Temple University Athletics
TEMPLE ANNOUNCES COMPLETE 2004-05 MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
9.7.04 | Men's Basketball
"We are facing the toughest competition we have ever faced, with the most Top 20 teams we have ever had on the schedule," stated Temple head coach John Chaney. "We are hopeful that this team will be able to meet the demands of this schedule."
The Owls open play with a home game against Auburn on November 19. The non-conference schedule includes three teams from the ACC (Duke, Maryland and Wake Forest), three teams from the SEC (Alabama, Auburn and South Carolina) and two Philadelphia Big 5 (Penn and Villanova) teams. It also includes Arizona State (Pac-10), Georgetown (Big East) and Princeton (Ivy). Six of the non-conferences teams competed in the 2004 NCAA Tournament with three advancing to the Sweet 16 (Alabama, Duke, Wake Forest), two to the Elite Eight (Alabama, Duke) and one to the Final Four (Duke). Villanova also reached postseason play last year, advancing to the NIT quarterfinals.
Temple will play home-and-home series with Atlantic 10 East Division rivals, Saint Joseph's, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Fordham and St. Bonaventure. The Owls will host Dayton, George Washington and La Salle from the A-10 West Division while traveling to Duquesne, Richmond and Xavier. Dayton, Richmond, Saint Joseph's and Xavier advanced to 2004 NCAA Tournament with Saint Joseph's and Xavier reaching the Elite Eight. George Washington and Rhode Island received invitations to the 2004 NIT.
ESPN will televise the Owls games against Xavier and George Washington while its sister network, ESPN2, will air the Princeton, Duke, Wake Forest and Maryland contests. The A-10 TV Network will broadcast both Saint Joseph's games as well as the Richmond and La Salle contests.
