Men's basketball team opens at home versus USC
Sept. 8, 2003
KALAMAZOO -- Following a pair of exhibition contests, Western Michigan University's men's basketball team will open the 2003-04 regular season at home Friday, Nov. 21, versus the University of Southern California. The game marks the debut of new Bronco head coach Steve Hawkins, who served as an assistant coach at WMU the past three seasons.
"The schedule has been upgraded in an effort to help take this program to the next level," Hawkins said. "We have to continue to present our players with challenges and the non-league portion of the season will go a long way in preparing us for the always tough Mid-American Conference schedule."
Western Michigan could play as many as six squads which competed in the postseason a year ago, including the team's first appearance in the NCAA Bracket Buster event on Feb. 21. The match ups for the Bracket Buster will not be announced until later in the season, but WMU does know it will be on the road.
"The non-league schedule last season was very tough and in terms of strength of schedule, we think we have taken another step forward this season," Hawkins said.
The Broncos will continue their non-conference schedule at Detroit before returning home to face Miami Dec. 6 in the Mid-American Conference opener. After welcoming Fordham to Kalamazoo on Dec. 13, the Broncos hit the road for six straight contests.
WMU faces the University of Alabama-Birmingham in the Coors Classic in Mobile, Ala., before traveling to Loyola five days later. The azcentral.com Hoops Classic Dec. 29-30 in Tempe, Ariz., is hosted by 2003 NCAA Tournament participant Arizona State. Also included in the four-team field are San Diego and Winthrop.
The MAC home schedule once again features instate rivals Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan and has the Broncos on the road for five of its final eight league match ups.
WMU Men's Basketball
2003-04 Schedule
Nov. 8 GT Express (Exhibition) 7 p.m. Nov. 13 Marathon Oil (Exhibition) 7 p.m. Nov. 21 Southern California 7 p.m. Nov. 24 at Detroit 7 p.m. Dec. 6 Miami* 2 p.m. Dec. 13 Fordham 1 p.m. Dec. 15 at Coors Classic, Mobile, Ala. Dec. 20 at Loyola 2 p.m. Dec. 29 at Arizona State Hoops Classic Jan. 3 at Akron* TBA Jan. 10 at Buffalo* TBA Jan. 12 Marshall* 7 p.m. Jan. 14 Indiana-Purdue-Ft. Wayne 7 p.m. Jan. 17 at Eastern Michigan* TBA Jan. 21 at Kent State* 7 p.m. Jan. 24 Ball State* 2 p.m. Jan. 28 Ohio* 7 p.m. Jan. 31 Eastern Michigan* TBA Feb. 4 at Central Michigan* 7 p.m. Feb. 7 Bowling Green* 2 p.m. Feb. 11 at Ball State* 7 p.m. Feb. 15 at Marshall* TBA Feb. 18 Toledo* 7 p.m. Feb. 21 at Bracket Buster TBA Feb. 25 Central Michigan* 7 p.m. Feb. 28 at Toledo* TBA March 1 at Bowling Green* 7 p.m. March 6 Northern Illinois* 2 p.m. March 8 MAC Tournament First Round (Campus Sites) March 11 MAC Tournament Quarterfinals (Cleveland) March 12 MAC Tournament Semifinals (Cleveland) March 23 MAC Tournament Finals (Cleveland)
*Mid-American Conference games.
Media contact: Scott Kuykendall, 269 387-4138, scott.kuykendall@wmich.edu