University Park, Pa. — The Big Ten Conference Thursday (Aug. 26) announced the conference men’s basketball schedules for the 2010-11 season as well as tip times and television arrangements for all conference teams.
Every Big Ten men’s basketball conference regular-season and tournament game will be nationally broadcast for the fourth consecutive year. The Big Ten’s media agreements result in more than 100 games appearing on CBS Sports, ESPN, ESPN2 or the Big Ten Network in the 2010-11 season.
Big Ten men’s basketball will reach a live national audience every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday during the conference season. The Big Ten slate will open on Monday, Dec. 27, with Indiana hosting Penn State at 6:30 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network.
The Nittany Lions will have 16 conference games appearing on the Big Ten Network (BTN) and two on ESPN or ESPN2. Four Penn State non-conference games are slated to appear on the Big Ten Network, four on BigTenNetwork.com, and one on ESPN3 with television arrangements for road games at Mississippi and Virginia Tech still to be determined.
The Nittany Lion basketball team will open it’s 18th Big Ten season with a pair of road dates. First will be the Big Ten opener at Indiana, then the Lions will travel to Michigan for a Sunday, Jan. 2 contest at 4 p.m. on the BTN.
The Lions will return home for a three-game home stand starting on Wednesday, Jan. 5 when Penn State hosts co-defending conference champion Purdue at 6:30 p.m. on the BTN. Then 2010 Final Four participant Michigan State comes to town for a Saturday, Jan. 8 contest at 1 p.m. on the BTN. The home stand wraps up with the Lions facing Illinois on Tuesday, Jan. 11 at 9 p.m. on the BTN.
Penn State will return to the road to take on another 2010 conference co-champion in Ohio State (Saturday, Jan. 15 at 5:30 p.m. on the BTN) and then head to Purdue (Wednesday, Jan 19 at 8:30 p.m. on the BTN) before getting a week of rest before taking on Iowa at the Bryce Jordan Center on Wednesday, Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m. on BTN. The Wisconsin Badgers follow Iowa in the BJC taking on the Lions on Saturday, Jan. 29 at 4 p.m. on the BTN.
Penn State then heads to Illinois (Tuesday, Feb. 1 at 9:00 p.m. on the BTN) before hosting Michigan at the Jordan Center on Sunday, Feb. 6 at either noon or 3 p.m. on the BTN.
The Lions head to Michigan State on Thursday, Feb. 10 for a 7 p.m. tip on the BTN before returning home to face Northwestern on Sunday, Feb. 13 at 3:30 p.m. on the BTN. Minnesota comes to town on Thursday, Feb. 17 for a national television broadcast on ESPN or ESPN2 at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 17.
The Lions return to the road for two games playing at Wisconsin (Sunday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. on the BTN) and for another national television game on ESPN or ESPN2 at Northwestern on Thursday, Feb. 24 at 9 p.m.
Penn State wraps up the 18-game conference slate hosting Ohio State on Tuesday, March 1 at 9 p.m. on the BTN and then traveling to Minnesota for a Sunday, March 6 contest at 1or 6 p.m. on the BTN.
In all, the Nittany Lions will play four weekend Big Ten contests in the Bryce Jordan Center facing Michigan State, Wisconsin, Michigan and Northwestern.
Tip times and television arrangements were also announced for most of Penn State’s non-conference schedule. The Lions opener vs. Lehigh on Friday, Nov. 12 will be streamed on the BigTenNetwork.com with a tip time still to be determined. Penn State’s game vs. Saint Joseph’s (Nov. 16) will air on ESPN3 (on-line service, time TBD) while games vs. Fairfield (Nov. 19 @ 7:30 p.m.), Central Connecticut State (Nov. 22 at 7 p.m.), Furman (Nov. 28 at 3:30 p.m.) and Duquesne (Dec. 4 at 6 p.m.) will all air on the Big Ten Network.
Other BTN.com streamed games include the Lions’ exhibition contest with East Stroudsburg (Nov. 7 at TBD) and games vs. Mt. St. Mary’s (Dec. 7 at TBD) and Maine (Dec. 21 at TBD). Tip times and television arrangements for the Lions games at Mississippi (Nov. 26) and at Virginia Tech (Dec. 12) have yet to be announced.
For a complete schedule please visit GoPSUsports.com.
Penn State returns four senior starters and 75 percent of its scoring from last season led by two-time All-Big Ten guard Talor Battle who stands within range of eclipsing the Nittany Lions’ all-time scoring record of 2,138 points held by Jesse Arnelle (1952-55).
Nittany Lion Basketball season tickets are available by calling 814-865-5555. Season tickets are $220 for adults, $190 for seniors for a 19-game home schedule and $59 for students. PNC Flex Books are also available again this year for $99. The Flex Book gives fans 12 vouchers, 10 that can be redeemed in any combination for Nittany Lion and Lady Lion Basketball tickets throughout the year and two extra vouchers for the Nittany Lions’ Coaches Vs. Cancer game and the Lady Lions’ Think Pink game.