Hoops Conference Schedule, Conference TV Schedule Released

The World-Herald is reporting that 13 of the Huskers' 16 Conference Basketball games will be on the ESPN family of networks, including the Big 12 Network (formerly "ESPN Regional Coverage").  Currently, neither game with Iowa State nor the Feb. 4 road trip to Colorado are scheduled for TV coversage.  Nebraska still has its own TV deal with Fox Sports, and those three games may yet find their way to television.

The Conference Schedule is as follows:

Jan. 10 (Sat.): Missouri, ESPN2
Jan. 14 (Wed.): at Iowa State
Jan. 17 (Sat.): Kansas State, Big 12
Jan. 21 (Wed.): at Oklahoma, ESPNU
Jan. 24 (Sat.): Oklahoma State, Big 12
Jan. 28 (Wed.): Kansas, ESPN2
Jan. 31 (Sat.): at Texas Tech, Big 12
Feb. 4 (Wed.): at Colorado
Feb. 7 (Sat.): Texas, ESPN
Feb. 11 (Wed.): Bye
Feb. 14 (Sat.): at Missouri, Big 12
Feb. 18 (Wed.): Colorado, ESPNU
Feb. 21 (Sat.): at Kansas, Big 12
Feb. 24 (Tues.): Texas A&M, ESPN2
Feb. 28 (Sat.): at Kansas State, Big 12
March 4 (Wed.): Iowa State
March 7 (Sat.): at Baylor, Big 12

The noncoference schedule should be released before the beginning of fall classes.

Commentary from HuskerLibrarian:

Last year, the starting conference schedule included both Kansas games in the first 2 weeks of league play.  Two confidence-destroying losses to the eventual National Champs later and the Huskers were off to an 0-4 start in league play.

This year, the Huskers start with what will be 4 highly winnable games in the first 5 (it'll be a tough order to win at Oklahoma, who may be the best team in the league next year, when Nebraska hasn't won in Norman in 10 years).

Better still, there is no long road trip in the conference slate, and only one two-game trip.   Four of the first 6 at home should also be a big plus, especially when only one of the first four road games is against a team (OU) who is likely an NCAA tournament team.  This is setting up for a good chance at a strong start in conference, which should mean fewer "must-win" games in the last three weeks.