Blue Demons Unveil 2002-03 Schedule
9/16/2002 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
2002-03 Schedule
CHICAGO -- The Dave Leitao era of DePaul basketball will begin with a schedule that features 12 games against teams that reached postseason play a year ago and 16 home games it was announced today.
The Blue Demons will face NCAA Tournament teams Charlotte, Cincinnati and Marquette twice each and Notre Dame while playing NIT teams Louisville (twice), Houston, UNLV and St. Joseph's. This season also marks return of Loyola-Chicago to the schedule for the first time since February, 1996 and the first time since the 1990-91 campaign that every Blue Demon home game will be played at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont.
"We know that our first season will provide many challenges and the schedule is one of them. This schedule will test our ability to come together quickly," Leitao said. "Obviously, our conference speaks for itself and the non-conference games will serve as a quick indication as to where we are as a team."
Leitao's first game as DePaul's head coach will be on November 23 when the Blue Demons help open Northern Illinois' new Convocation Center in DeKalb. DePaul's home opener is November 30 against Central Michigan. Other non-conference home games will include the first meeting with cross-town rival Loyola-Chicago in six years on January 2, Seton Hall on December 28 and UNLV on January 11. The Blue Demons will also travel to Notre Dame for the first time since 1994 on December 14 and St. Joseph's on December 21.
The Conference USA opener is at Cincinnati on January 8. The Blue Demons' league home opener is against TCU on January 14. Four of DePaul's first six C-USA games are against Cincinnati, Marquette and Louisville. The annual C-USA Tournament will take place on March 12-15 at Freedom Hall in Louisville.