Strong Schedule Awaits 2002-03 Vanderbilt Cagers 8/6/02

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Nine 2002 NCAA Tournament teams, two NIT teams and a demanding non-conference slate highlight the 2002-2003 Vanderbilt men's basketball schedule, released today.

The Commodores will play 27 regular-season contests this season, including 16 home games. Six of Vanderbilt's conference games will be on television, including the January 14 home game against Kentucky that will be broadcast nationally by ESPN. Any television appearances for non-conference games will be announced at a later time.

"Our non-conference schedule must be among the toughest in the country," Head Coach Kevin Stallings said. "I've always said we will try to match our schedule with our team. I don't want to over-schedule and at the same time we want our schedule to be attractive to our team as well as our fans. This schedule reflects our belief we are in the process of getting better."

After opening up the 2002-2003 season with three games in five days at the end of November, the Commodores will play host to the Connecticut Huskies. Connecticut advanced to the Elite Eight of the 2002 NCAA Tournament after facing Vanderbilt in Hartford, Conn., early in the season. The Commodores wrap up their six-game season-opening homestand against Tulane December 7.

Three of Vanderbilt's next four games are on the road and could prove to be the toughest stretch of the non-conference schedule. The Commodores begin with a trip to Indiana, which is coming off its national runner-up finish from last season. After a home contest against High Point, Vanderbilt travels to Michigan before Christmas and then heads to Notre Dame after the holiday break.

The always tough SEC schedule begins January 8 at Auburn and Vanderbilt is scheduled to have at least six SEC games televised. The home games that are scheduled to be televised are January 11 against Alabama, Jan. 14 against Kentucky and January 29 against Georgia, while the road games scheduled to be televised are January 22 at Florida, March 1 at South Carolina and March 5 at Kentucky. The Commodores have two scheduled bye dates during the conference season with the first day off coming Saturday, January 25, and the second coming Wednesday, February 19.

2002-03 Vanderbilt Men's Basketball Schedule

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