Seven National TV Appearances Highlight Men's Basketball Conference Schedule
MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin men’s basketball team will play at least seven conference games in front of national television audiences, according to the Big Ten schedule released Wednesday by the Conference office. Every one of the Badgers’ 16 Big Ten games will be televised either nationally or locally.

The Badgers open the Big Ten season with a pair of home games, facing Iowa on Jan. 5 and hosting Michigan State on Jan. 7 in a game televised by CBS. Following the MSU game, UW will alternate home and road games until the end of February. On Jan. 10, the Badgers will play their third game in six days, at Minnesota on ESPN. Wisconsin then hosts Northwestern on Jan. 14 and plays at Ohio State on Jan. 18 in another ESPN game.

After slipping out of conference to host North Dakota State on Jan. 21, UW will welcome Penn State to the Kohl Center on Jan. 25. A weekend trip to Ann Arbor to face Michigan on Jan. 28 precedes the Badgers’ matchup with Illinois at home on Jan. 31, UW’s third ESPN appearance of the month.

Wisconsin travels to Purdue to open February, facing the Boilermakers on Feb. 4. Four days later, UW hosts Indiana in an ESPN game. The Badgers’ game at Penn State on Feb. 11 will be televised by ESPN2, as will their matchup at Northwestern on Feb. 23. In between those games, Wisconsin will host Ohio State on Feb. 15. For its final home game of the season, UW will host Minnesota on Sunday, Feb. 26.

The Badgers’ final two games of the season are on the road and may be televised nationally. Wisconsin travels to East Lansing to take on Michigan State in a game on either Feb. 28, March 1 or 2. If played on Feb. 28 or March 2, the game will be shown on ESPN. To wrap up the regular season, UW plays at Iowa on March 4, which could be picked up by CBS.

The 2006 Big Ten Tournament will run from March 9-12 at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Badgers have advanced to the tournament final in each of the last two seasons and won the tournament title the last time it was held in Indiananpolis.

Remaining starting times and television arrangements for non-conference games will be announced as they are confirmed.

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"Be nice to people on your way up because you meet them on your way down"...Jimmy Durante