The University of Central Arkansas men have a road game against Vanderbilt paired with a trip to Cancun and a formidable home schedule on their 2008-09 basketball schedule released Monday.
The Bears will play at Vanderbilt on Nov. 26 as part of the Cancun Challenge, then fly to Mexico to play two more games on Nov. 29-30. UCA also has return games from UNC-Greensboro, St. Bonaventure,
Bowling Green and UT Martin, all at home at the Farris Center.
The Bears open the season on Nov. 16 at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.
"It's exciting that we've put together a home schedule that includes 16 home games,' said head coach Rand Chappell. "After our first couple of years at the Division I level, having to go on the road a lot, to see it turn around in our favor is exciting.
"We're bringing in teams from the Mid-American Conference, the Atlantic 10, the Southern Conference and the Ohio Valley. Those are very well-respected mid-major leagues. It should be some great basketball for our fans to watch in the Farris Center.'
The trip to Cancun will be no doubt be a favorite for the UCA players.
"It will be a nice reward for the guys to go to Cancun,' said Chappell, who is entering his sixth season at UCA. "Two years ago we went to Connecticut, then to Kentucky and Rupp Arena last year. This year, we get to play a Southeastern Conference team in their unique environment in Nashville. That experience, along with a trip to Cancun over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, will be really nice. Everyone we've talked to said that it's a great experience and a very well-run tournament.'
When UT Martin comes to Conway on Dec. 31, the Skyhawks will be led by Lester Hudson, the No. 2 scorer in the country last season. UCA held Hudson to 13 points in their 78-75 win last season in Martin.
"It will be exciting to have a player the caliber of Lester Hudson play in the Farris Center,' said Chappell. "He will probably be one we'll be watching in the NBA pretty soon.'
The Bears will open Southland Conference play on Jan. 10 at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and will finish with McNeese State at home on March 7.
"We feel like our very good non-conference schedule will prepare us for a tough Southland Conference that was probably the most improved league in the country a year ago,' he said. "Our league jumped all the way to No. 17 in the RPI last year, and it looks to be as good or better this year.'
