Coach Thad Matta has said he prefers not to play against friends, but selling tickets in Value City Arena probably was a higher priority in Ohio State's decision to schedule Miami University for a game this season.
The game will be Nov. 26, the night before the Buckeyes' football game against Michigan.
Matta revealed the Miami game yesterday in an informal question-and-answer session with reporters. He hits the road again today for the last 10 days of the July evaluation period of recruits.
Matta coached at Miami twice as an assistant: in 1995-96 under Herb Sendek and in 1997-98 under Charlie Coles, who remains the RedHawks' coach.
The teams met in a closed, preseason scrimmage two years ago at Miami, but this will be their first game since March 17, 1993, when the RedHawks beat the Buckeyes 56-53 in St. John Arena in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.
The last regular-season game between them was on Nov. 26, 1991, in Ohio State's opener. The Buckeyes, ranked No. 5, won 94-61 to start a season in which they reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
Although contracts have not been finalized for every game, the schedule is complete except for one game, Matta said. It is expected to be released in August.
Other games that have been confirmed are at Florida on Nov.16, at Florida State on Nov.30 and at home against South Carolina on Dec.17.
Also, a contract has been signed for a home-and-home series against Kansas beginning with the 2011-12 season, an athletics department spokesman said. The 2011 game will be in Lawrence, Kan.
Kansas and Ohio State last met in 1999 and 2000. The Jayhawks won both games.
Other noteworthy items from Matta:
’ Asked whether the six incoming freshmen have been certified by the NCAA Clearinghouse as being academically eligible for this season, Matta said: βI think we're squared away.β
Matta said two of the six - he didn't identify them - need to have their amateur status certified by the clearinghouse.
’ David Lighty is expected to be out of the protective boot on his mending left foot within 10 days. Matta said that Lighty has lost about 10 pounds, to 216, in anticipation of playing more in the backcourt.
’ Matta could not predict when two other injured players, freshman Lenzelle Smith Jr. and junior Nikola Kecman, might return. Both had surgery in late June.
Smith's torn ligament in his left wrist is an injury similar to the one that sidelined Greg Oden until early December of the 2006-07 season, Matta said.
Kecman, who had torn cartilage and a damaged anterior cruciate ligament repaired in his right knee, βis going to be maybe a little bit of a longer road,β Matta said.
Kecman already has used a redshirt year recovering from ACL surgery on his left knee.
bbaptist@dispatch.com