Ranked opponents highlight Tech's 2005-2006 schedule, some at home

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Several ranked teams that played in the post-season last winter - powers such as Michigan State, Oregon State, Cincinnati, Dayton and UW Milwaukee -- are peppered throughout the impressive 30-game schedule which will test the Tennessee Tech men's basketball team in 2005-06.

Associate head coach Steve Payne announced the schedule this week, with some of those opponents slated to visit Eblen Center. "I can't imagine a better, tougher schedule. The quality of the teams coming in here to Eblen Center is remarkable," Payne said. "If our fans want to see a nationally competitive schedule, this is it."

A total of 14 home games, the Las Vegas Classic, and an ESPN Bracket Buster contest are also features of what could be considered the most challenging schedule ever faced by the Golden Eagles.

Consider this checklist for the Top 25 poll:

* Oregon State, with three of its top five players back from an NIT team;

* Cincinnati, three of five starters back from a team that won 27 games and reached the second round of the NCAA tourney;

* Dayton, with 10 of its top 12 players returning after taking second place in the Atlantic 10 West Division with an 18-11 record;

* Wisconsin-Milwaukee, with eight of its top 10 players back from an NCAA Sweet 16 team that won 26 games;

* Michigan State, a team that reached the NCAA Final Four.

Tech will play a full schedule of 20 Ohio Valley Conference games, facing all 10 opponents both home and away. The Golden Eagles will also face three schools (Oregon State, Michigan State and Brevard) for the first time, and renew rivalries with Dayton, Bluefield, UW Milwaukee, Florida A&M and Cincinnati.

"When coach (Mike) Sutton came to Tech, one of his goals was to upgrade our schedule and this is definitely one of the toughest in recent memory," Payne said. "He has worked hard to get some of these teams to come in here and play."

Payne is handling the day-to-day operation of the men's basketball program while head coach Mike Sutton continues his recovery from Guillan-Barre Syndrome.

An exhibition game against Crichton College on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 13, gets the season underway, then the Golden Eagles visit Dayton, Nov. 18. It's the first time the teams have met since Tech eliminated Dayton from the NIT field - on Dayton's home court - four years ago.

"There is no doubt that Dayton and its fans remember Tennessee Tech, and it's an extremely difficult place to play, " Payne said.

Oregon State, UW-Milwaukee and Austin Peay highlight a four-game homestand that should provide some of the best competition ever seen in Eblen Center.

The Oregon State Beavers come to Eblen Center for Tech's home opener on Sunday, Nov. 20, followed by Bluefield College (Nov. 22), Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Dec. 28) and Austin Peay (Dec. 1).

"The early four-game homestand will be very important. The guys feel comfortable playing in Cookeville," Payne said. "I don't know if we've ever played this top quality of opponent at home, but it's important that we get our season off to a good start. It should be very exciting for our fans."

December opens and the homestand concludes with a huge conference game against rival Austin Peay as the Golden Eagles play three league contests before the holidays.

In addition to the Dec. 1 visit to Eblen Center from the Govs, the defending OVC champion Golden Eagles will play at Eastern Illinois Dec. 8, and Southeast Missouri, Dec. 10.

"Playing three conference games in December will be a new and different challenge for us," said Payne. "We'll need to be prepared in a hurry."

Following the trip to EIU and SEMO, Tech plays three games in the Las Vegas Classic, including hosting one game on Monday, Dec. 19.

"The Las Vegas Tournament will be interesting as well as highly challenging," Payne said. "We play one game at Cincinnati, one game at home and the third game in Las Vegas, but we don't know who two of the opponents are. Some of the teams in the tournament are LSU, Northern Iowa, Dayton and Florida A&M. We don't know who we'll face."

The Las Vegas Classic is Tech's first "exempt" tournament since the Hawaii Classic in 2001-2002.

The Golden Eagles span the New Year holiday with a road trip North, facing Michigan State in East Lansing, Dec. 28.

"Michigan State was a Final Four team and most of that group is back," Payne said. "This will be as tough a game as we've ever played."

Tech returns home to host Samford, Jan. 2, to open a string of 16 consecutive conference games. That run is interrupted Feb. 18 when the Golden Eagles play an ESPN Bracket Buster game, but the opponent and site have not yet been announced.

Five nights later, Tech closes the regular season by hosting perennial OVC power Murray State in a prelude to the conference tournament. The first round games will be held Feb. 28 at campus site, with the final two rounds in the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Marh 3-4.

The Golden Eagles finished the 2004-05 season 18-12 overall and captured the regular season title in the Ohio Valley Conference for the third time in five years.