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News Nuggets, 04.02.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

DePaul hawks 2005 regional tickets

CHICAGO — Applications for the general public to purchase tickets to the 2005 NCAA basketball Chicago regional hosted by DePaul at the Allstate Arena on March 24 and 26 are now available it was announced this week.

The applications may be picked up at the DePaul Athletic Ticket Office (2323 N. Sheffield Ave.) or by calling the DePaul Athletic Ticket Office at (773) 325-SLAM (7526). The application can also be downloaded from DePaul’s Athletic Website at www.depaulbluedemons.com.

The deadline for returning applications is April 27th. If there are more applications than tickets available, a lottery will be held. Ticket sales will continue until all seats are sold.

Frogs formally unveil new hoops palace

FORT WORTH — Texas Christian will officially dedicate the Ed & Rae Schollmaier Basketball Complex with a ceremony today at 12:30 p.m. Media members have been invited to attend the dedication and receive tours of the new facility from Horned Frogs men's coach Neil Dougherty and women's coach Jeff Mittie.

The facility reflects TCU's commitment to elevating its basketball programs to national prominence, noted an announcement from the school. At a cost of more than $5 million, the complex features two NCAA regulation practice courts, office space for both coaching staffs, meeting rooms, a weight room and a lobby.

"This facility makes a huge statement to the commitment we have ...," said TCU Athletics Director Eric Hyman. "The money for this project was raised through private donations and endowments and there is no cost to the university. That speaks volumes for the TCU community, especially Ed and Rae Schollmaier, to raise this money in this economic climate."

Ground was broken in July of 2003, and the basketball courts were available for use in early March. Both the men's and women's coaching staffs have already moved their offices into the building.

No sleeping in on April Fool's day for Cincy

You have to get up pretty early in the morning to catch up to the Cincinnati football team under new head coach Mark Dantonio.

The Bearcats opened spring practice on Thursday, April 1, at the seemingly April Foolish time of 6 a.m.

The dawn session, which featured the dawning of a new era for UC football, was not the team's attempt to mimic basketball’s Midnight Madness. Conflicts with class schedules necessitated the early start. Future Thursday practices will be held in the evenings and sessions on other days will be held at 3:15 p.m.

Getting an early start on the day is not new with the new Bearcat staff. Twelve of the 18 winter conditioning sessions were held at 6 a.m. or earlier. Dantonio noted that there were very few absences, even on Monday, March 29, the date the players returned from spring break.

“We tried to find out what kind of players we had here, not in terms of ability as football players but in terms of toughness, attitude, things of that nature,” Dantonio explained.

The Bearcats worked out without pads on Thursday morning and will do so again on Friday at the normal time of 3:15. The team will hold its first full-scale contact practice on Saturday beginning at 9 a.m.

All sessions will be held in Nippert Stadium.

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News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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