Northwestern University Athletics
Big Ten Announces 2009-10 Conference Schedule
8/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Aug. 19, 2009
2009-10 Northwestern Big Ten Schedule
EVANSTON, Ill. -
Northwestern's men's basketball team faces a tough opening stretch to its 2009-10 Big Ten Conference schedule announced Wednesday. The Wildcats are set to play their first 10 league games against teams that participated in the 2009 NCAA Tournament.
NU faces each Big Ten team twice with the exception of Ohio State and Purdue. The Buckeyes will not travel to Welsh-Ryan Arena this season, while the Boilermakers won't host the Wildcats at Mackey Arena.
Northwestern's conference slate gets underway Dec. 30 as it travels to in-state foe Illinois. The Big Ten home opener is set for Jan. 2 as the Wildcats welcome defending Big Ten champion and national runner-up Michigan State.
After receiving one of their two byes, the 'Cats head to Michigan Jan. 10. NU then returns to Welsh-Ryan for back-to-back home games, taking on Wisconsin Jan. 13 and the lone meeting with Purdue three days later.
The Wildcats hit the road for three of the next four contests, heading to Ohio State Jan. 19 before wrapping up their season series with Illinois at home Jan. 23. Consecutive road games at Minnesota and Michigan State close out the month of January.
Northwestern then plays four of its first five games in February on its home court. Michigan and Indiana come to Welsh-Ryan Arena Feb. 2 and 7, respectively. Iowa matches up with NU for the first time Feb. 10 in Iowa City before the Wildcats return to Evanston for a Valentine's Day showdown against Minnesota. The home stretch concludes with the first meeting against Penn State Feb. 17.
The conference slate concludes with Northwestern playing three of its last four conference games on the road. After heading to Madison to face Wisconsin Feb. 21, the Wildcats host Iowa four days later in a game that will be televised by either ESPN or ESPN2. Big Ten play concludes for the Wildcats with games at Penn State Feb. 28 and Indiana March 6.
The 13th annual Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament will be played Thursday, March 11 through Sunday, March 14 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Fans can look for season tickets to go on sale in mid-September once Northwestern is set to release its non-conference schedule. Fans interested in purchasing 2009-10 season tickets (who did not have season tickets last year) can email wildcatmarketing@northwestern.edu to receive a phone call to place an order on the day season tickets go on sale.
