No one can accuse the IPFW men's basketball program of shying away from tough competition.
The Mastodons released their 2009-10 schedule Thursday, and outside of the Summit League schedule, coach Dane Fife's team will have its hands full.
“It's a traditional IPFW schedule,” Fife said. “It is very demanding and very challenging.”
Right from the start IPFW will test itself, as it opens Nov. 15 at Wisconsin.
The Badgers are one of four teams on the IPFW schedule that advanced to the NCAA Tournament this spring, along with Gonzaga, defending NCAA runner-up Michigan State and North Dakota State, which won the 2009 Summit League Tournament.
The Dons will travel out West for a difficult two-day, two-game road trip when they face 2009 NIT qualifier Washington State on Nov. 19 before playing perennial national power Gonzaga the next day in Spokane, Wash.
Also highlighting the schedule is a trip to East Lansing on Dec. 19, where Fife will match wits with Tom Izzo's Michigan State team, which should enter the season as one of the best teams in the nation. Last November, IPFW played the Spartans extremely tough before faltering in the final few minutes.
The Mastodons will also travel to Mid-American foe Toledo on Nov. 28.
Non-conference home games include contests with Madonna (Nov. 17), North Dakota (Dec. 12), Valparaiso (Dec. 22), SIU-Edwardsville (Feb. 23) and Purdue-North Central (TBA).
The Dons open Summit League play with a home game Dec. 5 against Oakland, which nearly beat North Dakota State in the league tournament championship game in March.
“We hope to draw from these (tough games) and learn,” Fife said. “Hopefully it will benefit us once we get into league play.”
