The Big Ten released its 2016-17 matchups Monday and Ohio State's schedule is highlighted by two games each against Maryland, Michigan State and Wisconsin.
Thad Matta's team will not have to visit defending Big Ten champion Indiana or Purdue, but the Buckeyes also only drew likely bottom-tier Big Ten teams Rutgers and Penn State once.
Nebraska and Minnesota are the other two teams Ohio State will play a home-and-home against in the Big Ten. The full league schedule for the Buckeyes looks like this:
Double-plays (home & away): Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin
Home only: Indiana, Northwestern, Purdue, Rutgers
Away only: Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Penn State
Dates and times for these Big Ten matchups are expected to be released later this fall.
16/17 B10 Schedule Opponents (Dates/Times later in Fall)
— OSU BASKETBALL (@OhioStateHoops) June 20, 2016
Home Only: IN, NU, PU, RU
Away Only: IL, IA, MI, PS
Home & Away: MD, MS, MN, NE, WI
Ohio State's full non-conference schedule can be seen here.
The likely top-three projected teams in the Big Ten next season — Michigan State, Wisconsin and Indiana — will all come to Columbus. In addition, the Buckeyes also get home games against Purdue and Maryland which means Ohio State plays five of the top-six finishers in last season's Big Ten standings at home.
The Buckeyes missed the NCAA tournament last season for the first time since 2008. Ohio State finished the year 21-14 with a second-round loss to Florida in the NIT. The Buckeyes return their top-six scorers from a year ago, however, in addition to a four-man recruiting class.
