VERMILLION, S.D. -- Dave Boots, head coach of The University of South Dakota men's basketball team, has announced the Coyotes' first-ever Division I schedule. The 2008-09 campaign will feature 15 home games as well as dates against Cincinnati, Cornell, New Orleans and Notre Dame.

The Coyotes finished 22-7 in 2007-08 and will look to continue that momentum as they begin competing at the Division I level. They will face 12 Division I opponents, including home contests against North Dakota, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and Seattle University.

"As a non-counter we found it to be very challenging to put together a schedule for this season, however, I feel that this schedule has plenty of bright spots in it," said Boots. "I'm looking forward to this year, having the opportunity to face the two Big East teams (Cincinnati and Notre Dame) as well as Cornell. Our schedule for 2009-10 is all set and that is something that's going to be really exciting. We're going to see some excellent teams on the road and at home in the DakotaDome."

In 2009-10, the Coyotes will play at the Texas Tech tournament and Drake tournament. At the TTU tournament they will play the Red Raiders and Oregon State, at the Drake tournament they will face two NCAA Division I opponents. USD will also play on the road at Kansas State and Wyoming. Cornell will travel to Vermillion as part of a home-and-home agreement. Next season's schedule will also include a full Great West Conference slate.

USD opens the 2008-09 campaign with two Division I foes, starting with a contest at Cornell University (N.Y.) on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. Cornell finished 22-7 in 2007-08 and qualified for the NCAA tournament before losing to Stanford in the first round. The Coyotes follow that with a contest at the University of Cincinnati at 7 p.m. on Nov. 16. The Bearcats finished 13-19 a year ago but were 10-7 on their home court.

USD moves closer to home for its next two contests when it competes at the Minnesota State, Mankato tournament on Nov. 21-22. The Coyotes will face Post University and Chowan University during that event.

The Coyotes' home debut is set for Nov. 25 when they play host to Graceland College (Iowa).

USD returns to the road on Nov. 28-29 when it competes at the West Texas A&M tournament. The Coyotes will open with Oklahoma Panhandle State on Nov. 28 and face either Colorado State-Pueblo or West Texas A&M on Nov. 29.

A big highlight of the schedule is on Dec. 2 when the Coyotes head to South Bend, Ind., to face the University of Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish (25-8 in 2007-08) were NCAA tournament qualifiers a year ago and one of the contending teams in the Big East Conference. After the trip to Notre Dame, USD begins a six-game homestand on Dec. 6 when it plays host to Chadron State (Neb.). Following the Chadron contest are home games against Mayville State (N.D.) on Dec. 13, Dana College (Neb.) on Dec. 16, Minnesota-Duluth on Dec. 19, Midland Lutheran (Neb.) on Dec. 21 and Southwest Minnesota State on Dec. 22.

After Christmas, USD heads south on Dec. 28 to compete against Division I opponent the University of New Orleans. In 2007-08, New Orleans posted a 19-13 record and went 8-10 in the Sun Belt Conference.

USD then begins another stretch of four home games on Dec. 30 when it faces St. Olaf College at 8 p.m. The Coyotes will follow that with home games against Valley City State (N.D.) on Jan. 3, versus William Penn on Jan. 10 and Mount Marty on Jan. 13.

The Coyotes go back on the road again on Jan. 15 when they play at Palm Beach Atlantic (Fla.). Nine days later, the Coyotes are at the University of North Dakota for a 4 p.m. contest.

A week later on Jan. 31, UND arrives at the DakotaDome to face the Coyotes for a 3 p.m. contest, which will be the second meeting between the former North Central Conference rivals.

USD has a home date on Feb. 2 with Lake Erie College before returning to the road for games at Division I foes Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (Feb. 7) and Seattle University (Feb. 14).

The Coyotes return home for the final two games of February when they play host to Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Feb. 21 and Seattle University on Feb. 28.

The Coyotes conclude the season on March 7-8 with the Independent Tournament in Grand Forks, N.D.

2008-09 Coyote Men's Basketball Schedule Date Opponent Location Time Nov. 14 Cornell* Ithaca, N.Y. 6:00 p.m. Nov. 16 Cincinnati* Cincinnati, Ohio 6:00 p.m. Nov. 21-22 Minnesota State Tip-Off Classic Mankato, Minn. Nov. 21 Post University Mankato, Minn. 3:00 p.m. Nov. 22 Chowan Mankato, Minn. 3:00 p.m. Nov. 25 Graceland VERMILLION 7:00 p.m. Nov. 28-29 West Texas A&M Tournament Canyon, Texas TBA Dec. 2 Notre Dame* South Bend, Ind. 6:30 p.m. Dec. 6 Chadron State VERMILLION 3:00 p.m. Dec. 13 Mayville State VERMILLION 8:00 p.m. Dec. 16 Dana VERMILLION 7:00 p.m. Dec. 19 Minnesota Duluth VERMILLION 7:00 p.m. Dec. 21 Midland Lutheran VERMILLION 3:00 p.m. Dec. 22 Southwest Minnesota State VERMILLION 7:00 p.m. Dec. 28 University of New Orleans* New Orleans, La. 3:00 p.m. Dec. 30 St. Olaf VERMILLION 8:00 p.m. Jan. 3 Valley City State VERMILLION 3:00 p.m. Jan. 10 William Penn VERMILLION 7:00 p.m. Jan. 13 Mount Marty VERMILLION 7:00 p.m. Jan. 15 Palm Beach Atlantic West Palm Beach, Fla. TBA Jan. 24 North Dakota* Grand Forks, N.D. 4:00 p.m. Jan. 31 North Dakota* VERMILLION 3:00 p.m. Feb. 2 Lake Erie VERMILLION 7:00 p.m. Feb. 7 SIU-Edwardsville* Edwardsville, Ill. 8:00 p.m. Feb. 14 Seattle University* Seattle, Wash. 8:00 p.m. Feb. 21 SIU-Edwardsville* VERMILLION 8:00 p.m. Feb 28 Seattle University* VERMILLION 8:00 p.m. Mar. 7-8 Independent Tournament* Grand Forks, N.D. TBA Home games in BOLD Schedule subject to change All times Central Standard Time * = NCAA Division I opponent