Villanova University

June 24, 2003

Villanova, Pa. - The Villanova Wildcats will host 2003 NCAA Tournament invitees Connecticut and Notre Dame and travel to meet defending NCAA champion Syracuse at the Carrier Dome as part of its 2003-04 Big East Conference schedule, it was announced today. The complete Villanova schedule will be released in September.

The Big East has dropped the two-division format that was in place the last three seasons. In the new format, each member faces 10 foes once and three opponents twice for a total of 16 games. For 2003-04, Villanova will engage in home-and-home series with Miami, Providence and West Virginia.

Villanova's home slate will also include the aforementioned appearances by UConn and Notre Dame. In addition, Rutgers, St. John's and Virginia Tech are slated to appear in the Philadelphia region. The Wildcats will face Boston College, Georgetown, Pittsburgh, Seton Hall and Syracuse on the road.

The complete Villanova Big East schedule includes: (HOME) Connecticut; Miami; Notre Dame; Providence; Rutgers; St. John's; Virginia Tech; West Virginia; (AWAY) Boston College; Georgetown; Miami; Pittsburgh; Providence; Seton Hall; Syracuse and West Virginia.

Earlier it was announced that the 'Cats will participate in the 2003 Maui Classic that gets underway on Nov. 24 in Hawaii. Villanova will play three games on Maui before returning to the Main Line on Thanksgiving.