2002-03 Hoop Slate Features 13 National Television Dates
August 19, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Aug. 19, 2002
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Thirteen national television appearances, an appearance in the John Wooden Tradition, the inaugural Billy Minardi Classic in Freedom Hall, a visit to the New York area to play Seton Hall, and games against regional foes Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio State and Tennessee highlight the 2002-03 University of Louisville men's basketball schedule.
?This is not only an extremely challenging schedule, but one that is exciting for our fans," said U of L Men's Basketball Coach Rick Pitino. "We'll have to be ready to survive the early portion of our schedule, but should be a better team when (senior center transfer) Marvin Stone works his way into the lineup."
With the nucleus returning from one of the nation's most improved teams that posted a 19-13 record and earned a berth in the National Invitation Tournament, the Cardinals will face their first outside competition in an exhibition game against EA Sports on Nov. 6, the first of 17 home games in Freedom Hall.
The Cardinals' season takes flight in their season opener against Air Force on Nov. 23 in Freedom Hall. Six of the Cardinals' first eight games will be played at home in Freedom Hall. U of L's first contest outside of Freedom Hall will be a matchup with Purdue in the John Wooden Tradition on Nov. 30 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. Duke and UCLA will square off in the first game of the doubleheader. Cardinal fans will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to the event through the U of L ticket office this fall.
After home games against South Alabama (Dec. 7) and an exhibition contest against the One World All-Stars (Dec. 11), the Cardinals will face Seton Hall on Dec. 14 in an ESPN2-televised contest at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J., an area that is proving to be a recruiting hotbed for U of L.
U of L serve as host for inaugural Billy Minardi Classic Dec. 17-18 in Freedom Hall, an event named in memory of Pitino's brother-in-law who died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. The Cards play Eastern Kentucky in the first round on Dec. 17, followed by Wright State against NIT participant Manhattan. Winners from the two games will play in the championship on Dec. 18, preceded by a consolation game.
After a home game against Furman on Dec. 22 and a break for Christmas, the Cardinals will play intrastate rival Kentucky in Freedom Hall on Dec. 28 on ESPN.
U of L will open the new year with a road game Jan. 4 at Ohio State on ESPN before embarking upon its 16-game Conference USA slate Jan. 8 at Charlotte.
Aside from the Kentucky game, five additional home games will be televised to national audiences: Feb. 1 vs. NCAA runner-up Indiana (CBS), Feb. 5 vs. Cincinnati (ESPN), Feb. 19 vs. Memphis (ESPN), Feb. 27 vs. Marquette (ESPN2) and March 8 vs. Charlotte (ESPN).
The Cardinals will be featured in five other network telecasts, including Jan. 16 at East Carolina (ESPN2), Jan. 25 at Tennessee (ESPN), Feb. 8 at Houston (ESPN), Feb. 15 at Marquette (ABC) and Feb. 22 at Cincinnati (CBS).
At least one of the Cards' games will be televised on network television during 10 of the last 11 weeks of the season. The C-USA Tournament will be staged in Louisville's Freedom Hall on March 12-15.
Over the last 19 years, all but seven U of L basketball games have been televised on either a live or delayed basis. WDRB-TV (Channel 41), a FOX affiliate in Louisville, or its sister station WFTE-TV (Channel 58), will televise 16 U of L games through local origination and a pair of ESPN Plus regionally televised contests. All U of L games will be broadcast on 50,000-watt clear-channel WHAS Radio (840 AM) in Louisville and other affiliates throughout the region.
The complete 2002-03 schedule is as follows:
Nov. 6, EA Sports (exhibition); Nov. 23, Air Force; Nov. 30, Purdue at the John Wooden Tradition (Indianapolis, Ind.).
Dec. 7, South Alabama; Dec. 11, One World All-Stars (exhibition); Dec. 14, at Seton Hall; Dec. 17-18, Billy Minardi Classic (first round pairings: Louisville vs. Eastern Kentucky, Manhattan vs. Wright State); Dec. 22, Furman; Dec. 28, Kentucky.
Jan. 4, at Ohio State; Jan. 8, at Charlotte; Jan. 11, Saint Louis; Jan. 16, at East Carolina; Jan. 18, TCU; Jan. 22, DePaul; Jan. 25, at Tennessee; Jan. 29 at Southern Mississippi.
Feb. 1, Indiana; Feb. 5, Cincinnati, Feb. 8 at Houston; Feb. 12 at Saint Louis; Feb. 15, at Marquette; Feb. 19, Memphis; Feb. 22, at Cincinnati; Feb. 27, Marquette; March 1, East Carolina; March 5, at DePaul; March 8, Charlotte; March 12-15, Conference USA Tournament at Louisville's Freedom Hall.
