Non-conference schedule announced

The 2003-2004 Hoosier basketball team will have its hands full in non-conference bouts as IU will face numerous teams that made it into post-season play. Well-known teams such as Kentucky, Missouri, Notre Dame, Wake Forest and Xavier will face the Hoosiers out of conference.\nWhile the Big Ten schedule has yet to be set, coach Mike Davis is sure that IU's non-conference opponents will be formidable.\n"Six of our first eight games are against teams that made the NCAA Tournament, and three of those teams (Kentucky, Notre Dame and Butler) made the Sweet 16," Davis said in a press release. \nWhile they are going to face some tough opponents, this is no change for the Hoosiers, as their schedule has ranked amongst the top eight in the nation in Sagarin Ratings schedule strength for the past five seasons.\nDavis hopes that a schedule with such elite opponents will drive his players to train harder during the offseason.\n"This schedule should be more than enough incentive for our guys to work their tails off this summer with conditioning and lifting," Davis said. "This is the time of the year to set the tone for work ethic and intensity."\nSome of the more notable games include IU's debut in the John Wooden Tradition, where the team will face-off against Xavier at Conseco Fieldhouse in November. This year's contest is the fourth annual John Wooden Tradition that chronicles the accomplishments of famed UCLA basketball coach and Indiana native John Wooden.\nThe Xavier game also marks the beginning of six straight games against 2003 NCAA Tournament participants, as the Hoosiers will then be traveling to Wake Forest for the ACC--Big Ten Challenge. As of yet, IU is flawless with a 2-0 record in the event after upsetting the Maryland Terrapins last season and overtaking North Carolina in 2001.\nAfter the ACC--Big Ten Challenge, IU will be heading back to Bloomington to face the Missouri Tigers, who will prove to be a tough opponent after finishing 22-11 last season with an overtime loss against Marquette in the 2003 NCAA Tournament.\nIU will then travel to South Bend to face intra-state rival and last season's Sweet 16 participant Notre Dame on Dec. 9.\nAll four games against Xavier, Wake Forest, Missouri and Notre Dame will take place in only ten days, from Nov. 29 to Dec. 9, and Davis is certain that this period will show the resolve of this seaon's basketball program.\n"What a tough stretch that will be," Davis said. "We should have a pretty good idea of where we stand after that."\nWhile the ten day stand will be tough on the Hoosiers, they will not be out of the fire yet as they will then face yet another intra-state rival and Sweet 16 participant Butler. After the Butler contest, IU will play the Kentucky Wildcats for the 47th time. In the Dec. 20 contest, the Hoosiers will try to snap a three-game series losing streak at the RCA Dome.