The men’s basketball schedule came out Wednesday, and the Illini have a competitive list of games on their plates this season.

The season gets underway with an exhibition game against Lewis on Nov. 1, and includes non-conference match ups against powerhouses Maryland, Arizona and Xavier.

“This non-conference schedule will be a challenge as we replace the two winningest players in Illinois history in Dee Brown and James Augustine in our starting lineup,” head coach Bruce Weber said in a press release.

Around the Thanksgiving season, the Illini will participate in the Chicago Invitational, including two games in Champaign and two more at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates.

The tournament will be the first event held at the new arena.

Three days later they’ll face Maryland in the annual Big Ten-ACC Challenge game to kick off the intensity as they head towards the Big Ten season.

“We’ll be playing good teams in the Chicago Invitational, followed by a game against Maryland, a tough game against Arizona in Pheonix, UIC in Chicago, and a good Xavier team in Cincinnati right before Big Ten play begins,” Weber said.

The team will play 17 regular season match ups in Champaign, not including the Orange & Blue scrimmage or exhibition games against Lewis and SIU-Edwardsville.

At least 14 of the team’s games are scheduled to be televised.

Weber said the team’s success this season will be determined by how easily players slip back into top form now that Augustine and Brown are in the NBA.

“We’ll have to be prepared to play in midseason form in December, which should have us ready for the Big Ten come January.

“We’ll have to be ready once we get to Big Ten play because we open with two of the league favorites in Michigan and Ohio State, and I anticipate the league being extremely tough and balanced this season,” Weber said.

• 2006-07 Illinois Men’s Basketball Schedule
• Oct. 27 Orange & Blue Scrimmage, 6:30 p.m.
• Wed., Nov. 1 Lewis (Exh), 7 p.m.
• Wed., Nov. 8 SIU-Edwardsville (Exh), 7 p.m.
• Tues., Nov. 13 Austin Peay State, 7 p.m.
• Th., Nov. 15 Jackson State, 7 p.m. (Chicago Invitational)
• Fr., Nov. 17 Georgia Southern, 7 p.m.
• Sun., Nov. 19 Florida A&M;, 4 p.m.
• Tues., Nov. 21 Savannah St., 7 p.m. (Chicago Invitational)
• Fri., Nov. 24 vs. Miami – TBA (Chicago Invitational, Sears Centre), TBA
• Sat., Nov. 25 vs. TBA – TBA (Chicago Invitational, Sears Centre), TBA
• Tues., Nov. 28 Maryland (Big Ten/ACC), 6 p.m., ESPN
• Sat., Dec. 2 vs. Arizona

  (Hall of Fame Challenge at US Airways Center, Phoenix),

  approx. 4 p.m., ESPN

• Wed., Dec. 6 IUPUI, 7 p.m.
• Sat., Dec. 9 vs. UIC (at Chicago, United Center), TBA
• Sun., Dec. 17 Belmont, 4 p.m.
• Tues., Dec. 19 vs. Missouri (at St. Louis, Savvis Center), 8 p.m., ESPN
• Thur., Dec. 21 Idaho St., 7 p.m.
• Fri., Dec. 29 at Xavier, TBA (US Bank Arena)
• Wed., Jan. 3 at Michigan, 7 p.m., ESPN-L
• Sat., Jan. 6 Ohio State, 1 p.m., ESPN
• Wed., Jan. 10 Iowa, 7 p.m., ESPN-L
• Sun., Jan. 14 at Michigan State, 12:30/3 p.m., CBS
• Wed., Jan. 17 at Minnesota, 6 p.m., ESPN2
• Sat., Jan. 20 Wisconsin, 1 p.m., ESPN
• Tues., Jan. 23 Indiana, TBA, ESPN
• Sat., Jan. 27 at Purdue, 1:30 p.m., ESPN-R
• Tues., Jan. 30 Michigan State, 8 p.m., ESPN
• Sat., Feb. 3 Minnesota, 7 p.m., ESPN-L
• Wed., Feb. 7 at Northwestern, 6 p.m., ESPN2
• Sat., Feb. 10 at Indiana, Noon, CBS
• Sun., Feb. 18 Northwestern, 2 p.m., ESPN-L
• Wed., Feb. 21 Michigan, 8 p.m., ESPNU
• Sat., Feb. 24 at Penn State, 1 p.m., ESPN
• Sat., March 3 at Iowa, 11/1/3, CBS/ESPN/ESPN-R
• March 8-11 Big Ten Tournament, Chicago
• March 15-18 NCAA 1st/2nd Rounds
• March 22-25 NCAA Regionals
• March 31-April 2 NCAA Final Four