Notre Dame, Auburn, Valpo highlight IPFW hoops schedule

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IPFW men's basketball coach Tony Jasick has vowed often during this offseason that his program will return to its winning ways after struggling this past winter.

The second-year Mastodons coach released the 2012-13 schedule late Wednesday, and it is filled with non-conference tests that should prepare IPFW for the rigors of Summit League play.

The schedule will consist of games against schools from 11 conferences in the first 11 non-tournament contests of the season.

After an exhibition game against Alma College on Nov. 5, the Mastodons will travel to Auburn to open their season Nov. 9.

IPFW will also challenge itself with non-conference road games at Notre Dame (Dec. 17), at defending Horizon League champion Valparaiso (Dec.5), at Drake (Dec. 8) and at home against Miami (Ohio) on Dec. 1.

The Mastodons will get the experience of playing in three straight games – similar to the Summit League Tournament's final three days – when they compete in the Eastern Michigan Tournament on Nov. 16-18 in Ypsilanti, Mich.

A unique home-and-home series will be played with Navy, as the Midshipmen visit the Gates Sports Center on Jan. 2.

IPFW will open league play against in-state rival IUPUI on Dec. 27 in Indianapolis.

Jasick was unavailable for comment.

For more on the Mastodons' schedule, see News-Sentinel.com later today.

Tdavis@news-sentinel.com