Lantern file photo
OSU coach Thad Matta watches from the sidelines in the 1st half of the March 30 NCAA Tournament game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles against Wichita State. OSU lost, 70-66.
Ohio State men’s basketball coach Thad Matta released the Buckeyes entire 2013-14 schedule on Wednesday.
Notable conference home games in Matta’s 10th season at the helm include Illinois and Penn State on Jan. 23 and 29, respectively, in addition to Purdue, Michigan, Northwestern, Minnesota and Michigan State. OSU’s first conference game is on the road New Year’s Eve against Purdue.
The Buckeyes host in-state rival Ohio University Nov. 12 at Value City Arena before traveling to Marquette Nov. 16. OSU hosts Maryland Dec. 4 as part of the annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge and plays Big East foe Notre Dame at a neutral site Dec. 21. The game against the Fighting Irish is the finale of the Gotham Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York.
After a home exhibition game against Walsh Nov. 3, the Buckeyes open season play at Value City Arena against Morgan State Nov. 9. Eleven of OSU’s 13 nonconference games will be played at home.
OSU goes on the road to play conference rivals Indiana and Wisconsin, and has home-and-home dates with Northwestern, Nebraska, Michigan State, Minnesota, Penn State, Illinois and Iowa.
The Buckeyes return four starters to a team that won its third Big Ten tournament title in four years last season, finishing with an overall record of 29-8 and falling to Wichita State in the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament. It was the fourth straight year OSU made it to at least to the tournament’s Sweet Sixteen.
