NCAA Basketball: Top 15 non-conference games for state of Michigan teams

4. Michigan vs. North Carolina on December 21st in the Jumpman Invitational in Charlotte

This should be a great game between two programs that have aspirations to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament this season. The Tar Heels are ranked No. 1 in the ESPN preseason poll and look to make a return trip to the championship game in the NCAA tournament. The Wolverines are looking to make some noise in non-conference play and an upset win against North Carolina in their home state would jolt them potentially from the top 20 rankings to the top 10.

The Tar Heels roster is stacked and deep and will be the favorites prior to tip off but the Wolverines did bring back their leading scorer in Hunter Dickenson and versatile wing in Terrance Williams as well as the No. 11 nationally ranked recruiting class as well. Michigan also added from the transfer portal Princeton transfer Jaelin Llewellyn as well as Duke transfer Joey Baker. Now, North Carolina should win this game but it would not be shocking at all if Michigan were to pull off the upset.

3. Michigan State vs. Kentucky on November 15th in the Champions Classic in Indianapolis

The Spartans usually play well in Indy and they have won four of the last seven games against the Wildcats but Kentucky has won the last two times these two programs have faced off against one another. The Wildcats are ranked in the top five in almost all preseason polls and Kentucky has a good blend of returning players, incoming freshmen, and transfers for this season. Michigan State has a veteran team returning and they will give the Wildcats a game in the Champions Classic.

Kentucky will be the favorite to win this game but Izzo and the Spartans will have a solid backcourt with depth. The Wildcats will try to dominate Michigan State in the paint with their big men but if the Spartans can utilize their stretch fours and can get Kentucky to play at their pace, Izzo and his team can pull off the upset in this highly anticipated matchup.

2. Michigan State vs. Gonzaga on November 11th in the Armed Forces Classic in San Diego

This will be the Spartans’ third time competing in the Armed Forces Classic losing to UConn and Arizona by four or fewer points in both games. This will be Michigan State’s second time playing on an aircraft carrier when they lost to North Carolina in the Carrier Classic back in 2011. This will be Gonzaga’s first time playing a full game in the Armed Forces Classic even though they began to play in the event in 2015 against Pitt on a Marine Corps Base Camp in Japan, the game was canceled at halftime due to the court conditions.

Gonzaga will be heavily favored as they are considered by many to be the No. 1 ranked team heading into the 2022-23 season but the Spartans in the past have been competitive in the Armed Forces Classic so this should be a good game.

This game’s setting plays a huge role in the prestige and attention this game will get but to have two top-tier programs play in a neutral setting is why this game will get the hype it deserves.

1. Michigan vs. Kentucky on December 4th in the Basketball Hall of Fame London Showcase in London, England

The Wolverines and Wildcats have played each other seven times with the last game between the two schools taking place in 2014 when Kentucky defeated Michigan in the regional finals of the NCAA tournament by a final score of 75-72. This should be a great game played on an international stage.

The Wildcats by multiple publications are predicted to be a top-five preseason team while the Wolverines are projected to be a top-20 preseason team. This game is ranked number one on this list of non-conference games from schools in the state of Michigan for a reason.

Having this game in London, England will make the setting very unique and the game being overseas has the Wolverines and Wildcats game elevated to an almost must-watch non-conference game.