Big Ten Releases Conference Schedule

With today's release of the Big Ten Conference men's basketball slate, Wisconsin's 2010-11 regular season schedule has been finalized.

We knew several of the big dates when ESPN announced its TV schedule yesterday.

The rivalries renew immediately on Dec. 28 when Minnesota makes its first trip to Madison since the Gophers' shocking comeback at the Kohl Center two seasons ago. Unfortunately, Wisconsin plays Minnesota and Iowa just once during the regular season. With the Hawkeyes expected to be dreadful in year one of Fran McCaffery's tenure, that could be a slight disadvantage for the Badgers when comparing unbalanced league schedules.

Other marquee revelations are Wisconsin's trip to Illinois on Jan. 2 and the Illini's return trip to Madison less than two weeks later, on Jan. 15. Bo Ryan and Co. also welcome Purdue (Feb. 1) and Michigan State (Feb. 6) to the Kohl Center for back-to-back tilts. Wisconsin then heads to West Lafayette, Ind. on Feb. 16. Luckily there are no back-breaking road stretches for Badgers.

The previously released non-conference schedule, which tips off Nov. 14 after two exhibitions, includes true road tests against UNLV (11/20) and Marquette (12/11) in addition to three games in the Old Spice Classic. The Badgers drew the North Carolina State Wolfpack at home on Dec. 1 in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

Wisconsin will begin the eight-team Old Spice Classic with a game against Manhattan on Nov. 25. Potential opponents in later rounds include Boston College, Texas A&M, California and Notre Dame. [View bracket]

2010-11 Wisconsin Big Ten Schedule
Date - Opponent, Time (TV)
Dec. 28 - Minnesota, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Jan. 2 - @ Illinois, 6 p.m. (BTN)
Jan. 5 - Michigan, 8:30 p.m. (BTN)
Jan. 11 - @ Michigan State, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Jan. 15 - Illinois, 3 p.m. (BTN)
Jan. 20 - Indiana, 9 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)
Jan. 23 - @ Northwestern, 1 p.m. (BTN)
Jan. 29 - @ Penn State, 4 p.m. (BTN)
Feb. 1 - Purdue, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Feb. 6 - Michigan State, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Feb. 9 - @ Iowa, 8:30 p.m. (BTN)
Feb. 12 - Ohio State, 2 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)
Feb. 16 - @ Purdue, 6:30 p.m. (BTN)
Feb. 20 - Penn State, 6 p.m. (BTN)
Feb. 23 - @ Michigan, 6:30 p.m. (BTN)
Feb. 27 - Northwestern, 6 p.m. (BTN)
Mar. 2/3 - @ Indiana, 8:30/9 p.m. (BTN/ESPN/ESPN2)
Mar. 6 - @ Ohio State, TBD (CBS/ESPN/BTN)