DENVER – The University of Denver men's basketball program will begin its 2024-25 home slate on Friday afternoon when the Pioneers welcome Western Colorado to Hamilton Gymnasium. Opening tip is set for 1 p.m. MT, and the game will be streamed live on the Summit League Network.

SERIES HISTORY:

• Denver holds a 2-0 series advantage since the Pioneers rejoined Division I ahead of the 1998-99 season.
• Denver won the last meeting 72-55 in November, 2019.
• The Pioneers lead the overall series that dates back to 1923 by a count of 40-11

DENVER IN HOME OPENERS

• Denver is 88-32 in its home openers in its history.
• The Pioneers are 18-8 in home openers since rejoining Division I in the 1998-99 season.
• DU has won six-straight home openers, including all three under head coach Jeff Wulbrun.

DEFENDING THE HOME FLOOR

• Since turning Division I in 1999-00, the Pioneers are 44-32 in Hamilton Gymnasium.
• Denver has played in Hamilton full-time since the 2020-21 campaign.
• 2023-24 marked the first double-digit win season in Hamilton (10-4).
• In the fourth season under head coach Jeff Wulbrun, the Pioneers are 25-16 on their home floor.

AKINS NCAA DEBUT

• Freshman guard Sebastian Akins put up 15 points off the bench in the Pios season debut at Stanford on November 4.
• Akins is the fifth Pio to post 15+ points off the bench in a season opener since Denver rejoined Division I in 1998-99.
• Akins is the first since Jase Townsend scored 16 off the bench as a freshman in November, 2018.
• Akins is the fourth freshman to post 15+ off the bench in a season opener.
• Akins is the 3rd to do it against a DI opponent and the 2nd to do it against a Power5/4 opponent.

NEW, BUT EXPERIENCED ASSISTANTS

• Fourth-year HC Jeff Wulbrun has an entirely new staff this year.
• The five-member staff of Wulbrun, Bill Peterson, Shammond Williams, Curran Walsh and Director of Operations Jack Frost have combined 80 seasons in NCAA basketball and 24 seasons both playing and coaching in the NBA or the G-League. 
• Peterson has been involved in college coaching for 32 seasons and spent 11 years on NBA and G-League staffs. Prior to joining Denver, Peterson had been on the staff of the national champion Baylor Bears from 2017 through the end of last season.
• Williams has coached in the NCAA for eight years, played four years at North Carolina that included three trips to the Final Four, and played professional basketball for 13 seasons, including stints with seven different NBA franchises. Walsh has been involved in college basketball circles for seven seasons, making stops at Utah, Utah State and Loyola Marymount before joining the DU staff.
• Frost served in three different roles spanning across five years at Stanford as the video coordinator, special assistant to the head coach and as an assistant coach. 

BUILDING ON CHAMPIONSHIP GAME EXPERIENCE

• Last season, Denver advanced to the Summit League Championship game for the first time since joining the league in 2013-14.
• The conference final appearance was Denver's second since turning Division I in 1998-99.
• 2005 Sun Belt Conference Final: Louisiana Lafayette 88, Denver 69
• 2024 Summit League Final: South Dakota State 76, Denver 68
• This March, Denver will look to win a conference postseason game in back-to-back years for the first time since the Sun Belt Tournaments in 2009 and 2010.

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