By Bill Koch
Enquirer staff writer

The University of Cincinnati's 2004-05 basketball schedule features four home games against teams that advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament last season, including a Feb. 10 matchup against Xavier in the Crosstown Shootout.

UC, which finished 25-7 last year, shared the Conference USA regular-season championship and won the C-USA Tournament title before losing to Illinois in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

UC could get another shot at Illinois, which will be part of the Las Vegas Invitational field Dec. 30-31.

The Bearcats also play at home Jan. 22 against coach Skip Prosser's Wake Forest team, which is expected to be a top-5 team in the preseason polls.

"This is the last of the Wake Forest series," said UC associate athletic director Brian Teter. "(UC coach Bob) Huggins and Skip are going to talk about extending that. (Huggins) would love to extend that series."

Their final year in C-USA will see the Bearcats play UAB, which upset Kentucky in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year, Feb. 19 at Fifth Third Arena.

The other Sweet 16 home opponent is Southeastern Conference member Vanderbilt, which will visit Fifth Third Arena on Dec. 9.

"That was a good get for us," Teter said.

UC will return the game at Vanderbilt next season.

Overall, UC will play 18 games against teams that competed in postseason play last season, 15 that played in the NCAA Tournament and five that made it to the Sweet 16.

The Bearcats open the regular season at home Nov. 19 against Valparaiso.

Their two preseason exhibition games are Nov. 8 against Northern Kentucky and Nov. 13 vs. Southern Indiana.

2004-05 schedule:

Nov. 8 - NORTHERN KENTUCKY (ex.)

Nov. 13 - SOUTHERN INDIANA (ex.)

Nov. 19 - VALPARAISO

Nov. 24 - NORTHERN IOWA

Nov. 27 - vs. Purdue (John Wooden Tradition, Indianapolis)

Dec. 4 - at Dayton (ESPN)

Dec. 9 - VANDERBILT

Dec. 11 - DETROIT MERCY

Dec. 18 - NORTHWESTERN ST. (La.)

Dec. 20 - JACKSON STATE

Dec. 22 - La SALLE

Dec. 27 - vs. MIAMI U., U.S. Bank Arena

Dec. 30-31 - at Las Vegas Holiday Classic

Jan. 6 - DePAUL* (ESPN)

Jan. 8 - at Saint Louis*

Jan. 12 - at East Carolina*

Jan. 15 - LOUISVILLE* (CBS)

Jan. 19 - CHARLOTTE*

Jan. 22 - WAKE FOREST (ABC)

Jan. 27 - at South Florida* (ESPN2)

Jan. 29 - HOUSTON*

Feb. 2 - at Louisville* (ESPN)

Feb. 5 - at Charlotte* (ESPN)

Feb. 10 - XAVIER (ESPN2)

Feb. 12 - at DePaul* (ABC)

Feb. 16 - SOUTHERN MISS*

Feb. 19 - UAB* (ESPN)

Feb. 24 - MARQUETTE* (ESPN2)

Feb. 26 - at Texas Christian*

March 2 - TULANE*

March 5 - at Memphis* (ABC)

March 9-12 - at Conference USA Tournament, FedEx Forum, Memphis, Tenn.

* Conference USA games