The Mountaineers will again be a part of the SEC/Big East Invitational in 2011 and then three more times in the following five years. Next season WVU will play on the road at the opponent’s home building, which is a change from the previous neutral-site format. What no one knows is the opponent or the venue or what time or date between Dec. 1-3 the game will be played. Fun!

Nevertheless, the schedule is taking definitive shape.

The Mountaineers count 18 Big East games and nine non-conference slots/12 non-conference games on the schedule. Those nine slots and 12 games are filled by dates at Kansas State, against Miami, at the SEC opponent, against Marshall in Charleston and at the Las Vegas Classic (one slot, four games).

That left WVU with four slots/games.

In a normal year, WVU will play three high-major teams, a top-shelf tournament and Marshall. The remaining games would be played against good to very good mid-major opponents. If not as part of an annual home-and-home contract (increasingly rare), those will almost always be at home on a one-game contract … unless television presents a more appealing opportunity in there.

Director of Basketball Operations Jerrod Calhoun said WVU has three “very, very good mid-majors” on the schedule and confirmed the team will play the Mysterious Mid-Major that will have people buzzing — “We’re talking about a really good coach and a really good program and a team that, if you look at the history of the mid-majors, has been in the NCAA Tournament a lot. We were pretty surprised they wanted to play.”

Speculate!

The Mountaineers do like to keep a lid on things like this — and for good reason … the assumed series against Purdue couldn’t be continued next season, though it still might be in the future — but they do like what they think will end up being the finished product.

“The goal from here on out is to have a top-10 strength of schedule,” Calhoun said. “There are different variables we have to use, but it’s all about RPI and strength of schedule. I think that’s why we got a 5 seed in the (NCAA) Tournament and I think if we do that and do what we’re supposed to do within the conference and with non-league games, I think we’ll be rewarded.

“We looked at the top mid-majors again and looked at the location and some relationships we have. Once it’s released, I think everyone will be happy.”