Longhorns announce 2011-12 non-conference basketball schedule

AUSTIN, Texas -- Matchups against perennial national powers North Carolina, UCLA and Temple highlight the 2011-12 University of Texas basketball non-conference schedule released today. The Longhorns also will make an appearance in the Legends Classic and play nine of their 13 non-conference dates in the friendly confines of the Frank Erwin Center.

The Big 12 Conference schedule has not been finalized at this date. Tip times and UT's complete television schedule for the 2011-12 season will be announced at a later date.

The Longhorns open the 2011-12 season with consecutive home dates against Boston University (Nov. 13) and Rhode Island (Nov. 15). Both games will be in conjunction with the Legends Classic. As one of the four regional host sites for the tournament, Texas automatically advances to the Championship Rounds at Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J., on Nov. 19 and 21. UT will join North Carolina State, Oregon State and Vanderbilt for the semifinals and championship/consolation games. Matchups for the Championship Rounds will be announced at a later date.

Texas returns to Austin for a pair of home contests against in-state opponents Sam Houston State (Nov. 26) and North Texas (Nov. 29). The Horns then travel to Los Angeles to play UCLA (Dec. 3). The contest against the Bruins will be played at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, as Pauley Pavilion will be unavailable this coming season due to a renovation project.

UT returns to the Erwin Center for a four-game homestand, featuring contests against Texas-Arlington (Dec. 6), Texas State (Dec. 10), Nicholls State (Dec. 13) and Temple (Dec. 17). The contest against the Owls marks the beginning of a home-and-home series, in which Texas will travel to Philadelphia during the 2012-13 season.

The Longhorns will travel to Chapel Hill, N.C., to face North Carolina (Dec. 21) at the Smith Center. Texas will conclude its non-conference slate with a home game against Rice on New Year's Eve.

2011-12 University of Texas Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
(all dates and times subject to change; as of July 1, 2011; All times Central)
Day   Date     Opponent                                    Time   TV
    Nov. 13-15  Legends Classic Regional Round (Frank Erwin Center; Austin, Texas)
Sun.  Nov. 13   Boston University                               TBA   TBA
Tues.  Nov. 15   Rhode Island                                  TBA   TBA
    Nov. 19-21  Legends Classic Championship Round (Izod Center; East Rutherford, N.J.)
           (Participating Teams: North Carolina State, Oregon State, Texas, Vanderbilt)
Sat.  Nov. 19   Semifinal Game                                 TBA   TBA
Mon.  Nov. 21   Consolation/Championship Game                         TBA   TBA
Sat.  Nov. 26   Sam Houston State                               TBA   TBA
Tues.  Nov. 29   North Texas                                  TBA   TBA
Sat.  Dec. 3    at UCLA (Los Angeles Sports Arena; Los Angeles, Calif.)            TBA   TBA
Tues.  Dec. 6    Texas-Arlington                                TBA   TBA
Sat.  Dec. 10   Texas State                                  TBA   TBA
Tues.  Dec. 13   Nicholls State                                 TBA   TBA
Sat.  Dec. 17   Temple                                     TBA   TBA
Wed.  Dec. 21   at North Carolina (Smith Center; Chapel Hill, N.C.)              6 p.m.  ESPN2
Sat.  Dec. 31   Rice                                      TBA   TBA