No schedule in Big Ten men's basketball play is easy, but the University of Wisconsin appears to have caught a break as the 2013-14 season approaches.
The Badgers will have a home-and-home series with seven of the 11 other conference teams, yet they will face perennial powers Michigan State and Ohio State only at the Kohl Center. Meanwhile, Wisconsin will play against Big Ten bottomfeeders Penn State and Nebraska on the road without the benefit of a home game.
That could be good news for a Wisconsin team that will welcome five scholarship freshmen to the team this season. Of course, the Badgers will certainly encounter their share of tough stretches.
The most difficult portion of Wisconsin's schedule will be a seven-game swing in February that includes six games against NCAA tournament teams from a year ago. Wisconsin will play at home against Ohio State, Michigan State, Minnesota and Indiana and on the road against Illinois, Michigan and Iowa.
Wisconsin will begin Big Ten play at Northwestern on Jan. 2 and host Iowa in its home opener on Jan. 5. That game will represent former Badgers forward Jarrod Uthoff's first appearance at the Kohl Center since he transferred to play for the Hawkeyes.
Wisconsin's schedule features a minimum of two CBS national appearances -- a home game Feb. 9 against Michigan State and a road game Feb. 16 against Michigan. Wisconsin also will be a part of ESPN's college basketball telecasts nine times, including seven during conference play.
UW's non-conference schedule will involve a neutral-site game against St. John's on Nov. 8, a home game Florida on Nov. 12, two games in Mexico as part of the Cancun Challenge, a road game against Virginia on Dec. 4 for the Big Ten-ACC Challenge and a home game against in-state rival Marquette on Dec. 7.
Wisconsin has finished in the top four of the Big Ten in each of coach Bo Ryan's 12 seasons in charge. Last season, the Badgers tied for fourth with Michigan. Indiana won the regular-season league title, while Ohio State and Michigan State tied for second.
The Badgers' full 2013-14 schedule can be found here: http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/wis/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2013-14/schedule/schedule.pdf
Follow Jesse Temple on Twitter
