Kansas Announces 2004-05 Men's Basketball Schedule
Aug. 13, 2004
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Ten 2004 NCAA tournament teams, including two from the Final Four, one from the Elite Eight and two from the Sweet 16, highlight the 2004-05 University of Kansas men’s basketball schedule, released by athletic department officials Thursday.vKansas once again boasts one of the nation’s most difficult schedules, including non-conference home games against Georgia Tech (2004 Final Four), Saint Joseph’s (Elite Eight) and Nevada (Sweet 16), as well as road games versus traditional powers Kentucky and Villanova. In addition, Kansas will play home games against Big 12 Conference foes Oklahoma State (Final Four) and Texas (Sweet 16).
After a preseason exhibition tour in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sept 4-6, the Jayhawks open their 2004-05 slate with a pair of exhibition games in Allen Fieldhouse — against Division II in-state opponents Emporia State (Nov. 7) and Washburn (Nov. 14). KU has won 20 straight home exhibition contests, dating back to a 93-82 loss to Australia Nov. 29, 1993. The Jayhawks are 13-3 all-time against Emporia State and 30-3 against Washburn in regular-season action.
Kansas opens regular-season action with nine straight home games, starting with Vermont Nov. 19 in the first-ever meeting between the schools. Vermont earned a berth in the 2004 NCAA tournament by winning the championship of the America East Conference. The Jayhawks have won 31 straight home openers in Allen Fieldhouse.
The national spotlight will shine in Lawrence Nov. 23, as KU welcomes national power Saint Joseph’s to the Fieldhouse. Saint Joe’s finished 30-2 last season and advanced to the Elite 8, but trails KU 4-1 in the all-time series. Just six days later, Kansas will host Nevada, a 2004 Sweet 16 participant. The Jayhawks lead the series 3-1, but lost to the Wolfpack 75-61 in Reno, Nev., last Dec. 21.
The homestand will continue against Pacific Dec. 4. Kansas holds a 2-0 lead in the all-time series; Pacific finished 25-8 last season after falling to KU 78-63 in the second round of the NCAA tournament at Kemper Arena. KU will then host TCU (Dec. 8), led by former Jayhawk assistant coach Neil Dougherty. KU is 3-0 all-time against the Horned Frogs, including an 85-66 win last season in Ft. Worth.
KU will face South Carolina in Allen Fieldhouse Dec. 18. The Gamecocks finished 23-11 last season and made their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1998.
Next up for the Jayhawks is the Feist Shootout — a matchup with 2004 NIT participant Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The meeting will be the first-ever between the teams and will be played at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo., as part of the KU home season ticket package. The Panthers won the Horizon League regular-season championship last season, but lost by three in the final of the conference tournament to Illinois-Chicago, the Jayhawks’ first-round NCAA opponent.
After a short holiday break, KU will return to action New Year’s Day against Georgia Tech at Allen Fieldhouse. The Yellow Jackets beat the Jayhawks 79-71 in overtime in the 2004 NCAA Elite Eight en route to the NCAA title game. KU leads the all-time series 3-1.
KU will open Big 12 play Jan. 5, hosting Texas A&M. The Jayhawks then head to Lexington, Ky., to face one of the best teams in the nation. Kansas and Kentucky will square off Jan. 9 for the first time since March 14, 1999 (NCAA Midwest Regional), and the first time in Lexington since Dec. 8, 1990. The Wildcats hold a 19-3 lead in the all-times series.
KU will have another non-conference contest in the midst of the Big 12 play, as it travels to Villanova Jan. 22. KU leads the series 2-0, including an 86-79 win last season in Allen Fieldhouse.
ESPN’s College Game Day studio will host from Allen Fieldhouse for the Jayhawks’ Jan. 29 game against Texas. Other notable home conference games include Missouri (Jan. 31), 2004 Final Four participant Oklahoma State Feb. 27 and Senior Day March 2 against in-state rival Kansas State. That game that will mark the 50th anniversary of the first game played in Allen Fieldhouse (March 1, 1955, vs. Kansas State).
Kansas will add another home game in December. The athletic department will release those details, in addition to television information and game times, as soon as they are confirmed.
