Marquette And Arizona To Play Home And Home Basketball Series

Tom Crean

Marquette University and the University of Arizona, two programs steeped in basketball tradition, have agreed to play a home-and-home series starting in 2003-04. Next season's contest, just the third meeting between the two schools, is scheduled to be played on Dec. 13 at the McKale Center in Tucson. The Wildcats will then play at the Bradley Center during the 2004-05 campaign.

The owners of a combined 45 NCAA Tournament appearances between them, both squads are coming off outstanding 2002-03 seasons. Marquette compiled an overall record of 26-7 and made the program's first appearance in the NCAA Final Four since 1977. The Golden Eagles, ranked No. 9 nationally in the final Associated Press Poll and No. 6 by ESPN/USA Today, also claimed the Conference USA regular-season title with a 14-2 ledger. Under Naismith Hall of Fame Head Coach Lute Olson, Arizona finished with a 28-4 record, the program's 16th straight 20-win Campaign, and claimed the Pac-10 championship with a 17-1 effort. The Wildcats made their 19th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament, the longest active streak in the nation, where they advanced to the Elite Eight. Arizona ended the year ranked No. 2 by the Associated Press and No. 5 by ESPN/USA Today.

"Playing a home-and-home series against a team that has the tradition and reputation of Arizona means a great deal to all of us at Marquette," Head Coach Tom Crean said. "The opportunity to go and play in what will be one of the most difficult environments in college basketball will be a great experience for our team as we prepare for the conference season. Then, to have Arizona back at the Bradley Center a year later is great for our entire university and all of our fans. I have the utmost respect for Lute Olson and for what he has accomplished, not only at Arizona but also for his contributions to the game of basketball during an outstanding coaching career."

This year's meeting will mark the first time that time Golden Eagles and Arizona have met since Jan. 8, 1994, when the Wildcats posted a 94-80 triumph in Tucson.

"Having this home-and-home series is a clear recognition of how far the Marquette program has progressed under Coach Crean," Marquette Athletics Director Bill Cords said. "The last time we played Arizona, it was a one-game tournament (7-UP Shootout) situation out there. Lute Olson knows how to build and maintain a program at a high level the right way and this is a recognition of what Coach Crean is doing here."