Complete 2008-2009 Schedule

            Valparaiso will play host to both Purdue and Notre Dame within the same week in December at the Athletics-Recreation Center as part of a 13-game home schedule for the 2008-2009 season Crusader head coach Keith Freeman has announced.

            “This year’s non-conference schedule represents a serious challenge for our experienced senior-led team,” said Freeman.

            Purdue comes to the ARC on December 10 after winning the Big Ten Tournament last season and advancing to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.  The Fighting Irish will visit three days later on Saturday, December 13 following their Sweet Sixteen run this past season.

            The regular season will open on November 19 at the ARC as Mid-American Conference regular season champion Bowling Green comes to Valparaiso for the first of seven, and possibly eight games against teams the finished in the top-100 of the RPI in 2007-2008.

            Following the home opener, the Crusaders will travel to Central Michigan before heading to the Coors Rocky Mountain Tournament hosted by Colorado State over Thanksgiving weekend.  Besides the host Rams, top-100 programs Fairfield and Murray State will participate.

            The Crusaders then travel to North Texas on December 6 before hosting the two instate foes just prior to final exams.  Valpo heads to South Dakota State on December 21 before wrapping up pre-conference play the Christmas City Classic at Lehigh which also includes LaSalle and North Florida.

            Valparaiso begins the 18-game Horizon League slate on January 3 against Youngstown State, the same team the Crusaders will close the regular season against on March 7 in Ohio.  On January 5, the Brown and Gold will entertain last year’s league tournament champion Cleveland, and also closes the home portion of the campaign with four straight games in late February, including the home finale against Milwaukee on February 28.

            Following the regular season, Valpo will head to the Horizon League Championships to be held March 9-15 on campus sites.