Tough foes await ACC

Women's basketball teams will face a variety of quality opponents this season

The Atlantic Coast Conference released its 2008-09 women's college basketball schedule on Tuesday, providing a first look at what's ahead for the Triangle's teams.

Duke opens the season at home on Nov. 14 against Oklahoma State, a 2008 NCAA Tournament regional finalist.

North Carolina opens on Nov. 17 against Western Carolina in the first round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament.

N.C. State opens on Nov. 15 against Wisconsin-Milwaukee, in what will be the start of coach Kay Yow's 34th season with the Wolfpack.

The Pack starts the season by hosting its own event, called the N.C. State Tournament, with Charlotte, Southern California and Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

The following week, the Pack participates in the Nov. 22-23 Minnesota Tournament.

The Pack travels to Miami for the Nov. 28-29 FIU Tournament during the Thanksgiving weekend.

"We have put together a little different-looking schedule this year from recent seasons with three tournaments to begin the year," Yow said. "But we think the caliber of opponents in the non-conference should set us for the always difficult road through the ACC."

The fourth annual Hoops for Hope game takes place Feb. 15 against Virginia and is scheduled for an ESPN2 broadcast.

The Tar Heels will play home games this season at the Smith Center while Carmichael Auditorium is renovated.

The Heels have 10 televised games, including a nationally televised game on Jan. 19 against Connecticut on ESPN2. The Huskies, expected to be among the nation's top teams, are one of seven teams the Heels face that made the NCAA Tournament last season.

UNC, winner of four consecutive ACC Tournament titles, starts the conference schedule on Jan. 8 at Clemson.

Duke starts its ACC schedule on Jan. 9 at home against Miami. The Blue Devils will face 13 teams that earned berths into the NCAA Tournament last season.

The Devils travel to defending national champion Tennessee on Feb. 16.

"What I love about [the schedule] is the diversity of where we play, the different parts of the country that are represented, and that it has such a great balance with many challenges," Duke coach Joanne P. McCallie said in a statement.

The ACC Tournament will be held at the Greensboro Coliseum on March 5-8.