Sept. 28, 2002
According to numerous national preseason polls, the Harlem Globetrotters will face five of the nation's top-25 college basketball teams when they embark on their nine game 2002 Fall College Tour presented by Burger King in November. The fifth of those games, and the only game to be nationally televised, will pit the world famous Globetrotters against Maryland (Nov. 12, 7:00 p.m., ESPN2), in what is the Terps' first men's basketball exhibition game ever to be played at Comcast Center.
All proceeds from the Fall College Tour will go towards the Harlem Globetrotters Foundation, that benefits children's charities around the world.
"We have put together an exciting schedule for this fall, facing nine outstanding teams over an 18-day period," said Globetrotter Owner and Chairman Mannie Jackson, whose team will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Sept. 27. "We also look forward to playing before sold out crowds on the college campuses and helping the college teams prepare for their regular season."
The Globetrotters will open at Purdue University on Tuesday, Nov. 5th, facing the Boilermakers and guard Willie Dean, the Big Ten's leading scorer a year ago at 17.3 points per game. Two years ago the Globetrotters defeated Purdue, 74-65, during their 2000 Fall Tour. The next two games on the schedule include games against teams the Globetrotters faced during the 2001 Fall Tour, a Nov. 8th regionally televised rematch against St. John's University at Madison Square Garden and a Nov. 9th contest at Western Kentucky in Bowling Green. A year ago the Globetrotters defeated St. John's, 75-69, at The Garden, but suffered their only loss of the 2001 Tour at the hands of Western Kentucky, 83-75, in the tour opener on Nov. 3, 2001.
The remaining six games include Vanderbilt (Nov. 11), the defending national champion Maryland Terrapins (Nov. 12), Mississippi State (Nov. 14), Connecticut at the Hartford Civic Center (Nov. 16), Central Connecticut State (Nov. 19), and Ohio State (Nov. 22). Maryland, who defeated Indiana, 62-54, in the title game in April, will play its first-ever game in the new 17,950-seat Comcast Center against the Globetrotters before a live television audience on ESPN2.
With nearly 21,000 victories over the past 76 seasons, the Globetrotters are the winningest baketball team in the world. Since resurrecting games against college competition in 1999, the Globetrotters have compiled a 15-3 mark against college players, including their annual game against the nation's top seniors in the NABC College All-Star Game during Final Four Weekend.
Burger King is the title sponsor of the Globetrotters World Tour, Fall College Tour and Summer Youth Basketball Camps. Founded in 1954, Burger King has more than 11,000 locations in all 50 states and 58 countries and territories around the world.
2002 Harlem Globetrotters Fall College Tour
Tuesday, Nov. 5 at Purdue University
Friday, Nov. 8 vs. St. John's University at Madison Square Garden
Saturday, Nov. 9 at Western Kentucky University
Monday, Nov. 11 at Vanderbilt University
Tuesday, Nov. 12 at University of Maryland (ESPN2)
Thursday, Nov. 14 at Mississippi State University
Saturday, Nov. 16 vs. University of Connecticut at the Hartford Civic Center
Tuesday, Nov. 19 vs. Central Conn. State University at Mohegan Sun Arena
Friday, Nov. 22 at Ohio State University
