GRAND FORKS, N.D. — Slice it anyway you want — the 2010-11 University of North Dakota men’s basketball schedule offers Fighting Sioux fans an appetizing selection of hardwood action for the upcoming season.
Fourth-year head coach Brian Jones announced the schedule on Wednesday and there are several intriguing match-ups scattered throughout the season.
The 30-game slate includes 10 Division I home contests and the renewal of the North Dakota State series that will take place at the Fargo Dome on Dec. 11.
UND will play three of its first four games of the season at home, including the opener against Waldorf College (Nov. 12).
After traveling to Wisconsin for their road opener in Big Ten country on Nov. 16, the Sioux will return to The Betty Engelstad Sioux Center to face DI foes Sacramento State (Nov. 18) and IPFW (Nov. 23).
Several premier road games remain on the schedule starting with a trip to Northern Iowa (Nov. 27). The Panthers made their deepest run ever in the 2010 NCAA Tournament, making the Sweet 16 under the tutelage of former UND standout Ben Jacobson.
Also, for the second straight year the Sioux will play in a four-team, round-robin tournament. UND will travel to Moscow, Idaho on Dec. 3-5 for the BTI Invite that will feature the host Vandals, Eastern Michigan and Monmouth.
“The biggest thing we want to do is continue progressing as a program and this schedule was built to allow us to take those steps,” Jones said. “From a competition standpoint, it is a great schedule with the renewal of the North Dakota State rivalry, having 14 home games, competing against five teams who reached postseason play last season and going on the road against the likes of Wisconsin and Nebraska.
“Also, academically our guys will only miss three days of class during the fall term, which is not always possible for teams in transition. Coach (Ryan) Moody did an outstanding job of putting this together and we just want to enjoy the journey that is before us and get better as the season goes on.”
UND opens the New Year at Nebraska on January 2 and will also entertain Longwood at home on Jan. 9.
Besides the Bison, the Sioux will also play two other opponents from the Peace Garden State when they host Mayville State (Dec. 14) and Minot State (Jan. 13) in non-conference action at “The Betty”.
The tilt with the Beavers will be the final tune-up before year two of Great West play commences against long-time rival South Dakota at home on Jan. 15.
The Coyotes join a list of five opponents the Sioux will face that reached postseason play a year ago. USD won the Great West’s inaugural regular season and tournament championships and earned an automatic berth to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.
The Sioux will also host a pair of non-conference Division I opponents after the New Year when Longwood visits "The Betty" on Jan. 9 and Louisiana Tech ventures north on Feb. 16.
The Sioux will also host a pair of non-conference Division I opponents after the New Year when Longwood visits "The Betty" on Jan. 9 and Louisiana Tech ventures north on Feb. 16.
Northern Colorado (Feb. 21) reached the quarterfinals of that same tournament, while Green Bay (Dec. 20) advanced to the quarterfinals of the College Basketball Invitational. The Sioux will play both the Bears and Phoenix on the road.
The remainder of the six-game Great West home ledger includes Utah Valley (Jan .20), Texas-Pan American (Jan. 27), Houston Baptist (Jan. 29), NJIT (Feb. 26) and Chicago State (Feb. 28).
2010-11 opponents that reached postseason play in 2009-10
• Northern Iowa (NCAA Tournament; Sweet 16)
• Wisconsin (NCAA Tournament; Second Round)
• Green Bay (College Basketball Invitational; Quarterfinals)
• Northern Colorado (CollegeInsider.Com; Quarterfinals)
• South Dakota (CollegeInsider.Com; First Round)
- Go Sioux -
