NU's 2016-17 basketball schedule announced

[lou v]

NU doubles up against Nebraska, Rutgers, Indiana, Purdue and Illinois.

Here's the slate...

12/27/2016 Penn State University Park, Pa. TBA Details
12/30/2016 Michigan State East Lansing, Mich. TBA Details
1/5/2017 Minnesota Evanston, Ill. TBA Details
1/8/2017 Nebraska Lincoln, Neb. TBA Details
1/12/2017 Rutgers Piscataway, N.J. TBA Details
1/15/2017 Iowa Evanston, Ill. TBA Details
1/22/2017 Ohio State Columbus, Ohio TBA Details
1/26/2017 Nebraska Evanston, Ill. TBA Details
1/29/2017 Indiana Evanston, Ill. TBA Details
2/1/2017 Purdue West Lafayette, Ind. TBA Details
2/7/2017 Illinois Evanston, Ill. TBA Details
2/12/2017 Wisconsin Madison, Wis. TBA Details
2/15/2017 Maryland Evanston, Ill. TBA Details
2/18/2017 Rutgers Evanston, Ill. TBA Details
2/21/2017 Illinois Champaign, Ill. TBA Details
2/25/2017 Indiana OR Bloomington, Ind. TBA Details
2/26/2017 Indiana Bloomington, Ind. TBA Details
3/1/2017 Michigan Evanston, Ill. TBA Details
3/4/2017 Purdue OR Evanston, Ill. TBA Details
3/5/2017 Purdue Evanston, Ill. TBA Details

...and here's the release from NU....

Northwestern's 2016-17 Big Ten Schedule Announced

2016-17 Northwestern Men’s Basketball Schedule

EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern's men's basketball schedule for the upcoming 2016-17 season is set as released by the Big Ten Conference on Thursday.

The Wildcats tip off their league slate Dec. 27 when they travel to Penn State. It opens a stretch during which NU plays four of its first five conference games on the road.

Following the lone matchup of the season with Michigan State at East Lansing Dec. 30, Northwestern opens up its home schedule and the New Year Jan. 5 when Minnesota comes to Welsh-Ryan Arena.

The 'Cat next venture back out on the road for consecutive games, playing at Nebraska (Jan. 8) and at Rutgers (Jan. 12). The only contest of the season with Iowa is on tap for Jan. 15 when the Hawkeyes trek to Evanston.

Following another one-play game at Ohio State Jan. 22, Northwestern starts a closing stretch during which it plays seven of its final 11 conference games at home. The swing opens up with the second matchup of the season against Nebraska Jan. 26 before Indiana comes to town Jan. 29.

The Wildcats make the short trip to Purdue to open up the month of February before Illinois visits Welsh-Ryan Feb. 7. Northwestern ventures north to Wisconsin Feb. 12, preceding home matches against Maryland (Feb. 15) and Rutgers (Feb. 18).

NU wraps up its season series with Illinois Feb. 21 when it travels to Champaign before a contest at Indiana. The game against the Hoosiers is currently a wild card date with the game being played either Feb. 25 or 26.

Northwestern closes out its regular season with a pair of contests in Evanston. The team's lone meeting with Michigan is being played March 1 before Purdue comes to town for NU's Senior Day. The matchup with the Boilermakers is another wild card game that will be held either March 4 or 5.

Tip times and television designations for each of Northwestern's Big Ten contests will be announced at a later date.

Season tickets for the Wildcats' upcoming 2016-17 season are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling 888-GO-PURPLE.

 

[mikewebb68]

Me likey two Rutgers games....

 

[benoitdenizetl]

Really, really good chance to start 4-1. Have to at least start 3-2.

 

[pawildcat]

Really, really good chance to start 4-1. Have to at least start 3-2.

We'll see. Our record at Penn State hasn't been great over the years. Minnesota and Rutgers have been train wrecks, so NU should be able to grab both of those. I agree we at least have to beat Penn State or Nebraska to have a decent start.

 

[Sec.112]

I don't think a 6-2 record going with Indiana coming to the Welsh is out of the question. Iowa is not going to be the team they were last year. One of their top five scorers returns from last year.

But once again, the Cats are going to need a two or three of those big wins. Loading up on Minnesota, Nebraska, Rutgers and Illinois might help with the NIT, but that's about all.

 

[DaCat]

If we are to make a post-season tournament, the team needs to find a way to close out some of those upsets that just escaped its grasp last season (Maryland, Michigan). With Mac a seasoned veteran now, his leadership will be key to developing the DNA to win those tight games. We have a lot of nice pieces and a breakout season for a Law, Falzone, Rap or other would put us over the hump.

 

[CommodoresAndCats]

If we are to make a post-season tournament, the team needs to find a way to close out some of those upsets that just escaped its grasp last season (Maryland, Michigan). With Mac a seasoned veteran now, his leadership will be key to developing the DNA to win those tight games. We have a lot of nice pieces and a breakout season for a Law, Falzone, Rap or other would put us over the hump.

Bingo, the team has proven they can win the cupcake games fairly consistently. The next step is to steal some games from likely tournament teams.

Bottom line, the team needs to make the NIT this year. I think the schedule presents enough opportunities to do that. We need to start beating teams like Dayton in the non conference and get a couple wins over Wisconsin, Purdue, Maryland level teams in conference.

 

[rwhitney014]

Lots of road games (though some winnable ones) early and lots of home games late. Seems like a pretty favorable way to do it.

 

[YesterdaysCat]

Bingo, the team has proven they can win the cupcake games fairly consistently. The next step is to steal some games from likely tournament teams.

Bottom line, the team needs to make the NIT this year. I think the schedule presents enough opportunities to do that. We need to start beating teams like Dayton in the non conference and get a couple wins over Wisconsin, Purdue, Maryland level teams in conference.

Yeah but this team is different from last year's. Better? Worse? A lot rests on SG and C.

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

This will be our best team yet!

 

[NJCat]

This will be our best team yet!

Better than 1930-31, that went 16-1 and won the Big 10? Or 1932-33, that went 15-4 and won the Big 10? Wow, I'm pumped!

 

[VirginiaWildcat]

Better than 1930-31, that went 16-1 and won the Big 10? Or 1932-33, that went 15-4 and won the Big 10? Wow, I'm pumped!

Breaking news! Kyle Young just dropped the 'cats from his list!

 

[NJCat]

Breaking news! Kyle Young just dropped the 'cats from his list!

Really? How much does Ifeadi weigh now?

 

[haywood jahblowme]

Shows that we have 5 Sunday games but not a lot of Saturday games in B1G play. Seems like a lot versus previous years. is that normal across the league?