August 6, 2007

'Runners' schedule highlighted by home opener against Fresno State
BY MASON KELLEY, Californian staff writer

Finally, the juggling is complete. Cal State Bakersfield's first full Division I men's basketball schedule was released Monday.

Since May, the schedule has come out in bits and pieces and, now that it's done, Roadrunners coach Keith Brown is relieved.

"There are a couple of details (to work out), but by and large it's in place," Brown said.

The 'Runners will play 29 games this season, including 14 at Rabobank Arena. CSUB will open the season at Cal State Fullerton Nov. 9, but one of the more anticipated announcements is the 'Runners' home opener against Fresno State Nov. 17.

"I think it can be a rivalry," Brown said. "Fresno State is critical because of the valley and it's our home opener. That is going to be the first opportunity to see a Division I team in Rabobank Arena. That's the part that makes it critical and exciting. They're going to be very talented."

The Bulldogs went 22-10 last season and lost to Georgia in the first round of the NIT. In addition to the natural Central Valley rivalry, CSUB assistant coach Brian Dignan played for Fresno State coach Steve Cleveland when he was the coach at BYU.

"That's a high level of basketball that our fans are going to see," Brown said.

After Fresno State, the marquee matchup is Oregon State. This is CSUB's lone game against a Pac-10 opponent, which is a home game scheduled for Dec. 11.

Of the 14 teams on the 'Runners' home schedule, six won 20-games last year.

"Our fans are going to see some high-caliber NCAA Division-I basketball, but it also means we'll have to bring our 'A' game every night," Brown said.

Rematches with all seven D-I opponents from last season are sprinkled throughout the schedule, including home-and-home dates with Long Beach State, which played in the 2007 NCAA tournament.

Vance Walberg, who played for the 'Runners and built a powerhouse at Fresno City College, will bring Pepperdine to Rabobank Nov. 25. CSUB picked up its first Division I win as a D-I school at Pepperdine last season.

With nine games against Big West Conference opponents and a schedule that should rival the RPIs of those schools, the 'Runners tried to put together something that would be a favorable presentation to the conference they would like to join.

"I would think that our RPI would be very competitive with any school in the Big West, if not one of the top ones," Brown said.

The key to the schedule, though, is the relationships the 'Runners' coaching staff built with schools last year. By volunteering to play all of its D-I games on the road last season, CSUB was able to build a full complement of home games this season.

"The scheduling has been all about relationships," Brown said. "Every team that we played last year, we entered into multiple-year contracts."

By scheduling Big West and WAC teams during bye weeks in their conference schedules, the 'Runners were able to put together an attractive stretch run that concludes much the way the season began: with a game against Cal State Fullerton. CSUB will wrap up its schedule with a home game against the Titans March 4.

"I honestly don't think we could have envisioned that it would have been this type of schedule," Brown said. "It's the best that I think we could have hoped for."

CSUB has yet to add any exhibition games, but may pick up as many as two before the season begins.

Note

CSUB is currently selling season tickets for next season. Prices have been reduced for CSUB's first full D-I season and start at $115 for all 14 home games and any exhibitions.