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FORT WAYNE — The Indiana men’s basketball team could potentially play 18 games against teams that participated in the postseason last year. That includes two meetings with Purdue.
The Hoosiers released their 2012-13 schedule Thursday.
“We’ve got, I think, an incredibly challenging schedule,” IU coach Tom Crean said when he visited Fort Wayne on Sunday.
Purdue also released its Big Ten schedule after it announced its non-conference schedule last week.
IU and Purdue will play Jan. 30 at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, and the teams play again Feb. 16 at Assembly Hall in Bloomington. Indiana opens the regular season Nov. 9 against Bryant.
The previously announced Legends Classic follows. The event includes four games, two at Assembly Hall and two in Brooklyn. IU faces Georgia on Nov. 19.
“Georgia can be one of the most improved teams in the country,” Crean said.
The Hoosiers will face either UCLA or Georgetown the next day.
IU faces Ball State at Assembly Hall on Nov. 25. Two days later, the Hoosiers have a home game against North Carolina as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
Ten of Indiana’s 13 non-conference games take place at Assembly Hall. Two are in Brooklyn while the third is against Butler for the Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
IU opens Big Ten play Jan. 31 at Iowa. The Hoosiers first conference home game is Jan. 12 against Minnesota.
Michigan State (Jan. 27 at home, Feb. 19 on the road), Ohio State (Feb. 10 on the road, March 5 at home) and Michigan (Feb. 2 at home, March 10 on the road) are among the teams the Hoosiers face twice.
“The Big Ten, from top to bottom, will be as good as it has been,” Crean said. “When I look at it, and look at all the different players in this league, I don’t know how anybody could even try to make the case that it’s not the best league in the country.
“There’s no question this is the best league in the country, when you look at what’s coming back, what’s coming in, and the factor of how good the coaches and the coaching staffs are in this league.”
Purdue begins Big Ten play at home for the first time since the 2008-09 season. The Boilermakers open against Illinois on Jan. 2.
Three of Purdue’s first four Big Ten games are at Mackey Arena. After traveling to Michigan State on Jan. 5, the team has home games with Ohio State (Jan. 8) and Penn State (Jan. 13).
Purdue’s two home single plays during the Big Ten season are against Ohio State and Minnesota (March 9), while its two road single-play opponents are Nebraska (Jan. 16) and Wisconsin (March 2 or 3).
Purdue’s second game against Michigan State is Feb. 9 at Mackey Arena.
The Boilermakers travel to Michigan on Jan. 24 and have a home game against the Wolverines on March 6.
Purdue closes the regular season against the Gophers.
Times and television designations will be announced at a later date.
