Yes, yes, all focus is on football right now and rightfully so. But the Fighting Illini basketball squad is gearing up for the 2014-15 season as well, and now we know the Big Ten conference schedule for the Orange and Blue.

The schedule makers have given Illinois a tough road to start the Big Ten season. The Illini begin conference play against Michigan on Dec. 30 then head to Ohio State on Jan. 3. The team's lone home contest during its first five games is against Maryland on Jan. 7.

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After starting out with four of five on the road, the Illini play four out of five games at home, starting with back-to-back games at State Farm Center against Indiana on Jan. 18 and Purdue on Jan. 21.

All in all, the Fighting Illini will play 13 games against 10 teams that participated in the 2014 NCAA Tournament. Illinois is coming off a season where a late surge was not enough to put them in the Big Dance. They ended up playing in the post-season NIT. There could be some home-state cooking for the Illini in the 2014-15 conference tournament, as the Big Ten crowns its champ at the United Center in Chicago this year.

What's that? You still want to talk football? OK. Tim Beckman and his squad start the season on August 30 against Youngstown State. You can catch all the games (football and basketball) on WROK.

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