KWU Men’s and Women’s Basketball release 2006-07 Schedules
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Both Kansas Wesleyan University basketball teams have released their 2006-07 schedules.

Coming off the first season with more than ten wins since 1999, third year women’s coach Gordon Reimer will kick off the 2006-07 campaign on November 1, at home against NAIA Division I powerhouse Columbia College ( Mo.). Columbia has spent several seasons ranked in the Top-25 of the Top NAIA division, but struggled last season, going 18-13. It was the first time that Columbia finished with fewer than 25 wins since they began basketball in the 2001-02 season.

First year coach Tommy DeSalme will kick of his inaugural season with the Coyotes on November 3 and 4 in Bethany, Okla., at the Southern Nazarene SNU Classic against the host Crimson Storm on Friday at 8:00 PM, and then Southwestern Christian on Saturday at 6:00.

The Wesleyan men will have their home opener on November 7 against Central Christian College. After traveling to play Newman in Wichita four days, later the Coyotes will host Oklahoma Wesleyan on November 18 and Avila on November 24.

The Lady Coyotes then play in the Baker University Classic on November 3 and 4. After road games at Avila ( Mo.) and Manhattan Christian ( Kan.), Wesleyan embarks on a four game home stand against Oklahoma Wesleyan on November 18, a return game with Avila on November 21, and the Coyote Women’s Thanksgiving Classic on November 24 and 25, against Texas Wesleyan and Missouri Baptist, respectively.

The men will head to Shawnee, Okla., over Thanksgiving Break to play in the OBU Thanksgiving Classic on November 24 and 25 as their final tune-up before beginning conference play.

KWU opens KCAC play on November 30 against Ottawa University in Ottawa, before hosting Southwestern for the only home conference games of the semester. Both teams round out the fall semester conference schedule with games at Bethany on December 7, and at Friends on December 9.

Reimer’s Lady Coyotes will then play two games in Golden, Colo., at the Colorado Mines Classic on December 29 and 30, before beginning the spring semester. The game with Colorado School of Mines will be an exhibition for the Lady Coyotes.

DeSalme will also play two final non-conference games after the final conference game of the fall semester. On December 15, the Coyotes will travel to Hays to play NCAA-II member Fort Hays State, and will travel to Bartlesville, Okla., on December 30 to play Oklahoma Wesleyan before beginning the spring semester.

Both teams then open up the spring semester on January 4 at home against Sterling College. After a brief two-game road trip against Tabor and Bethel, both Coyote teams return home for a three-game homestand beginning on January 13 against McPherson, Saint Mary and then begin the second round of KCAC play against Ottawa on January 20.

Four of the next six games for the Coyotes are at home, before playing the final two games of the regular season on the road at McPherson, and at Saint Mary, before beginning the KCAC Post-Season Tournaments on February 21.

The Kansas Wesleyan women finished the 2005-06 campaign with a 14-15 overall record, 7-11 in KCAC play. It was the first time since 1999, that the Lady Coyotes won more than 10 games in a season, and marked the first time that KWU did not play in the KCAC Tournament Play-In, since it was introduced when Saint Mary joined the conference. Ascendra Peters was named First Team All-KCAC, and freshman Kaylaen Dittmer was named Honorable Mention All-KCAC, as well as being named Freshman of the Year and to the All-Freshman team.

Kansas Wesleyan’s men finished the 2005-06 campaign with a 17-13 overall record, 10-8 in the KCAC in Jerry Jones’ final season with the Coyotes, after 17 years of leading the Coyote basketball program. The Coyotes advanced to the KCAC Tournament Semifinals, losing to regular season champion Southwestern College 93-89. Anthony Smith, who led the KCAC in scoring at 19.7 points per game, was named First Team All-KCAC and Newcomer of the Year, while Jeff Baron, who led the KCAC in rebounding (9.3) and free throw percentage (80.6), was named Honorable Mention All-KCAC.

The complete schedules for both men and women can be found on the KWU Athletic website, at www.kwu.edu/athletics.

Complete Women's 2006-07 Schedule

Complete Men's 2006-07 Schedule

-- KWU SI --