2023-24 Big Ten opponents released

[lou v]

Full release:

EVANSTON, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference revealed its men's basketball conference matchups for the 2023-24 season on Tuesday.

Northwestern and its league counterparts will again play a 20-game schedule. Each school's conference slate includes seven home-and-home series, in addition to three schools it will play just once at home and another three that it will play just once on the road.

The Wildcats will battle Illinois, Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Penn State and Purdue in a home-and-home series during the upcoming campaign.

Northwestern will also host Iowa, Michigan and Ohio State at Welsh-Ryan Arena, while the 'Cats lone matchups against Indiana, Rutgers and Wisconsin will take place on the road.

Game dates and times, TV assignments and non-conference opponents will be released at a later date.

 

[NJCat]

Mountain Man Matt, the new face of the program......

 

[Cataria]

This is a good schedule for NU. Not playing at Iowa is a plus. This year we have MN and UNL twice. Also PSU (they might be down a bit) but that doesn't always work out well for the Cats.

 

[SimpsonElmwood]

This looks like it's as easy as it can be in the B1G.

 

[CatManTrue]

Pumped up for the game @ Rutgers. I’ll be there, hopefully in as good a seat as last season.

 

[rwhitney014]

Mountain Man Matt, the new face of the program......

Mount Nicholson.

 

[GatoLouco]

Not sure how one can analyze the schedule when there's such a steamy pic of my man Matt

 

[Hungry Jack]

That's a look that would make Clint Eastwood proud.

That schedule looks very forgiving. 2 games apiece vs. Minny, Nebby, and PSU (losing Pickett, Lundy, Wynter, and Coach Micah). Single away games at IU (no TJD, Thompson or Hood-S), RU and Wisky. No game at Michigan or Iowa.

 

[NJCat]

That's a look that would make Clint Eastwood proud.

That schedule looks very forgiving. 2 games apiece vs. Minny, Nebby, and PSU (losing Pickett, Lundy, Wynter, and Coach Micah). Single away games at IU (no TJD, Thompson or Hood-S), RU and Wisky. No game at Michigan or Iowa.

And if Boo returns, you can count on two wins against MSU......he's a Spartan killer.

 

[mshelton33]

Net Schedule Effect from 22-23 to 23-24:

Added: Michigan State, @ Purdue, @ Minnesota, Nebraska, Maryland, @ Penn State

Dropped: @ Ohio State, @ Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, @ Iowa, Rutgers

There's a negligible difference comparing the 2022-23 conference record of opponents last year to this year (196-202 last season, 196-200 for this season), but the conference parity was absurd so that's expected almost any way you slice it.

Picking up games at Purdue and against Sparty is tough, but that's balanced out by Minnesota, Nebraska and a potentially reeling Penn State.

 

[mshelton33]

Mount Nicholson.

His twitter handle is @mtnicholso20, which is almost assuredly an abbreviation for Matt, but I'm choosing to believe it's for Mt. Nicholson.

 

[GatoLouco]

Net Schedule Effect from 22-23 to 23-24:

Added: Michigan State, @ Purdue, @ Minnesota, Nebraska, Maryland, @ Penn State

Dropped: @ Ohio State, @ Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, @ Iowa, Rutgers

There's a negligible difference comparing the 2022-23 conference record of opponents last year to this year (196-202 last season, 196-200 for this season), but the conference parity was absurd so that's expected almost any way you slice it.

Picking up games at Purdue and against Sparty is tough, but that's balanced out by Minnesota, Nebraska and a potentially reeling Penn State.

That's a great representation on how much easier the schedule is for next year.

Having said that, same could be said about the schedule for the year before the last and we pooped the bed.

 

[CatManTrue]

Mount Nicholson.

I think we have a winner for Big Matt’s new nickname!

 

[Deeringfish]

Thanks to everyone for the productive comments about the strength of schedule. I was going to ask what people thought as I'm not well enough versed in all the B1G team to make any projection myself.
I think Boo And Chase may both come back and that the recent commitments will be net upgrades. No reason not to think Matt won't be a better player especially in the Non Con stretch and younger players should also improve year to year.
Put all that together with a schedule that at worst is on par with last season and perhaps a tad lighter and the potential is pretty exciting.