LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville will prepare for the Atlantic Coast Conference with non-conference matchups against Big Ten schools Minnesota, Ohio State and Indiana along with its annual showdown against rival Kentucky.
The Cardinals' schedule released on Wednesday also features three meetings against former assistants. The first is the Nov. 14 season opener in Puerto Rico against Minnesota, led by Louisville coach Rick Pitino's son, Richard.
Louisville also faces UNC Wilmington — coached by former Cardinals assistant Kevin Keatts — and Cal State Northridge, led by Reggie Theus.
The Cardinals host Ohio State on Dec. 2 and face Indiana in New York on Dec. 9. Kentucky visits on Dec. 27.
Highlighting Louisville's ACC home schedule are matchups against Duke (Jan. 17), North Carolina (Jan. 31) and the regular season finale against Virginia (March 7).
The Cardinals will face 12 teams from last spring's postseason, nine of which played in the NCAA tournament.
"This will be one of the biggest challenges we've had since I've been at Louisville," Pitino said in a release. "It's not only a fantastic league schedule, where three of our four repeat opponents are ranked high in the polls, but our non-conference schedule, which includes three Big Ten schools, will present a significant task. We believe our veterans will be prepared for it and certainly we look forward to the challenge."
Louisville will also visit Western Kentucky on Dec. 20. It begins ACC play on Jan. 4 at Wake Forest.
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The schedule:
Nov. 1, Barry (exhibition); Nov. 9, Bellarmine (exhibition); Nov. 14, vs. Minnesota in Puerto Rico; Nov. 17, Jacksonville State; Nov. 21, Marshall; Nov. 24, Savannah State; Nov. 26, Cleveland State.
Dec. 2, Ohio State; Dec. 5, Florida International; Dec. 9, vs. Indiana in New York; Dec. 14, UNC Wilmington; Dec. 20, at Western Kentucky; Dec. 23, Cal State Northridge; Dec. 27, Kentucky; Dec. 30, Long Beach State.
Jan. 4, at Wake Forest; Jan. 7, Clemson; Jan. 10, at North Carolina; Jan. 13, Virginia Tech; Jan. 17, Duke; Jan. 25, at Pittsburgh; Jan. 28, at Boston College; Jan. 31, North Carolina.
Feb. 3, at Miami; Feb. 7, at Virginia; Feb. 11, Pittsburgh; Feb. 14, N.C. State; Feb. 18, at Syracuse; Feb. 21, Miami; Feb. 23, at Georgia Tech; Feb. 28, at Florida State.
March 4, Notre Dame; March 7, Virginia.