The Big East announced its 2011-12 conference men's basketball schedule on Wednesday, and USF will open league play on Dec. 28 at the St. Pete Times Forum against defending national champion Connecticut.

The Bulls, who went 10-23 and 3-15 in the Big East last season, will play downtown for all nine Big East games while the Sun Dome undergoes a $35 million renovation over the next eight months. Some preseason games will also be played at the University of Tampa's Bob Martinez Center and one at the Lakeland Center.

Here's USF's full Big East schedule:

Dec. 28 -- Connecticut

Jan. 1 -- Rutgers

Jan. 5 -- at Villanova

Jan. 10 -- at Notre Dame

Jan. 13 -- Seton Hall

Jan. 18 -- St. John's

Jan. 22 -- at DePaul

Jan. 24 -- at Marquette

Jan. 29 -- Providence

Feb. 4 -- at Georgetown

Feb. 8 -- Pittsburgh

Feb. 11 -- at Providence

Feb. 15 -- Villanova

Feb. 19 -- at Pittsburgh

Feb. 22 -- at Syracuse

Feb. 26 -- Cincinnati

Feb. 29 -- at Louisville

March 3 -- West Virginia