A Big 12 Conference slate with 10 games against postseason qualifiers from last season highlights Iowa State’s 2003-04 men’s basketball schedule.

In non-conference action, the Cyclones play host to intrastate rivals Northern Iowa (Nov. 30) and Iowa (Jan. 21) and travel to Drake (Dec. 20). ISU will begin a stretch of three consecutive games against programs that made postseason play last season with a Dec. 23 game with Xavier. The Cyclones then go on a two-game road trip during semester break with matchups at Virginia (Dec. 31) and San Diego State (Jan. 3). Virginia has earned postseason trips the last three seasons, and San Diego State has been a postseason qualifier the last two years.

On the women’s side, the Cyclones will spend Thanksgiving weekend in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, playing the four-team Paradise Jam tournament along with Virginia Tech, Indiana and Mississippi State.

The Cyclones will host Iowa much earlier in the season (Dec. 3) than the ISU men before playing five additional non-conference opponents, including Washington (Dec. 21) and intrastate rival Northern Iowa (Dec. 30).

The women will start conference play against Nebraska (Jan. 10) followed by back-to-back games against two teams who both had postseason bids last season: Midwest Region runner-up Texas Tech (Jan. 14) and last year’s NCAA West Region champions, Texas (Jan. 17).

The regular season will conclude with the women hosting Kansas (Mar. 4) before traveling to the Big 12 Conference Tournament in Dallas, Texas (Mar. 11-13).

—Krista Driscoll