Ohio State men’s basketball 2019-20 non-conference schedule is set

We’ve gotten the Ohio State Buckeyes non-conference schedule in pieces throughout the summer. Now, we have a complete picture.

There will be one exhibition game against Cedarville on Oct. 30, with the regular season kicking off with a home contest against Cincinnati on Nov. 6.

After a Nov. 10 meeting with UMass Lowell, the Buckeyes play host to the Villanova Wildcats. The Villanova pairing is part of the Gavitt Tipoff Games — an annual eight-game series between the Big Ten and the Big East.

Then, it’s a three-game series in the Ohio State Classic, which includes matchups with Stetson (Nov. 18), Purdue Fort Wayne (Nov. 22) and Kent State (Nov. 25) — all of which will take place in Columbus.

If you’re a fan of St.John Arena hosting games, then you’re in luck, as the Kent State showdown will be tipping off from the historic venue.

December brings out the heavy hitters of the non-con slate. The Big Ten-ACC Challenge brings OSU to Chapel Hill, N.C., to face the North Carolina Tar Heels on Dec. 4. After a 13-day break for finals, the Buckeyes host Southeast Missouri State on Dec. 17, before heading to Las Vegas on Dec. 21 to face Kentucky in the CBS Sports Classic, and West Virginia on Dec. 29 in Cleveland.

For those interested, the Big Ten Tournament will take place March 11-15 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

With a little luck and skill, the Buckeyes should be a team to keep an eye on for an NCAA Tournament bid.