Eight-time NCAA Division II National Champion Kentucky Wesleyan will play Louisville and South Carolina in exhibition competition to open the Panthers' 101st year of basketball for the 2010-11 season, as announced by KWC sixth-year head men's coach Todd Lee.
The Panthers will play Louisville in their new downtown KFC Yum Center (22,000) on Thursday, Nov. 11. This marks the second time in five seasons KWC has faced the Cardinals in exhibition play. U of L won 93-68 at Freedom Hall before a crowd of 14,689 on Nov.19, 2006.
"We're really looking forward to the opportunity to play Louisville and we appreciate the invitation," said Lee, the 2010 Midwest Region Coach of the Year . "This will be great for our fans to see us play a great team, in a great atmosphere, in the newest and best basketball arena in the country.
"With their talent, athleticism and how hard they play for Coach (Rick) Pitino, it will definitely help prepare us for our season and I know our team will be excited to play the Cardinals.”
KWC will compete against the South Carolina for the third straight exhibition season on Thursday, Nov. 4, at the Colonial Life Arena (18,000) in Columbia, SC. The Gamecocks have won both contests at home, 75-55 on Nov. 7, 2008; and 78-55 on Nov. 5, 2009.
"This is the fifth straight season we have played Coach (Darrin) Horn's teams with two at Western Kentucky and three at South Carolina," Lee added. "I know he feels we do a good job of getting them prepared for their season and it is a compliment to our players and the program."
Game times and ticket information for both contests will be announced at a later date.
"The national exposure and the competitive level will benefit our 'championship tradition' program," stated Lee. "To be the best you have to play the best and we have achieved our goal with two probable Top 25 teams from the Big East and Southeastern Conferences."
The Panthers return three starters from a 29-5 record, which stands for the eighth most wins in school history, and a record breaking 36th trip to the NCAA tournament.
KWC also finished with a GLVC best record 16-2 to win the regular season title, with their highest weekly ranking at No. 3 since 2003 and finished No. 5 in the final NABC Top 25 poll.
