UNO (0-0) vs. New Mexico (0-0)
Fri., Nov. 11, 2011 • 8 p.m. CST • Albuquerque, N.M.
Live Audio • Live Stats • Twitter • UNM Game Notes • Game Notes
UNO (TBA) vs. Rice (0-0)
Sat. Nov. 12, 2011 • 7 p.m. CST • Houston, Texas
Live Audio • Live Stats • Live Video • Twitter • Rice Game Notes • Game Notes
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The
Mark Slessinger Era at the University of New Orleans begins this weekend as the Privateers will challenge the University of New Mexico on Friday night at 8 p.m. CT before visiting Rice on Saturday at 7 p.m.
An assistant coach at Northwestern State for the last 11 years, Slessinger will make his debut on the UNO sidelines with a team that features eight returning letter-winners from a 16-6 squad.
Antonio Wertz is the top returning scorer (11.6) and rebounder (6.3) on the Privateer roster and will look to continue his roll from the last three games he played during the 2010-11 season. The Alma, Ga. native averaged 16.7 points and seven rebounds down the stretch to lift UNO to a trio of victories.
Other key returnees include
Brandon Knight and
Brandon Canady. Knight started 14 contests and led the Privateers with 62 assists while Canady started four games a year ago.
The team features eight newcomers, of which seven hail from all corners of the state of Louisiana.
Nathan Taylor of Omaha, Neb. is the lone newcomer who is from out of state.
As UNO makes its final preparations, it will be preparing for two foes that present a clear challenge.
The first two of the eight NCAA Division I foes on the schedule, the Privateers begin with a UNM squad that is favored to win the Mountain West Conference.
Led by Wooden Award candidate and 2011 MWC preseason player of the year selection Drew Gordon, the Lobos won two exhibition games, besting Davenport and Western New Mexico Highlands.
Gordon averaged 13 points and 10.5 rebounds a year ago, the first UNM player since 1976 to average a double-double over the course of the season.
The next night, UNO will face a Rice team that will be making its season debut.
The Owls, under the direction of second-year head coach Ben Braun did not play any exhibitions.
Rice is led by Iranian national team member Arsalan Kazemi. The 6-7 post has averaged 12.9 points and 10 rebounds per game in his career and was recently named a preseason All-Conference USA pick, in addition to a 2011-12 preseason All-American by CollegeInsider.com.
Following the weekend, UNO will open its home slate against Selma (Ala.) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the second half of a doubleheader with the Lady Privateers. Season and individual game tickets are on sale by calling (504) 280-GAME, visiting TicketMaster.com or the Lakefront Arena Box Office.
