The Buckeyes will play Michigan State just once, hosting the Spartans on Feb. 15.
View full sizeCleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph's grad David Lighty, above, will play a big role on the Buckeyes this season after the team lost star Evan Turner to the NBA.COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State opens with what looks like a manageable Big Ten schedule, with a real chance to open 6-0 in conference play, according to the schedule released by the Buckeyes on Thursday.
Ohio State will start Big Ten play at Indiana on New Year's Eve, followed by a game at Iowa, a home game with Minnesota, a trip to Michigan and home games with Penn State and Iowa.
While Indiana, for one, should be improved, those five teams were a combined 27-63 in Big Ten play last year. And the Buckeyes also don't have to make the toughest road trip in the Big Ten, missing out on a visit to Michigan State's Breslin Center. Each Big Ten team plays 18 conference games, missing one road opponent and one home opponent. The Buckeyes will not host Northwestern this season.
Much of the preseason schedule was already known. That will be highlighted by two trips to the Sunshine State, one to play Florida at 6 p.m. on Nov. 16 as part of ESPN's 24-hour basketball marathon and another to play Florida State at 7:30 on Nov. 30 in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge. The best home nonconference game is South Carolina on Dec. 18.
The Buckeyes tied Michigan State and Purdue for the conference title last year and will host the Boilermakers on Jan. 25 at 9 p.m on ESPN and visit Purdue on either Feb. 19 or Feb. 20. Michigan State will play in Columbus on Feb. 15 at 9 p.m.
Every game is scheduled to be televised on either CBS, Big Ten Network or one of the ESPN channels.
Ohio State's 2010-11 men's basketball schedule
Sunday, Nov. 7 Walsh (Exhibition), TBA, BTN.com
Friday, Nov. 12 North Carolina A&T, TBA, ESPN3
Tuesday, Nov. 16 at Florida, 6, ESPN
Saturday, Nov. 20 UNC Wilmington, 8, BTN
Tuesday, Nov. 23 Morehead State, TBA, ESPN3
Friday, Nov. 26 Miami, Ohio, 4, BTN
Tuesday, Nov. 30 at Florida State, 7:30, ESPN (Big Ten-ACC Challenge)
Thursday, Dec. 9 IUPUI, 7, BTN
Sunday, Dec. 12 Western Carolina, 4, BTN (at St. John Arena)
Wednesday, Dec. 15 Florida Gulf Coast, 6:30, BTN
Saturday, Dec. 18 South Carolina, 2, CBS
Tuesday, Dec. 21 North Carolina-Asheville, 8:30, BTN
Monday, Dec. 27 Tennessee-Martin, 8:30, BTN
Friday, Dec. 31 at Indiana, 6, ESPN2
Tuesday, Jan. 4 at Iowa, 9, BTN
Sunday, Jan. 9 Minnesota, 2 or 4, BTN
Wednesday, Jan. 12 at Michigan, 6:30, BTN
Saturday, Jan. 15 Penn State, 5:30, BTN
Wednesday, Jan. 19 Iowa, 6:30, BTN
Saturday, Jan. 22 at Illinois, CBS, Noon
Tuesday, Jan. 25 Purdue, 9, ESPN
Saturday, Jan. 29 at Northwestern, 6, ESPN2
Thursday, Feb. 3 Michigan, 7, ESPN/ESPN2
Sunday, Feb. 6 at Minnesota, 2, ESPN
Saturday, Feb. 12 at Wisconsin, 2, ESPN/ESPN2
Tuesday, Feb. 15 Michigan State, 9, ESPN
Saturday/Sunday, Feb. 19/20 at Purdue, 7/1, BTN/CBS
Tuesday, Feb. 22 Illinois, 7, ESPN
Saturday/Sunday, Feb 26/27 Indiana, 7/1/4, BTN/ESPN.CBS
Tuesday, March 1 at Penn State, 9, BTN
Sunday, March 6 Wisconsin, TBA, TBA
Wednesday-Sunday, March 9-13, Big Ten Tournament, Indianapolis