KENNESAW, Georgia - June 29, 2006 - Kennesaw State head men's basketball coach Tony Ingle released the Owls' 2006-07 schedule on Thursday afternoon with visits from Division I Western Kentucky and George Washington highlighting the slate along with a road game against the Georgia Bulldogs. For the first time in the history of Kennesaw State men's basketball, the Owls will have a Division I non-conference opponent come to campus. The Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky will visit on Saturday, November 11 with national powerhouse George Washington visiting campus just before Thanksgiving. Western Kentucky earned a bid to the National Invitation Tournament last season with a 23-8 record and also posted an upset victory against the University of Virginia. George Washington was ranked as high as No. 6 in the country last season while compiling 27 wins and earning a trip to the NCAA national tournament. "This is an exciting time for Kennesaw State basketball," said Ingle. "It is an extremely difficult schedule for this team, but I believe that it will help us down the road." The Owls will also meet the University of Georgia in Athens in early December, marking the first-ever meeting between the Owls and the Bulldogs on the hardwood. "The game with Georgia is going to be a great conversation piece about basketball for our campus and the community," added Ingle. "Anytime you face well-known program it makes for an important night." Adding to the excitement this season will be a pair of road games against Kansas State and new head coach Bob Huggins and a visit to Wichita State. The Owls will continue to travel west and will arrive in Las Vegas on December 22 and 23 to take part in the 2006 Las Vegas Holiday Classic. The Shockers, 26-9 last season, is coming off its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1988 and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. The Missouri Valley Conference regular-season champions made their first straight postseason appearance last year and also have the 37th highest attendance in the country. The Wildcats of Kansas State are coming off a 15-13 season and will be the Owls first-ever Big XII opponent. "I feel like this schedule is tough one for our young team, especially with eight freshmen" continued Ingle. "This would be a tough schedule even if we had eight seniors. But, I believe down deep that this campus needs this. The students, the staff, administration, alumni and community need to create a sense of pride and an interest in big-time college basketball." After a week lay-off for the winter holidays, Kennesaw State will be back in action on December 29 and 30 at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Dr. Pepper Classic. Before Thanksgiving, Kennesaw State will travel to New York for the first time to take part in the third annual Columbia University Classic for match-ups with St. Peter's on November 17 and either Columbia or New Jersey Tech the following evening. "We want to have a better awareness about Kennesaw State throughout the nation," said Ingle. "It is important to get the KSU name out in as many markets as possible to show off the success of our University and our program." Visits from Florida International (November 25) and Newberry College (November 28) will follow before the Owls open Atlantic Sun Conference play at Stetson on November 30. After a little more than a month on the road, the KSU faithful will be able to watch their Owls on January 2 and 4 as they resume conference play against Lipscomb and Belmont, respectively. The Owls will then return to the road for trips to Campbell (January 6) and Gardner-Webb (January 10), before returning to host Jacksonville on January 13 and North Florida on January 15. The month of January will find KSU on the road for visits to East Tennessee State (January 20) and Lipscomb (January 25), before closing out the month at Belmont on January 27. The Owls will open February by hosting Campbell (Feb. 1) and Gardner-Webb (Feb. 3). KSU will play its final two road-contests of the year when the Owls travel to North Florida on February 8 and Jacksonville on February 10. The 2006-07 ledger will wrap up with the Owls playing their final three games at home, beginning with East Tennessee State (Feb. 17) and concluding with Mercer (Feb. 22) and Stetson (Feb. 24).