SEATTLE (AP) - If Washington wants to get back to the NCAA tournament, it appears have a favorable schedule for the 2008-09 season.

Washington will play 10 of its first 13 games at home as part of the schedule the Huskies released Tuesday. Washington will open Pac-10 Conference play Jan. 3 at rival Washington State and close the regular season hosting the Cougars in Seattle on March 7.

"I really like the balance of our schedule and I think it prepares us well for the Pac-10 season," Washington coach Lorenzo Romar said. "We have a solid blend of non-conference opponents and we are playing in two very strong events in the O'Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic and the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series. Those two events give us a chance to really test ourselves against some quality opponents."

As for the Huskies non-conference schedule, only one game will be played on an opponent's home floor, Washington's season opener on Nov. 15 at Portland. The Huskies will then compete in the CBE Classic with two games at home and potentially two games at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.

Washington will follow the tournament with eight straight home games, including contests against Pacific, Eastern Washington and a Dec. 4 matchup with Oklahoma State in the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series. The Cowboys routed the Huskies 96-71 in Stillwater, Okla., last year.

The Huskies will also play five of their final seven Pac-10 games at home, including the last three.

Washington lost just three players from last year's team that went 16-17 and lost to Valparaiso in the first round of the College Basketball Invitational. They have missed the NCAA tournament the last two seasons.

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2008-09 Washington men's basketball schedule:

Nov. 6 vs. Western Washington (exhibition)

Nov. 15 at Portland

Nov. 17 CBE Classic opening rounds hosted by Washington (opponent to be announced)

Nov. 19 CBE Classic opening rounds hosted by Washington (opponent TBA)

Nov. 24 CBE Classic at Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo. (opponent TBA)

Nov. 26 CBE Classic at Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo. (opponent TBA)

Nov. 29 vs. Pacific

Dec. 4 vs. Oklahoma State

Dec. 7 vs. Texas Southern

Dec. 14 vs. Portland State

Dec. 20 vs. Eastern Washington

Dec. 23 vs. Lehigh

Dec. 28 vs. Montana

Dec. 30 vs. Morgan State

Jan. 3 at Washington State*

Jan. 8 vs. Stanford*

Jan. 10 vs. California*

Jan. 15 at Oregon*

Jan. 17 at Oregon State*

Jan. 22 vs. USC*

Jan. 24 vs. UCLA*

Jan. 29 at Arizona*

Jan. 31 at Arizona State*

Feb. 5 at California*

Feb. 7 at Stanford*

Feb. 12 vs. Oregon State*

Feb. 14 vs. Oregon*

Feb. 19 at UCLA*

Feb. 21 at USC*

Feb. 26 vs. Arizona State*

Feb. 28 vs. Arizona*

March 7 vs. Washington State*

March 11-14 Pac-10 Conference Tournament at Los Angeles

* denotes Pac-10 Conference game