OSU sophomore forward Keita Bates-Diop (33) stares down former Michigan State guard Denzel Valentine during a game on Feb. 23 at the Schottenstein Center. Credit: Lantern File Photo

OSU sophomore forward Keita Bates-Diop (33) stares down former Michigan State guard Denzel Valentine during a game on Feb. 23 at the Schottenstein Center. Credit: Lantern File Photo

In May, the nonconference schedule for Ohio State was released featuring matchups with UCLA, Providence, Connecticut and Virginia.

On Thursday afternoon, the Big Ten Conference announced the 2016-17 conference schedule for all 14 teams.

The 18-game Big Ten slate features a home-and-home series with Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin.

The Buckeyes will only play on the road against Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Penn State. OSU will play Indiana, Northwestern, Purdue and Rutgers once in 2016-17 at home.

Last season the Scarlet and Gray finished seventh in the Big Ten and missed the NCAA tournament for just the first time in coach Thad Matta’s 12 years with the program. The Buckeyes were 4-5 on the road in conference in 2015-16 lacking a signature road win to boost their NCAA tournament resume.

Two games against conference favorites Michigan State on Jan. 15 and Feb. 14, and Wisconsin on Jan. 12 and Feb. 23, serve as the greatest opportunity for the Buckeyes to impress the selection committee approaching March.

OSU opens the season at Navy at 9 p.m. on Nov. 11. Its Big Ten opener comes on the road at Illinois.

Jan. 1 @ Illinois
Jan. 5 Purdue
Jan. 8 @ Minnesota
Jan. 12 @ Wisconsin
Jan. 15 Michigan State
Jan. 18 @ Nebraska
Jan. 22 Northwestern
Jan. 25 Minnesota
Jan. 28 @ Iowa
Jan. 31 Maryland
Feb. 4 @ Michigan
Feb. 8 Rutgers
Feb. 11 @ Maryland
Feb. 14 @ Michigan State
Feb. 18 or 19 Nebraska
Feb. 23 Wisconsin
Feb. 28 @ Penn State
March 4 Indiana