September 11, 2007

Chicago, Ill. – Chicago State University first year men’s basketball head coach Benjy Taylor has announced the Cougars 29-game schedule for the upcoming 2007-08 season, which is highlighted by twelve home games, including a January 16th contest with Big Ten Conference member Northwestern, in the new Emil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center. Before the regular season tips-off, Chicago State will host exhibition games against Calumet St. Joseph and Trinity International on November 3rd and 5th respectively, at the Jones Convocation Center.

The Cougars kick-off the season on the road as they visit Cal State Northridge on Nov. 10th. Chicago State will then return to the mid-west for the CBE Classic on November 13th-14th,  on the campus of regional host Michigan State, where the Cougars will take on the Spartans in the first round of the two-day affair.

Chicago State will return to the Jones Convocation Center to open their regular season home schedule against Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) member Binghamton on November 17th.

The Cougars will then go on the road for its next five games; taking on Detroit on November 21st, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis on November 24th and in-state opponent Illinois State on November 27th, before heading south to New Mexico for match-ups against New Mexico State on November 30th and Western New Mexico State on December 1st at the Lou Henson Classic.

Following the Lou Henson Classic, CSU will return to Chicago for a match-up against Horizon League member Cleveland State on December 4th. The contest will mark the final time the Cougars are at home for the month of December, as Chicago State will then have the next eight match-ups on the road and not return to the Emil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center until January 12.

CSU kicks-off the eight game swing in Des Moines, Iowa at the Drake Regency Classic where the Cougars will meet up with Drake in the first round of competition on December 7th; before squaring-off against either Jackson State or Texas-Pan American on the final day of action. Before heading into the holiday break, Chicago State will visit former Mid-Con rival Valparaiso on December 15th, University of Miami (OH) on December 18th, and Binghamton on December 22nd. After a December 29th game with Big Ten Conference powerhouse, Indiana University, Chicago State will start the 2008 year with a game at Eastern Michigan on January 2nd. The Cougars will end the eight-game trip in Tuscaloosa, Ala. taking on Southeastern Conference (SEC) member the University of Alabama on January 4th.  

Chicago State will return home on January 12th for a match-up against Independent-foe Utah Valley before concluding their five-game home stand against cross-town opponent and Big Ten Conference member Northwestern on January 16th, New Jersey Institute of Technology on January 19th,  Cal State Northridge on January 22nd, and fellow Independent Texas-Pan American on January 28th.

After a couple days off, the Cougars will visit Edinburg, TX., to complete the back end of a home and home match-up against Texas-Pan American on February 2nd. Chicago State will close out the road trip in Orem, UT., against Utah Valley on February 9th.

Three of CSU’s final four games will be held in Chicago as East-West on February 13th, Central State (OH) on February 23rd, and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis on February 27th will each come to the Emil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center.  The Cougars final road game of the year will be against Independent-foe New Jersey Institute of Technology on February 16th.

“Obviously this is a very tough and challenging schedule, but our team is looking forward to it”, Taylor said. “In order for us to grow as a program we have to play a type schedule that will provide our players with competition of different levels, and from different regions”.  

Chicago State is coming off a 2006-07 campaign in which they were 9-20, they return two seniors and welcome nine newcomers.