Basketball: Men's

Penn State men's basketball and second-year coach Patrick Chambers learned the team's Big Ten schedule Thursday morning, and the Nittany Lions kickoff their conference slate with a pair of tough games.

Penn State starts Big Ten play on Jan. 3 with a trip to Wisconsin before the team's home conference opener against Indiana four days later on Jan. 7. Wisconsin and Indiana, which both made the NCAA tournament last season, are ranked No. 22 and No. 1, respectively in a preseason ranking done by ESPN's Andy Katz.

Neither Michigan State nor Ohio State visited the Bryce Jordan Center last year, but both Big Ten powers are returning for the 2012-13 season. The Spartans play at Penn State on Jan. 16, while the Buckeyes come to the BJC on Jan. 26.

Every team in the Big Ten plays a total of 18 conference games, before the conference tournament, which will be held March 14-17 next year at the United Center in Chicago. The two Big Ten teams which will not appear the BJC in the upcoming season are Illinois and Minnesota, while the Lions will not face Michigan State or Ohio State on the road.

The Lions' conference schedule comes full circle as they close their regular season against Wisconsin on March 10 at home.

Last season, Penn State went 4-14 in regular season Big Ten games, with all four of the victories coming at the BJC.

The team officially begins the 2012-13 campaign on Nov. 9 at home against St. Francis (PA).

Here's Penn State's complete Big Ten schedule:

Jan. 3 - @ Wisconsin

Jan. 7 - vs. Indiana

Jan. 10 - vs. Northwestern

Jan. 13 - @ Purdue

Jan. 16 - vs. Michigan State

Jan. 19 - vs. Nebraska

Jan. 23 - @ Indiana

Jan. 26 - vs. Ohio State

Jan. 31 - @ Iowa

Feb. 5 - vs. Purdue

Feb. 9 - @ Nebraska

Feb.14 - vs. Iowa

Feb. 17 - @ Michigan

Feb. 21 - @ Illinois

Feb. 27 - vs. Michigan

March 2/3 - vs. Minnesota

March 7 - @ Northwestern

March 10 - vs. Wisconsin