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SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Entering his first season as a full NCAA Division I member, UIW head men's basketball coach, Ken Burmeister, wasted little time going to the top.
 
The Cardinals are scheduled to play at Gonzaga, a team that went 37-2 a season ago, was the number one team in the country for most of the season, and lost in the NCAA Tournament championship game to North Carolina.
 
Not to be outdone, UIW will play at Florida on December 22. The Gators have made 20 NCAA Tournament appearances and are a two-time national champion (2006 and 2007).
 
Also on the schedule will be road games at Houston (November 25) and UTEP (December 19). In all, those four teams combine for 77 NCAA Tournament appearances, 12 Final Fours, and three national championships (UTEP won in 1966 as part of Texas Western College).
 
"Our non-conference slate is a powerhouse, with UTEP, Houston, Gonzaga, and Houston," stated Burmeister. "The home slate, with Sacramento State and Loyola Marymount, will prepare us for Southland Conference play. We are extremely happy to have the opportunity to go to the conference tournament for an NCAA bid this season. The Southland is a very tough league; it is becoming one of the top basketball conferences in the country."
 
UIW opens the season with four straight home games, beginning November 10 against Southwestern. The Cardinals follow with home tilts against Trinity (November 13) and McMurry (November 17) before completing a home-and-home with Loyola Marymount on November 22. Last season, the Cardinals lost an overtime heartbreaker to the Lions, 91-90, in Los Angeles.
 
The Cardinals hit the road for the first time, playing at a Houston team on November 25 that went 21-11 last season and reached the NIT. Following the date with the Cougars, the Cardinals play at aforementioned Gonzaga at a time to be determined on November 29.
 
The Cardinals will host Sacramento State on Citywide Sports Network on December 2. The two teams squared off two seasons ago in Sacramento, with the Hornets getting the 73-70 victory.
 
Texas Lutheran visits the Convo Center on December 5 before UMKC comes to town to close a three-game home stand on December 16. The Kangaroos went 18-17 last season and reached the CBI Tournament.
 
The Cardinals close the non-conference portion of the schedule with two tough road games at UTEP on December 19 and Florida on the 22nd. This will mark the second time the Cardinals will play at Glory Road. Last season, Florida went 27-9 overall, and reached the Elite Eight.
 
With a new outlook this season as the first time UIW is eligible for a Southland Conference tournament, the Cardinals open conference play at McNeese and Nicholls prior to New Year's.
 
The Cardinals will be home only twice in a 10-game stretch, with home tilts against Sam Houston on January 6 and Lamar on January 17.
 
Following road games at reigning Southland Conference Tournament champion, New Orleans, and HBU, the Cardinals conclude a home-and-home with UNO on January 27 at the Convo Center. The Red and Black close their three-game home stand against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Southeastern Louisiana.
 
The Cardinals play at Abilene Christian and Lamar in mid-February before ending the season hosting four of the final five games, beginning with SFA on February 17. Games against Northwestern State and HBU sandwich a road contest at TAMUCC, before the Cardinals close the regular season hosting ACU on March 3.
 
The 2018 Southland Conference Tournament will be held Wednesday-Sunday, March 7-11 at the Merrell Center in Katy, Texas, with the champion receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
 
UIW returns eight letterwinners from last season's 12-17 record. The Cardinals went 7-11 in conference play, including the first-ever win over Stephen F. Austin, 70-68. They also defeated visiting LIU Brooklyn, 90-79. The Cardinals return SLC Newcomer of the Year, Jalin Hart, Honorable Mention All-SLC recipient, Simi Socks, and Shawn Johnson.
 
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics visit uiwcardinals.com. Be sure to follow UIW Athletics on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.