Men's Basketball To Open 2005-06 Regular Season Versus Montana State At The 10th Annual BP Top Of The World Classic
July 26, 2005
BP Top of the World Classic Tournament Bracket in PDF Format
Chicago, Ill. - The UIC men's basketball team will open its 2005-06 regular-season slate by taking on Montana State at the 10th Annual BP Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska, as the bracket for the four-day, eight-team tournament was released on Tuesday. The Flames and Bobcats will square off at 8:30 p.m.(11:30 p.m. Central) on Thursday, November 17th, at University of Alaska Fairbanks' Carlson Center. UIC's contest follows the tournament opener between San Diego State and the host Nanooks. The two other first round games take place on Friday, Nov. 18th with Denver meeting Kennesaw State and Southern Mississippi taking on Lamar. The Flames will then resume action on Saturday, Nov. 19th at Noon or 5:00 p.m. in a winner's or loser's bracket contest with San Diego State or Alaska-Fairbanks. The tournament then concludes on Sunday with three consolation games leading up to the title game at 7:30 p.m. UIC's season-opening opponent, Montana State, posted a 14-14 overall record last season and finished second in the Big Sky Conference. Head Coach Mick Durham is the reigning Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year. The Flames, who went 15-14 in 2004-05, will counter with an experienced core group, including three returning starters, that will be enhanced by a talented newcomer class. Possible second-round foes San Diego State and Alaska-Fairbanks totaled records of 11-18 and 21-9 last year respectively. The Aztecs are members of the Mountain West Conference and are coached by former Michigan headmaster Steve Fisher. The Nanooks, who won the 2002 Top of the World Classic, advanced to the NCAA Division II West Regional Finals last season after topping 20 wins for the third straight season. The bottom half of the bracket includes Denver, who went 18-10 and earned an NIT berth last season, Southern Mississippi (11-17), Lamar (14-11) and first-year Division I member Kennesaw State (24-6). The remainder of the team's 2005-06 schedule has yet to be finalized. Keep checking uicflames.com for all the latest updates and information. All Times Shown are Alaska Standard (AKST), three hours behind Central, unless otherwise noted.
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