Michigan released its 2017-2018 basketball non-conference schedule on Monday, and as usual, it is incredibly challenging:
Nov. 3 - Grand Valley State (Exhibition)
Nov. 11 - North Florida
Nov. 13 - Central Michigan
Nov. 16 - Southern Miss
Nov. 20-22 - Maui Invitational (California, Chaminade, LSU, Marquette, Michigan, Notre Dame, VCU, Wichita State)
Nov. 26 - UC Riverside
Nov. 29 - at North Carolina (Big Ten/ACC Challenge)
Dec. 9 - UCLA
Dec. 12 - at Texas
Dec. 16 - vs. Detroit-Mercy (Little Caesars Arena)
Dec. 21 - Alabama A&M
Dec. 30 - Jacksonville
Here’s a few of the most intriguing statistics and storylines surrounding it:
1st Collegiate game that will ever be played at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, when Michigan takes on Detroit-Mercy on Dec. 16. The game will be the first of a doubleheader, with Michigan State taking on Oakland in the nightcap. Detroit-Mercy is coached by former John Beilein assistant Bacari Alexander, and the Titans also have former Wolverine Kam Chatman on their roster.
2 Big Ten games will be played right in the middle of Michigan’s non-conference schedule, taking place sometime between Dec. 1-5. This is due to the Big Ten Tournament being pushed up a week earlier than usual.
3-0 Is Michigan’s record against Texas under Beilein. The Wolverines first faced the Longhorns with Beilein at the helm in the second round of the 2014 NCAA tournament, and beat them handily, 79-65. Michigan then narrowly edged them out in the 2015 Battle 4 Atlantis, 78-72, before beating them once again last season at Crisler, 53-50.
4th Straight year Michigan will start the season by playing only one exhibition game. The Wolverines will take on Grand Valley State in an exhibition contest on Nov. 3, and then officially tip the season off against North Florida on Nov. 11. The last time Michigan played two exhibition games was the 2013-2014 Big Ten championship season, when it took on Concordia and Wayne State, respectively.
11 Victories for Texas all of last season, including just four in Big 12 play. The Longhorns finished in last place in the conference, but are expected to be much improved this season, mainly due to an incoming recruiting class ranked fourth in the country – headlined by five-star center Mohamed Bamba.
186 Combined points scored when Michigan and UCLA faced each other last season at Pauley Pavilion. Both teams put on epic shooting displays from deep, with the Wolverines shooting 53.8 percent from behind the arc, and the Bruins shooting 62.5 percent. It could be a different story this season at Crisler, though, with UCLA having to replace guards Lonzo Ball, Bryce Alford and Isaac Hamilton, forward T.J. Leaf and center Ike Anigbogu.
351st Was Alabama A&M’s RPI last season, which was dead last in the entire country. The Bulldogs went 2-27 last year, and only one team in all of college basketball – North Carolina A&T at 3-29 – finished with a worse record.
1985 and 1988 Were Michigan’s only two Maui Invitational championships. The Wolverines blew away Kansas State, 80-58, in their ’85 championship, and then defeated Oklahoma, 91-81, for their ’88 championship, with star small forward Glen Rice taking home the tournament MVP trophy.
1993 Was the last time Michigan and North Carolina faced each other. The two powerhouses met in the national title that year, with the Tar Heels squeaking out a 77-71 victory. The game is perhaps best known for Michigan forward Chris Webber’s infamous attempt to call a timeout late in the game – though the Wolverines didn’t have any – which resulted in a technical foul.
2011 Was the last time Michigan played in the Maui Invitational. The Wolverines took third place that year, defeating a Top 10-ranked Memphis team in the opening game, before falling to Duke and eventually defeating UCLA the night before Thanksgiving. Michigan’s early season success that year set the tone for what wound up being a Big Ten championship season.
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