MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Bob Huggins' return to the University of Cincinnati is in the middle of a three-game road trip that begins a trying stretch of games at the end of the regular season schedule West Virginia unveiled Thursday. 

The Mountaineers play five games in 14 days, beginning with a Feb. 22 game at Rutgers. Huggins returns to UC Feb. 26 for the first time since his resignation in 2005.

Its one of three games against schools Huggins once worked for as a head or assistant coach.

WVU then travels to South Florida March 1 and returns home to finish the schedule with home games against DePaul March 4 and Louisville March 7.

Action begins Nov. 8 with an exhibition home game against Mountain State. The regular season begins a week later at home against Elon. WVU plays host to Longwood Nov. 20 and Delaware State Nov. 25 in the preliminary round of the Las Vegas Invitational. Regardless of the results, WVU advances to play Iowa Nov. 28 and either Kentucky or Kansas State a day later. Huggins coached Kansas State to a 23-12 record in 2006-07.

WVU also plays at Ohio State, where Huggins was an assistant from 1978-79, Dec. 27. Other non-conference games include Dec. 3 at Mississippi, Dec. 9 against Davidson in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden and Dec. 20 at home against Miami University.

Big East play begins at Seton Hall Jan 3. The conference home opener is Jan. 6 against Connecticut.