Western Kentucky University basketball's earned greater notoriety with trips to the Sweet 16 and the second round of the NCAA tournament the last two seasons. Now that notoriety's paying off in the way of a better non-conference schedule for the Hilltoppers.

After playing in the NIT Season Tip-Off this season (in which WKU played LSU and could've played Connecticut, Duke or Arizona State), the Hilltoppers will play in an early-season tournament in each of the next two seasons - the Puerto Rico Tip-Off in 2010-11 and the Charleston Classic in 2011-12.

WKU athletic director Dr. Wood Selig confirmed the agreements to WBKO on Thursday evening.

Both tournaments are owned by ESPN, which will provide WKU with a chance to play nationally-televised games on a neutral court early in each season. It should also provide WKU with better quality early in its non-conference schedule.

Selig couldn't confirm any other teams in the field for either event, but both are eight-team fields this year.

The Puerto Rico Tip-Off includes Dayton, George Mason, Indiana, Kansas State, Boston University, Ole Miss and Villanova this year with seven games on ESPN U and two games on ESPN 2.

This year's Charleston Classic includes Tulane, Miami (Fla.), UNC-Wilmington, Penn State, USF, Davidson, LaSalle and South Carolina. Two games in the event are on ESPN U, while the championship is on ESPN 2.

The Hilltoppers host two consolation games in the NIT Season Tip-Off next week, playing Cal State-Northridge on Monday night and Indiana State on Tuesday.