Marshall University Athletics
Women's Basketball Announces 2007-08 Schedule
9/20/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Sept. 20, 2007
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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall University head women's basketball coach Royce Chadwick announced today the Thundering Herd's 2007-08 schedule, which features a record 10 opponents that qualified for postseason action a year ago with the possibility to play more due to its inclusion in the Preseason WNIT.
"From top to bottom it is a very ambitious schedule, but we feel we have a team that can compete in this schedule," Chadwick, entering his seventh season at Marshall, said. "We've got teams from the Big East and Big 12 and, depending on how our in-season tournaments shake out, potential matchups with the ACC, Big 10 and SEC. This schedule should set us up to have an outstanding RPI heading into March."
The Thundering Herd will open the 2007-08 campaign as a first-time participant in the Preseason WNIT. The season tips off in Evansville, Ind., on Nov. 9 when Marshall faces the Evansville Purple Aces for the first time ever. A win over UE would pit Marshall against either Michigan State or IUPUI in the second round.
"We're excited to be in the Preseason WNIT," Chadwick said. "It's a first for us and we're eager to represent Conference USA in the prestigious tournament."
The season-opening event now features a three-game guarantee format, with round two action from Nov. 11-13 and the semifinals occurring Nov. 14-15. The championship will be played on Nov. 18. The consolation bracket quads, two four-team pools featuring first round losers, will be played Nov. 16-17. Round two losers will play their final game Nov. 16 or 17 at separate sites.
Following the Preseason WNIT, Marshall will travel to geographic rival Morehead State (Nov. 21) and return to Huntington for its home-opener versus Niagara (Nov. 24).
The fifth annual Fifth Third Classic (Nov. 30-Dec. 1) features a record three postseason teams. Marshall will open the tournament with 2007 NIT participant and Southwestern Athletic Conference regular season champion Jackson State.
"This year's Fifth Third Classic features the strongest field we've ever hosted in our tournament," Chadwick said. "We're very grateful to Fifth Third Bank for helping us put on this thrilling event."
No matter the outcome of the Marshall-Jackson State contest, the Herd will face a 2007 postseason team the next day. Pittsburgh or Harvard, both NCAA Tournament teams from 2007, will take on Marshall on its home floor in the consolation/championship game.
After a pair of non-conference road tilts at North Texas (Dec. 4) and former Mid-American Conference rival Ohio (Dec. 14), the Herd will play host to Navy in another installment of Jam the Cam on Dec. 16. Marshall will return to the Lone Star state on Dec. 18 to face Southland Conference champion and NCAA team Texas-Arlington.
The Herd will close out 2007 with a trip to Charlottesville, Va., where it will face Big 12 member and NIT participant Missouri in the semifinals of the Marriott Cavalier Classic, hosted by Virginia, on Dec. 28. Again, no matter what the result of its opening round game, the Herd will face a postseason team on day two, either the host Cavaliers (NIT) or Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion Delaware State (NCAA).
For the first time since joining Conference USA two years ago, a December game within league play is not on the Herd's schedule. Instead, Marshall will open the C-USA slate with a home contest on Jan. 5 versus defending tournament champion East Carolina. Other C-USA competition to visit the Cam Henderson Center this season includes Tulsa (Jan. 18), SMU (Jan. 20) and UTEP (Feb. 7) prior to a season-high, four-game homestand versus UCF (Feb. 15), Southern Miss (Feb. 17), Memphis (Feb. 21) and NIT participant UAB (Feb. 23).
Marshall's league schedule away from home begins with a two-game swing to Memphis (Jan. 10) and UAB (Jan. 12). The C-USA road will take the Herd to East Carolina (Jan. 27), UCF (Jan. 31), Southern Miss (Feb. 2), Tulane (Feb. 10), Rice (Feb. 28) and Houston (March 1).
Rice and Tulane appeared in the postseason NIT in March of 2007.
Sandwiched in between the Herd's C-USA schedule is the annual Chesapeake Energy Capital Classic with intra-state rival and NCAA participant West Virginia on Jan. 23 in Charleston, W.Va.
Two of the Herd's home dates are apart of a doubleheader with the MU men's basketball team. The men will take on Winthrop at 2 p.m. on Jan. 5, followed by the women at 5 p.m. in the C-USA opener versus East Carolina. The same times apply for Feb. 23 when the men open the doubleheader versus UCF and the women close the day's action with UAB.
The C-USA Championship will be played in Orlando, Fla., from March 6-9.
"If we stay healthy, we feel we have a chance to do some big things this season," Chadwick said.
Marshall's exhibition schedule features a pair of home contests versus Kentucky State (Oct. 31) and West Virginia Wesleyan (Nov. 4).
Game times and dates are subject to change.
