MADISON - The Wisconsin men’s basketball team will open Big Ten play on Jan. 2 at Michigan according to the schedule announced today by the Big Ten Conference. The Big Ten schedule will consist of 18 games this season for the first time since 1997. For the last 10 years, Big Ten teams played 16 conference games.
All 18 of UW’s conference games will be televised. The Big Ten Network will carry at least 11 games and at least five others will be shown on ESPN or ESPN2. Two games, at Ohio State in late February and at home against Penn State in the beginning of March, are wildcard games and will be picked up by either CBS, ESPN or the Big Ten Network later in the year.
After opening at Michigan, the Badgers play five of their next seven games at home. The Big Ten home opener is on Jan. 5 against Iowa. Illinois then travels to the Kohl Center on Jan. 10. UW has the weekend off then travels to Penn State on Jan. 15. Wisconsin hosts Northwestern on Jan. 19.
A home game against Michigan on Jan. 22 starts a three-game stretch televised by either ESPN or ESPN2. UW faces Purdue in West Lafayette on Jan. 26 then closes the month with a home game against Indiana on Jan. 31.
February opens with a pair of road games, at Minnesota on Feb. 3 and at Iowa on Feb. 6. The Badgers return home to take on Purdue on Feb. 9 then play at Indiana on Feb. 13. UW hosts Minnesota on Feb. 16 before traveling for two games, at Illinois and Ohio State. The game at Ohio State, the only regular-season meeting between the Badgers and Buckeyes, will be played on either Feb. 23 or 24. February ends with a home game against Michigan State, UW’s lone matchup with the Spartans.
Wisconsin plays two regular-season games in March, at home against Penn State and at Northwestern. The Penn State game will be played on either March 4 or 5 while the season finale at Northwestern will be on March 8 or 9. The 2008 Big Ten Tournament runs from March 13-16 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Big Ten Conference Schedule
Wednesday Jan. 2 at Michigan 6 p.m. BTN
Saturday Jan. 5 IOWA 11 a.m. BTN
Thursday Jan. 10 ILLINOIS 8 p.m. ESPN/ESPN2
Tuesday Jan. 15 at Penn State 8 p.m. BTN
Saturday Jan. 19 NORTHWESTERN 8 p.m. BTN
Tuesday Jan. 22 MICHIGAN 6 p.m. ESPN
Saturday Jan. 26 at Purdue 3 p.m. ESPN
Thursday Jan. 31 INDIANA 8 p.m. ESPN/ESPN2
Sunday Feb. 3 at Minnesota 1 p.m. BTN
Wednesday Feb. 6 at Iowa 8 p.m. BTN
Saturday Feb. 9 PURDUE 8 p.m. BTN
Wednesday Feb. 13 at Indiana 6 p.m. BTN
Saturday Feb. 16 MINNESOTA 1 p.m. BTN
Wednesday Feb. 20 at Illinois 8 p.m. BTN
Sat./Sun. Feb. 23 or 24 at Ohio State TBA TBA
Thursday Feb. 28 MICHIGAN STATE 8 p.m. ESPN/ESPN2
Tues./Wed. March 4 or 5 PENN STATE 6/8 p.m. TBA
Sat./Sun. March 8 or 9 at Northwestern 4 p.m./11 a.m. BTN