The Pioneers men’s and women’s basketball teams will face some of the nation’s top squads when they hit the court this fall.
The men’s basketball team will host regional rivals Colorado State and Northern Colorado as well as 2008 NCAA Tournament participants South Alabama and Western Kentucky. The women’s team will take on Wyoming — which that fell to Pittsburgh in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament — and a tough Nebraska squad that is returning four starters and 12 letter-winners.
“This is an exciting schedule that is well-suited for our second year,” says men’s basketball head coach Joe Scott. “We were 9-3 at home last year, and we have some very good teams coming to Magness Arena in 2008–09. It’s important that we continue to develop a home court advantage, because being good at home is an important part of building a program.”
The men will open their 2008–09 season Nov. 15 at perennial Missouri Valley Conference contender Northern Iowa. The women kick off action Nov. 14 with a home game against Wyoming.
“The schedule is exciting because we open up at home against three quality opponents—Wyoming, UC Davis and Nebraska,” says new women’s basketball head coach Erik Johnson. “Wyoming was in the NCAA Tournament and they’ve become a great program. UC Davis has been at the top of its league winning a great deal of games, and Nebraska has become a powerhouse in the Big 12 Conference. Those are three home games that are really going to open things up, and it is going to be very interesting because we are going to find out where we are very early.”
Basketball season tickets for 2008–09 are on sale now; ticket packages start at $56 for women’s basketball and $64 for men’s. Individual game tickets will go on sale in October with adult prices starting at $8 for women’s games and $9 for men’s; admission is $6 for seniors and children. DU student admission is free with a Pioneer Card.
For additional ticket information and a full game schedule, visit DenverPioneers.com.