Purdue plays IU, Michigan State twice in 16-17

Maryland’s schedule last season, which was deemed one of the toughest, was made more hard by the fact that the Terps played late-season road games at Purdue and Indiana.

As part of the Big Ten’s schedule rotation, five teams (Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern and Ohio State) will serve as NU’s double-play opponents this season, as the Huskers will face those five times in Lincoln and on the road.

The Big Ten released its 2016-17 season home/away pairings Monday morning, handing the Hoosiers a mixed bag. Nebraska upset the Badgers in the Big Ten Tournament in March and will host Wisconsin in the teams’ lone meeting next season.

However, with Valentine and fellow seniors Matt Costello and Bryn Forbes, along with one-and-done and potential NBA Draft lottery pick Deyonta Davis leaving the program, MSU is hoping a wave of freshman that ranked top-3 nationally heading into next season can make an impact early and often for 2016-17. Road tests at MI and Wisconsin will be very hard, and so will the road sides of the Iowa and Ohio State series. IU coach Tom Crean’s team will not have to visit Michigan State, but will only get likely cellar dwellers Rutgers and Nebraska each once.

Finalized dates, times and television assignments will come at a later date.

The Hoosiers also have just one contest at home against Michigan State, another team that figures to compete for a Big Ten title.

IN will go on the road to take on Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota and Ohio State.

Away only: Ohio State, Minnesota, Iowa, Maryland.

IU is expected to open this season against Kansas in Pearl Harbor, on November 11.