Nova, Duke, Cuse at MSG

Defending national champion Villanova will play at least three times at Madison Square Garden during the upcoming season, part of a 2018-19 college basketball schedule that also features Duke, Kentucky and Syracuse.

Florida, Maryland, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon and West Virginia are among the other programs headed to MSG.

Coming off their second NCAA title in three years, coach Jay Wright and the Wildcats make the short trip up from the Philadelphia suburbs on Dec. 22 to face new coach Dan Hurley and Connecticut in the renewal of an old Big East rivalry.

Villanova also tips off Feb. 17 against St. John’s before participating in the 37th Big East Tournament at the Garden from March 13-16.

With a highly touted recruiting class, coach Mike Krzyzewski brings five-time national champion Duke to MSG to play Texas Tech on Dec. 20.

John Calipari and eight-time champion Kentucky take on Seton Hall on Dec. 8.

It all starts Nov. 15-16 with the annual 2K Empire Classic Benefiting Wounded Warrior Project. The semifinals match Syracuse against UConn in another former Big East rivalry, followed by Iowa vs. Oregon.

When the Jimmy V Classic returns to MSG for the 16th straight year on Dec. 4, Notre Dame plays Oklahoma in the first basketball meeting between two longtime football powers. Florida faces West Virginia in the other doubleheader game.

The annual Holiday Festival showcasing local schools is Dec. 9. Columbia takes on Iona in the first game, followed by St. John’s against Princeton.