Michigan Basketball: Breaking down the Wolverines’ non-conference schedule

Early December

UC Riverside at Michigan, November 26th

After a 7-21 season, the UC Riverside Highlanders might not be the toughest competition for the Wolverines, but this will be a nice buffer game. Having just finished up the Maui Invitational and meetings with three high-profile programs up next, this is a solid job of scheduling. Michigan, however, cannot fall into the trap and be lured into a battle with the Highlanders.

Michigan at North Carolina, November 29th

Another preseason top-25 opponent for Michigan, the North Carolina Tar Heels are the reigning NCAA Tournament Champions. Although the Tar Heels graduate a lot of talent, including Justin Jackson, they return Joel Berry II, a National Player of the Year contender. The Tar Heels are always an extremely difficult matchup, and playing them on the road will be even tougher. Mark your calendars for this one.

UCLA at Michigan, December 9th

UCLA might have lost Lonzo Ball, T.J. Leaf, Ike Anigbogu, and Bryce Alford, but they will still start the 2017-18 season in the preseason top-25. They do bring back Thomas Welsh and Aaron Holiday as well as bringing in a very talented recruiting class. Led by three top-50 nationally ranked recruits, UCLA’s incoming class is ranked fourth in the country by 247Sports. They will be very young next season, but so is college basketball.

Texas vs. Michigan, December 12th

Another team with a top recruiting class, Shaka Smart’s incoming freshmen class is ranked sixth in the country by 247Sports. Led by #2 overall recruit Mohamed Bamba, along with four other top-100 recruits, Texas could surprise some people this season. The Longhorns finished last in the Big 12 at 4-14 in the conference and 11-22 overall, but you never know what Smart could do with this young squad.