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Appalachian-Kentucky game set for Dec. 20
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Published: June 18, 2008
Updated: 06/18/2008 12:05 am
Appalachian State's 2008-09 basketball schedule will include games against marquee programs Kentucky and Texas.
The Mountaineers will face Kentucky, the winningest program in NCAA history, on Dec. 20 at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Ky. They'll also play Texas for the first time, on Jan. 2 in Austin.
"Kentucky plays one game a year in Louisville, sort of like Arkansas playing one game a year in Little Rock," Coach Houston Fancher of ASU said. "We set a pretty good precedent beating Arkansas in that game last year, so hopefully we can go into this one and be competitive. It's a great game for our kids.
"And Texas will be a top-10 team again. That will be a great experience for us.
"Being able to schedule games like those is another way to increase our profile. Davidson did so much to help our league with what they accomplished last year, and their non-league schedule was a big part of that. They went outside and created a lot of credibility for their program with the schedule they play."
The Mountaineers will begin the season Nov. 14 on the road at UNC Wilmington in a renewal of a series that has been dormant since the 1993-94 season.
The Mountaineers' home opener will be Nov. 19 against UNC Charlotte, and a non-conference home game against longtime rival East Tennessee State is set for Dec. 13.
"It's a very challenging schedule," Fancher said. "We're pleased to have some natural rivals on there in Charlotte, UNC Wilmington and East Tennessee State. And obviously Kentucky and Texas stand out. We're excited about those."
The Mountaineers will play two early Southern Conference games on the road -- Dec. 3 at Furman and Dec. 6 at Wofford. They'll again play a 20-game conference schedule but won't play each team twice because of the addition of Samford, which will begin SoCon play next season.
A random selection process left the Mountaineers with just one game against Davidson, which advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament last season, as well as Georgia Southern, which finished second to Davidson in the SoCon's South Division.
Playing just one game against Davidson -- which went undefeated in SoCon play last season -- could be considered a break, but Fancher said that he is disappointed in not playing Davidson twice.
The Southern Conference Tournament is scheduled for March 6-9 in Chattanooga, Tenn.
ASU's 2008-09 Schedule
Nov. 14, at UNC Wilmington; Nov. 19, Charlotte; Nov. 22, at Niagara; Nov. 29, Campbell;
Dec. 3, at Furman*; Dec. 6, at Wofford*; Dec. 13, East Tennessee State; Dec. 20, Kentucky at Louisville, Ky.; Dec. 30, Millagan;
Jan. 2, at Texas; Jan. 8, Elon*; Jan. 10, UNC Greensboro*; Jan. 12, Davidson*; Jan. 15, at Chattanooga*; Jan. 17, at Samford*; Jan. 21, at College of Charleston*; Jan. 24, Western Carolina*; Jan. 29, Wofford*; Jan. 31, Furman*;
Feb. 2, at Georgia Southern*; Feb. 5, The Citadel*; Feb. 7, at Elon*; Feb. 12, at The Citadel*; Feb. 14, at Western Carolina*; Feb. 16, College of Charleston*; Feb. 19, at UNC Greensboro*; Feb. 21, at Bracket Buster opponent to be determined; Feb. 26, Chattanooga*; Feb. 28, Samford*;
March 6-9, Southern Conference Tournament at Chattanooga, Tenn.
*Southern Conference game.
■ Tommy Bowman can be reached at 727-7320 or at tbowman@wsjournal.com.
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