Owls Announce 2009 - 2010 Schedule

HOUSTON, TX -- I'm not sure why the Texas Longhorns will come to Houston this season to face the Rice Owls rather than the Houston Cougars (honestly, I don't want to hear the reasons or the excuses from either UT or UH); but, the Horns highlight the Owls non-conference portion of the 2009 - 2010 schedule.

"Once again we will play one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the league," said second-year coach Ben Braun. "Our goal is to always improve and playing against good competition will help us achieve that goal."

Rice will play four teams this season which advanced past the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 2009. The Owls play host to Texas on November 29. While the game will mark the fourth meeting in the last five years, it will be the first time the two teams will have played on the Rice campus since 1996.

The Owls open the regular season by hosting a three-day, round-robin tournament November 13-15. Houston Baptist, Sacramento State and South Alabama round out the tournament field.

The Owls open Conference USA play January 6 when they play host to Houston in Tudor Fieldhouse. Rice will play host to C-USA defending champion Memphis on Jan. 16.