Gopher men’s basketball unveils non-conference schedule.

Featuring 10 home games along with a challenging slate of opponents, the Minnesota men’s basketball team unveiled its non-conference schedule Tuesday.

Game times and television broadcast information will be announced at a later date.

“Our non-conference schedule is going to provide us a great test early on in the year,” said head coach Richard Pitino. “With several high-profile opponents who are also coming off NCAA Tournament appearances, we will have a chance to prepare our team for the Big Ten season.”

Beginning with an exhibition against Concordia St. Paul on Thursday, November 2, the 124th season of Golden Gopher basketball will start at home in November. The regular season begins on Friday, Nov. 10 as the Maroon and Gold host USC Upstate.

The first road trip of the season comes next, as the Gophers travel to Providence on Monday, Nov. 13. The matchup against head coach Richard Pitino’s alma mater is part of the Gavitt Tipoff Games, Minnesota’s second time in the annual event pitting Big Ten schools against BIG EAST opponents at campus sites.

The Gophers return to the Barn for three games in seven days, hosting Niagara on Wednesday, Nov. 15, welcoming Western Carolina on Sunday, Nov. 19, and Alabama A&M for a matchup on Tuesday, Nov. 21.

A grueling stretch against major opponents begins three days later. Minnesota travels to Brooklyn, N.Y., for the Barclays Center Classic, facing UMass on Friday, Nov. 24 and Alabama the following day.

Minnesota returns home on Wednesday, Nov. 29 to take part in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, hosting NCAA Tournament qualifier Miami at the Barn.

For the first time in recent seasons, the Gophers will take a break to step into Big Ten play, playing two games against conference foes the first weekend of December. Those opponents, along with home and road assignments, will be unveiled later this summer as part of the larger Big Ten schedule release.

A trip to the Ozarks awaits the Gophers on Saturday, Dec. 9, traveling to NCAA Tournament participant Arkansas in the second game of their home-and-home series.

Two days later, Minnesota will host Drake on Monday, Dec. 11 in its final game before breaking for final exams. The Gophers return to the court on Thursday, Dec. 21, hosting Oral Roberts. Two more home games round out the non-conference schedule, as Minnesota welcomes Florida Atlantic on Saturday, Dec. 23 and Harvard one week later, Dec. 30.

The full schedule will be released later this summer, including game dates and locations for the 18-game Big Ten slate.