Lincoln – The Nebraska men’s basketball team will face a 13-game non-conference schedule that features matchups against teams from the Pac-12 and ACC, along with both of the state’s other Division I programs, first-year coach Tim Miles announced Tuesday.
“I’m excited to get going with the season,” Miles said. “Every year is different in how you create a non-conference schedule. Some teams need more of a challenge, and some need more grooming so you prepare accordingly. This one is a nice mix of everything. I think we will be challenged a great deal, and we will know exactly what we have going into the start of Big Ten play.”
The Huskers will play nine home games in their final season at the Bob Devaney Sports Center, including the previously announced Joe Cipriano Nebraska Classic, which features Valparaiso, Nebraska-Omaha, Tulane and Kent State. Nebraska will also face Southern (Nov. 11), USC (Dec. 3), Creighton (Dec. 6), Jacksonville State (Dec. 18) and Nicholls State (Dec. 29) at the Devaney Center.
“We have put together a strong home slate when you look at the Joe Cipriano Classic, a rivalry game with Creighton and a Southern California team that believes it will be an NCAA-caliber team this year. I think that it is going to be fun for our fans.”
In addition, the Huskers will make trips to Wake Forest (Nov. 27), Oregon (Dec. 15) as well as participate in the Sun Bowl Invitational (Dec. 22-23).
“Playing at Wake Forest in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge as well as playing at Oregon will be important games for us, Miles said. “We are also excited to return to El Paso for the Sun Bowl Classic. We had a great experience there with Colorado State last year. The hospitality was amazing, and we are looking forward to going back to be part of the event this year.”
Miles also announced the Huskers will have one exhibition game, as they will take on Midland University on Wednesday, Nov. 7, at the Devaney Center.
Fans can purchase season tickets for as little as $95 by visiting Huskers.com, calling 800-8-BIGRED or stopping by the Nebraska Ticket Office during business hours (Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.). In addition, all fans who purchase season tickets for the 2012-13 season will have priority over the general public when the Huskers move into Pinnacle Bank Arena in 2013-14.
Nebraska will spend most of November at home, opening the final basketball season at the Devaney Center on Sunday, Nov. 11, when the Huskers take on Southern. The contest against the Jaguars, who went 17-14 and finished second in the SWAC standings, will be the first of five consecutive home games before Nebraska travels to Winston-Salem, N.C., for the ACC/Big Ten Challenge game at Wake Forest.
The month of December opens with a tough three-game stretch that begins with a USC team on Dec. 3 that was limited by injuries last year. USC returns nearly its entire roster in 2012-13, including starting point guard Jio Fontan, who missed all of last season following knee surgery, as well as six of the team’s top eight scorers in 2011-12.
The Huskers will continue a busy week when they host Creighton at the Devaney Center on Thursday, Dec. 6. The Bluejays return four starters, including All-American Doug McDermott, from a team that 29 games and reached the third round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament.
Following final exams, the Huskers will trek cross country to take on the Oregon Ducks on Saturday, Dec. 15. Oregon, coached by Dana Altman, went 24-10 last season and tied for second place in the Pac-12 before reaching the quarterfinals of the NIT. Oregon returns two starters, including second-team All-Pac-12 selection E.J. Singler (13.6, 5.6 rpg).
The Huskers will return home for a matchup with a Jacksonville State team that went 15-18 last year and finished sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference, but returns its top nine players, including all five starters.
Nebraska travels to El Paso for the Sun Bowl Invitational, which features Central Michigan, host UTEP and Arkansas Pine Bluff. The Huskers close the non-conference portion of their schedule with a Nicholls State team that returns its top three scorers from last year, including Southland Conference Freshman of the Year Trevon Lewis (12.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg). In addition, senior Fred Hunter, who averaged 15.8 points and a team-high 6.3 rebounds per game in 2010-11, returns after missing all of 2011-12 with knee surgery.
The 2012-13 Big Ten Conference schedule will be announced at a later date by the conference office.
--Huskers –
Day Date Opponent Location Time
Wednesday Nov. 7 Midland University (exhibition) Devaney Center TBA
Sunday Nov. 11 Southern Devaney Center TBA
Thursday Nov. 15 Valparaiso (Joe Cipriano Nebraska Classic) Devaney Center TBA
Sunday Nov. 18 Nebraska-Omaha (Joe Cipriano Nebraska Classic) Devaney Center TBA
Wednesday Nov. 21 Tulane (Joe Cipriano Nebraska Classic) Devaney Center TBA
Saturday Nov. 24 Kent State (Joe Cipriano Nebraska Classic) Devaney Center TBA
Tuesday Nov. 27 at Wake Forest (ACC/Big Ten Challenge) (ESPNU) Winston-Salem, N.C. 8:15 p.m.
Monday Dec. 3 USC Devaney Center TBA
Thursday Dec. 6 Creighton Devaney Center TBA
Saturday Dec. 15 at Oregon Eugene, Ore. TBA
Tuesday Dec. 18 Jacksonville State Devaney Center TBA
Saturday Dec. 22 vs. Central Michigan (Sun Bowl Invitational) El Paso, Texas 10 p.m.
Sunday Dec. 23 vs. UTEP/Arkansas Pine Bluff (Sun Bowl Invitational) El Paso, Texas 6/8 p.m.
Saturday Dec. 29 Nicholls State Devaney Center TBA
All times listed are central; dates and times subject to change
