SMU Mustangs v UofMass Minutemen?

[MrMustang1965]

It's not quite the anyone, anywhere schedule that helped John Calipari build the University of Massachusetts men's basketball program into a national power in the 1990s, but the 2005-2006 UMass non-conference slate is its most challenging in years.

UMass released 13 of its 14 non-conference games for the upcoming season, a schedule that includes games against storied programs Kentucky and Louisville, Big East power Pittsburgh, in-state rival Boston College and ACC talent Miami.

The final game has not been arranged, but the Minutemen are looking for a middle-of-the-road opponent, most likely for a home-and-home deal. Indiana State, Siena and Southern Methodist are teams of interest.

The Dec.13 game against Louisville pits UMass head coach Travis Ford against his former coach at Kentucky, Rick Pitino, in the Billy Minardi Classic at Freedom Hall.

That game is a one-time deal between the two schools, but the Dec.22 game at Ford's alma mater, Kentucky, will be returned next year, although whether the game is played at the Mullins Center in Amherst or the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston or elsewhere in the Commonwealth is undecided.

The Minutemen will open the non-conference slate Nov.11 by hosting Dartmouth at the Mullins Center. UMass will head to Steelers country for the University of Pittsburgh Tournament Nov.17-19 to play Oakland, Northeastern and Pittsburgh, in that order.

UMass returns to Amherst Nov.22 to play St. Francis before heading to Georgia to face Savannah State Nov.28. UMass then plays the other two Division I teams in Boston four days apart.

The Minutemen host BC on Dec.2 then play Boston University at its new gym, the Agganis Arena.

For the fourth time in the last six years UMass will play Central Connecticut State at the Mohegan Sun Arena on Dec.9. Yale comes to Amherst Dec.28, then the Minutemen start the new year by hosting Miami on Jan.2.

http://www.masslive.com/sports/republic ... xml&coll=1

[LA_Mustang]

UMass is in trouble if they haven't filled out their 2005-2006 schedule.