The University of Wisconsin announced its men's basketball non-conference schedule for the 2012-13 season and the slate includes five games against teams that were in last season's NCAA Tournament.
Creighton, Florida, Virginia and Marquette highlight the Badgers' early season schedule.
Wisconsin will face Creighton in the semifinals of the Las Vegas Invitational on Nov. 23 at Orleans Arena. The other semifinal pits Arizona State against Arkansas. The Badgers haven't faced Creighton since 1948.
In just its second game of the season, Wisconsin will travel to Florida to take on the Gators. This is the first part of a home-and-home series with Florida, with the Gators making the return trip in 2013. This will be the first meeting between the two schools since 1968.
Just days after the Las Vegas Invitational, the Badgers will host former UW assistant Tony Bennett and Virginia in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
In early December, Wisconsin opens a home-and-home series with California by hosting the Golden Bears at the Kohl Center on Dec. 2. It will be the first matchup between a Pac-12 school and Wisconsin since 2009.
Rounding out the stretch against NCAA Tournament teams is in-state rival Marquette. This year the Badgers will head to Milwaukee and face the Golden Eagles at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
Other non-conference opponents include Southeastern Louisiana, Cornell, Presbyterian, Nebraska-Omaha, Green Bay, Milwaukee and Samford.
2012-13 Non-Conference Schedule
NOV. 7 UW-OSHKOSH (Exhibition)
NOV. 11 SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA
Nov. 14 at Florida
NOV. 18 CORNELL (LVI)
NOV. 20 PRESBYTERIAN (LVI)
Las Vegas Invitational – Las Vegas, Nev. (Orleans Arena)
Nov. 23 vs. Creighton
Nov. 24 vs. Arizona State/Arkansas
NOV. 28 VIRGINIA (BIG TEN/ACC Challenge)
DEC. 2 CALIFORNIA
DEC. 4 NEBRASKA-OMAHA
Dec. 8 at Marquette
DEC. 12 UW-GREEN BAY
DEC. 22 UW-MILWAUKEE
DEC. 29 SAMFORD
