UW men will play 19 games at home

The Associated Press | The Associated Press • Published July 16, 2008

SEATTLE - If Washington wants to get back to the NCAA men's basketball tournament, it appears have a favorable schedule next season.

Washington will play 10 of its first 13 games at home as part of the 2008-09 schedule UW released Tuesday. Wash ington will open Pac-10 Conference play Jan. 3 at rival Washington State and close the regular season hosting the Cougars on March 7 in Seattle.

"I really like the balance of our schedule, and I think it prepares us well for the Pac-10 season," UW coach Lorenzo Romar said. "We have a solid blend of nonconference opponents and we are playing in two very strong events in the O'Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic and the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series. Those two events give us a chance to really test ourselves against some quality opponents."

As for the Huskies' nonconference schedule, only one game will be played on an opponent's home floor, Washington's season opener on Nov. 15 at Portland. The Huskies will then compete in the CBE Classic with two games at home and potentially two games at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.

Washington will follow the tournament with eight straight home games, including contests against Pacific, Eastern Washington and a Dec. 4 matchup with Oklahoma State in the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series. The Cowboys routed the Huskies 96-71 in Stillwater, Okla., last year.

The Huskies will also play five of their final seven Pac-10 games at home, including the last three.

Washington lost just three players from last year's team that went 16-17 and lost to Valparaiso in the first round of the College Basketball Invitational. They have missed the NCAA tournament the last two seasons.