Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Men's Basketball unveils 2009-10 schedule
09/04/2009 | 12:00:00 | Men's Basketball
Sept. 4, 2009
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois University released its men's basketball schedule on Friday, unveiling a slate that features 17 home games this season, plus two road trips to Las Vegas.
The Salukis' non-conference home schedule features matchups versus UT-Martin (Nov. 14), Indianapolis (Nov. 17), UIC (Nov. 28), Alabama State (Dec. 12) and Western Kentucky (Jan. 25). The latter two teams made the NCAA Tournament in 2009.
SIU's first of two trips to Las Vegas takes place on Nov. 21, when the team participates in a Missouri Valley Conference - Mountain West Challenge game versus UNLV. The two schools have played only three times previously, with the last meeting taking place 26 years ago in a tournament hosted by the Runnin' Rebels. UNLV holds a 2-1 edge in the all-time series.
Southern returns to Sin City to play in the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic the week before Christmas. SIU will face San Diego (Dec. 19) and San Franciso (Dec. 20) at South Point Arena.
The Salukis round out their non-conference slate with trips to Saint Louis (Dec. 5) and SEMO (Dec. 9). The game against the Billikens will mark SIU's first trip to SLU's new Chaifetz Arena. The pairing versus the Redhawks will be the first meeting between the two schools, which are separated by just 45 miles, in the last five years.
For the eighth-straight year, the Salukis will participate in the ESPNU BracketBusters one-day tournament. The Salukis, who are 5-2 in BracketBusters games, will host a game on Feb. 19 or 20 against an opponent to be determined in early February.
The Salukis are scheduled to play seven games on either the ESPN family of networks or the Missouri Valley Conference TV package.
For information on season tickets, call (618) 453-2000. Single-game tickets will go on-sale in October.
