KU Women's Hoops Non-Conference Slate Released
May 8, 2013
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LAWRENCE, Kan. – As a member of the Big 12 Conference, the highest-rated RPI league in the nation each of the last five seasons, the Kansas women’s basketball team faces plenty of elite-level competition just in conference play. However, coming off back-to-back NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearances for the first time in school history, a tough non-conference slate has bode well for the Jayhawks and that trend will continue during the 2013-14 campaign.
Kansas Athletics released the 14-game non-conference schedule Wednesday which includes the two exhibition games. In the 12 non-league contests, KU will face six NCAA Tournament teams, four regular-season league champions, four WNIT squads and six teams coming off 20-win campaigns.
“I think for us (next season we will be) trying to create our own identity early,” KU head coach Bonnie Henrickson said. “With what we lost from the senior class (last year) in Angel (Goodrich), Carolyn (Davis) and Monica (Engelman), this schedule allows to play on a neutral floor against some really good teams, play on the road against quality competition and at home against some tough challenges. It will also allow us to come together and figure out early what we need to work on for conference play.”
During the exhibition season, the Jayhawks will face Pittsburg State (Oct. 30) and Emporia State (Nov. 3) with both games being played at Allen Fieldhouse. KU faced both in-state NCAA Division II schools in exhibition games prior to the 2011-12 season, both Jayhawk victories.
Kansas will officially open the regular season on Nov. 10 in the first of three-straight home games all against teams that advanced to postseason play last year. KU will host 2013 Southland Conference regular-season champion and NCAA Tournament participant Oral Roberts in the opener at Allen Fieldhouse. On Nov. 13, SIU Edwardsville from the Ohio Valley Conference will be in Lawrence, after advancing to the WNIT last season.
Kansas closes the homestand against new Big East Conference member Creighton, which posted a first round NCAA Tournament win last season after winning the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title with a 25-8 overall record.
With the next four games away from Lawrence, KU will face its first road test at Big 10 Conference opponent Minnesota on Nov. 20. In a return game, the Golden Gophers advanced to the WNIT and finished with an 18-14 record after falling to KU in Allen Fieldhouse last season.
The Jayhawks will spend their Thanksgiving holiday at 2013 Ezybonds Global Payments U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam. As previously released, KU will face Central Michigan (Nov. 28), Xavier (Nov. 29) and Duke (Nov. 30) in the neutral site event. Central Michigan and Duke each participated in the NCAA Tournament last season with Duke advancing to the Elite Eight.
Kansas will conclude its non-conference slate with five-straight home games. The Jayhawks will host 2013 WNIT participants Arkansas (Dec. 4) and Texas Southern (Dec. 8), before facing 2013 NCAA Tournament teams Purdue (Dec. 15) and Tulsa (Dec. 22) back-to-back inside Allen Fieldhouse. KU will host Yale from the Ivy League on Dec. 29 on James Naismith Court for the final non-conference tilt.
The Jayhawks return two starters and seven letterwinners from last year’s squad that finished the season with a 20-14 mark. Kansas will have to replace its top three scorers, but adds a talented recruiting class with five incoming freshmen.
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