Big 12 Conference Releases Men's, Women's Basketball Schedules

BOULDER - The Big 12 Conference released its 16-game league schedule for the 2005-06 University of Colorado men's and women's basketball seasons on Thursday.

Colorado's men's team will open Big 12 play on Saturday, Jan. 7, at 2 p.m. MST at Texas in Austin. CU defeated the Longhorns twice last year, including an 81-69 triumph in the first round of the 2005 Big 12 Tournament.

The game in Austin is also one of five league games on CU's schedule set for broadcast on ESPN Plus. Other ESPN Plus games are at Oklahoma State on Jan. 21, at Iowa State on Feb. 5, at Kansas State on Feb. 18 and in Boulder against Missouri on Feb. 25.

Colorado will face Kansas in its first Big 12 home game of 2005-06 as the Jayhawks come to the Coors Events/Conference Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11. The Buffaloes will also host Big 12 North rivals Nebraska, Kansas State, Iowa State and Missouri at the CECC as well as Big 12 South foes Baylor, Texas Tech and Oklahoma.

New CU women's basketball head coach Kathy McConnell-Miller will see her first Big 12 action on Wednesday, Jan. 4, as the Buffaloes host Nebraska at the CECC. After her Big 12 debut against the Cornhuskers, McConnell-Miller will then make her first trip back to the state of Oklahoma, where she coached at Tulsa for six seasons, on Saturday, Jan. 7, as the Buffaloes take on the Sooners in Norman.

Big 12 South rivals Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas A&M will come to Boulder in 2005-06 along with CU's normal slate of Big 12 North opponents. The Buffaloes will face defending NCAA champion Baylor on Wednesday, Feb. 22, in Waco, Texas.

The television package for Big 12 women's basketball games, which includes ESPN and Fox Sports Net, will be released at a later date.

CU's men's nonconferece schedule features in-state rival Colorado State in Fort Collins on Nov. 21, NIT qualifier Texas Christian in Fort Worth on Dec. 20 and NCAA Tournament participant Utah at the CECC on Dec. 7. The Buffaloes will also take part in the inaugural Colorado Classic at the Pepsi Center on Saturday, Nov. 26, against St. Mary's (Calif.).

The women's squad will host Illinois, Northern Iowa and Utah State in the 19th annual Coors Classic at the CECC Nov. 25-26 and will make a trip to Puerto Rico for the San Juan Shootout Dec. 19-21 to face Northern Arizona, South Florida and Puerto Rico-Mayaguez. The Buffs also have home dates against Wyoming on Nov. 21 and NCAA Tournament participant Oregon on Dec. 30 and will travel to face Colorado State in Fort Collins on Nov. 30.

Please note that CU's nonconference schedules are not complete and all dates and times of both schedules remain subject to change. Schedules can be downloaded at the links below.