Thad Matta, now in his sixth season as head coach of the Ohio State men’s basketball team, announced the finalized 2009-10 schedule today.

Every Ohio State game will appear on national television in 2009-10. CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and the Big Ten Network will showcase the Buckeyes throughout the season. The ESPN family of networks will broadcast at least eight games and possibly 10 throughout the season while CBS has scheduled the Buckeyes three times with opportunities for two others. The Big Ten Network, now in its third season, will showcase no fewer than 18 games.

The Buckeyes, who tied for fourth in Big Ten regular-season play a season ago, aim for their third league crown under Matta’s direction this season. The league returned to the lengthier conference schedule in 2008 after playing a 16-game schedule from 1998-2007. The Buckeyes will take on eight league foes twice while playing Michigan State (away) and Northwestern (home) once in 2010.

Matta said playing in the preseason 2K Sports Classic benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer will help the Buckeyes during 2010 league play. Ohio State takes on defending national champion North Carolina along with either California or Syracuse at Madison Square Garden Nov. 19-20 as part of the event.

“The non-conference schedule features several terrific teams that are proven NCAA tournament caliber programs,” Matta said. “We will face the defending national champions, the NCAA runner-up and the 2009 NIT champions. The Big Ten may be the toughest league in the country this year. We hope to play our best basketball in March and this schedule gives us the opportunity to work toward that goal.”

Sports Illustrated has rated Ohio State’s non-conference schedule the fourth-toughest in the country behind North Carolina, Michigan State and Texas. Aside from the Tar Heels and Spartans, Ohio State takes on West Virginia, Michigan and Illinois among SI’s Top 10 teams with the most difficult non-league schedules.

Ohio State will play at least 17 games this season vs. 12 teams that played in the 2009 NCAA Tournament, which includes a Jan. 23 contest at West Virginia. The Buckeyes will play 10 games away from Columbus vs. 2009 NCAA squads this season.

The Big Ten/ACC Challenge will again be part of the Ohio State schedule this year. The Buckeyes host Florida State Dec. 2. The final game of a four-game contact with Butler will be contested in Indianapolis Dec. 12. Matta, a 1990 Butler graduate, is 2-1 vs. his alma mater as head coach of the Buckeyes. Ohio State defeated the Bulldogs 79-69 in overtime Nov. 22, 2005 in Matta’s second season in Columbus and dropped a 65-46 decision in 2007 in Indianapolis. The Buckeyes prevailed 54-51 a season ago in Columbus setting up the game this year at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Matta is 35-7 vs. the Big Ten at VCA and is 42-2 vs. non-conference opponents during his tenure. The Buckeyes posted a school-record 18-0 home record at VCA in 2006-07 and in five seasons in Columbus, Matta’s Buckeyes are 77-9 in VCA and 82-9 in Columbus. Ohio State owns four victories at St. John Arena and one at Nationwide Arena in downtown Columbus since Matta took over the program in 2004-05.

Ohio State will open the regular season Nov. 9 against Alcorn State at Value City Arena. That game kicks off the 2K Sports Classic benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer. James Madison also plays at Ohio State Nov. 12 as part of the event.

Junior David Lighty returns to the Ohio State lineup after missing the majority of the 2008-09 season with a broken foot. Sophomore Zisis Sarikopoulos makes his debut after sitting out last year following a transfer from Alabama-Birmingham following the 2007-08 season.

Also back is junior Evan Turner, a preseason candidate for the Wooden Award, Big Ten player of the year and All-Big Ten accolades. Turner will run the Buckeyes from the point guard position in 2009-10 after playing on the wing his first two years.

Turner, Lighty, 2009 Big Ten Freshman of the Year William Buford and junior honorable mention All-Big Ten guard Jon Diebler give the Buckeyes one of the more formidable guard rotations nationally.

Ohio State will open Big Ten regular-season competition on the road Dec. 31 against Wisconsin when the Buckeyes begin their 97th year as a member of the Big Ten Conference in men’s basketball. Four of Ohio State’s first five league games are away from Columbus with games at Michigan, Minnesota and Purdue on tap out of the gate.

Ohio State put together a 22-11 campaign in 2008-09 on its way to an appearance in the 2009 NCAA Tournament.