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Oral Roberts and Valparaiso assigned final non-conference games
Oral Roberts' Caleb Green |
Valparaiso's Dan Oppland |
ELMHURST, ILL. — Oral Roberts (12-9, 7-2 Mid-Con) and Valparaiso (11-8, 4-5) have been assigned non-conference games as a result of their participation in the larger BracketBusters presented by eBay pool. The Golden Eagles will travel to Montana, while the Crusaders will host Niagara on Saturday, February 18. Game times for both games are to be determined.
There were 100 Division I institutions in the original pool and 26 teams were selected to participate in the BracketBusters presented by eBay on Friday, February 17 and Saturday, February 18. The remaining 74 squads have been assigned non-conference games.
The BracketBusters presented by eBay is a concept developed by ESPN in conjunction with a group of conference commissioners prior to the 2002-03 basketball season. The 2006 event will be the fourth for ESPN. ESPN’s commitment to the series continues to increase with the network adding another national cablecast with six games on ESPN or ESPN2, in addition to seven more produced for ESPNU.
“We are very pleased that two of our teams are gaining exposure as part of the pool of 100,” Mid-Continent Conference commissioner Tom Douple said. “This is a great opportunity for Oral Roberts and Valparaiso to get a home-and-home series against competitive opponents.”
The Golden Eagles will face Montana, which owns a 14-3 overall record and a 6-1 mark in Big Sky action. ORU is 3-0 all-time against the Grizzlies, including an 80-68 win during the 1997-98 campaign. Oral Roberts is 15-2 all-time against Big Sky teams with its only losses coming to Weber State in 1976 and 1991. As part of the BracketBusters presented by eBay agreement, Montana will visit the Mabee Center during the 2006-07 campaign.
“We have a lot of respect for Montana’s program. They’re obviously having a great year,” Oral Roberts head coach Scott Sutton said. “This will be a difficult challenge but we’re looking forward to it.”
The Crusaders take on Niagara for the first time since the 1993-94 campaign. The Purple Eagles are 6-12 overall and 3-7 in MAAC play. Niagara leads the all-time series, 2-1. Valpo will make a return trip to Niagara next season as part of the BracketBusters presented by eBay agreement.
“We’re looking forward to playing Niagara and I’m excited to visit with and compete against an old friend of mine (Niagara head coach Joe Mihalich),” Valpo head coach Homer Drew said. “They’re an aggressive, exciting team, and I think it will be a very competitive game.”
 
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