OMAHA, Neb. -- The BIG EAST has announced the 2021-22 men's basketball conference schedule and it'll start with a big one on December 17th as the top two teams from last season will meet when Villanova makes the trip to Omaha.

Creighton's ninth season in the BIG EAST tips off on Dec. 17 against Villanova. Either Creighton or Villanova (or both) have won the BIG EAST regular-season title in seven of the past eight seasons. The Bluejays and Wildcats have split the season series in each of the past two campaigns.

The Bluejays hit the BIG EAST road for the first time on Dec. 20 for a game vs. DePaul in CU's final game before Christmas break. Creighton will be looking to improve upon its 17-1 record against the Blue Demons since joining the BIG EAST, but facing new head coach Tony Stubblefield for the first time.

Following the holiday break Creighton hosts Georgetown in a rematch of the 2021 BIG EAST Tournament title game won by the Hoyas. The Jays then open 2022 on New Year's Day with a road trip to Marquette, where CU is 3-0 all-time at Fiserv Forum. The Bluejays remain on the road for a Jan. 5 tilt at Villanova, which will be played on the Nova campus at Finneran Pavilion.

The Bluejays host three of their next four games inside CHI Health Center Omaha starting with a Jan. 11 date vs. Providence. CU takes a Jan. 15 trek to Xavier before home tilts vs. St. John's (Jan. 19) and DePaul (Jan. 22).

Returning to Hinkle Fieldhouse for the first time since its Sweet 16 appearance in March, Creighton plays a  rare midweek game at Butler on Jan. 26th before closing out the month with a Jan. 29 home game vs. Xavier.

Three of CU's first four February games will be on the road, starting with a Feb. 1 game at UConn. Three days later Creighton plays at Seton Hall on Feb. 4. Butler visits CHI Health Center Omaha on Feb. 8 prior to Creighton's trip to Washington, D.C., for a game at Georgetown.

After an eight day break Creighton returns to the court on Feb. 20th for a home game vs. Marquette, then heads East to meet St. John's at Carnesecca Arena (Feb. 23) and at Providence (Feb. 26).

The Bluejays close the year with a pair of home matches, hosting UConn on March 2 before entertaining Seton Hall to wrap up the regular-season on March 5.

The BIG EAST Tournament will once again take place at Madison Square Garden and be held on March 9-12 in New York City.

Start times and television coverage should be finalized in the near future and will be updated on the schedule page at GoCreighton.com once confirmed.

Creighton will have its first official practice of the season on Tuesday as it begins preparations for an Oct. 30 exhibition game vs. Upper Iowa. The regular-season starts on Nov. 9 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, with non-conference games vs. Nebraska, Iowa State, BYU and Arizona State highlighting the slate in addition to three games in the U.S. Virgin Islands at the Paradise Jam.