, the Bearcats will open against St. Mary's (Calif.) and either face Rice or Idaho State in the second round. Binghamton will also play in the Central Connecticut State Tournament, where the team will meet Loyola Marymount (Calif.).

"We're in some very competitive tournaments, which we're excited about," Walker said. "The Alaska tournament is a great opportunity for our program to compete in a national field at an elite certified event. It's special for us, and especially exciting for Nick (Billings) to go home and play in front of family and friends. When it's all said and done, St. Mary's will be one of the best teams on our schedule. That's a very challenging game."

At home, BU has 11 games, including marquee matchups with expected conference powers Vermont (Jan. 2), Northeastern (Feb. 18) and Boston University (Feb. 29). Last season, the Bearcats were a stellar 10-2 in the West Gym in front of an average of 1,811 fans. Buoyed by three regionally televised games, that fan base swelled to capacity (2,275) several times in February.

"Last year we had an absolutely incredible home atmosphere," Walker said. "And it gave us great momentum and energy on the basketball floor and helped us become a very good home team."ÊÊÊÊ

Team focus: winning conference crown

For the first time as a Division I program and the first time in six years, BU is eligible to compete for a conference title in 2003-04. Walker is setting his sights on the program's first conference championship at any level, but he acknowledges that the America East competition is on the rise.

"Our primary goal is to win the America East Championship," Walker said. "We also want to improve upon last year, maintain our level of excellence at home and improve our conference road record -- that's very important. It will be difficult, though. The league has taken one step up. The best teams return the majority of their best players. Certainly the top two teams -- Boston and Vermont -- did have some losses, but they were minimal in comparison to what talent they return. And Northeastern has perhaps the most talented team in the entire conference. Those three teams appear to be the ones that everyone will be chasing."

Women's team will play Syracuse, St. John's

The women's team, under new head coach Rich Conover, will open its season by hosting Syracuse Nov. 22. The Bearcats will play another Big East member, St. John's, and also compete in the Arizona State Sun Devil Tournament Dec. 5-6. At home, BU will host its own tournament Nov. 25-26, with Hofstra, Canisius and North Texas taking part.

-- John Hartrick

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