Michigan Basketball: Breaking down 2023-24 non-conference schedule
Regular Season Games
November 7 vs. UNC-Asheville
Although there remains a chance Michigan could still schedule another opponent for November 3, UNC-Asheville represents their opener for the 2023-24 campaign as of now. It could be a tougher game than most may realize, as Asheville is fresh off a Big South Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. Star forward Drew Pember could give the Wolverines some real issues and will set up an interesting frontcourt duel with Nkamhoua, as both began their careers at Tennessee.
November 10 vs. Youngstown State
Youngstown State represents another sneaky tough mid-major duel for Michigan, as the Penguins finished with a Horizon League regular season title last winter. However, the Penguins suffered significant attrition over the offseason and its tough to imagine them strolling into Ann Arbor and upsetting the Wolverines on college basketball’s first weekend.
November 17 vs. Long Beach State
What is Michigan’s fourth game of the year will be Long Beach State’s opener, a team that took a sizable step back in 2022-23 after making the NCAA Tournament the year prior. Longtime head coach Dan Monson knows Michigan well, going back to his tenure as Minnesota head coach, but how prepared will his team be for this one?
December 2 @ Oregon
Following the Battle 4 Atlantis over Thanksgiving weekend, Michigan has to travel across the country to clash with Dana Altman’s Oregon Ducks. It’s been an uncharacteristic last two years for the Ducks, not making it to the NCAA Tournament either year, but this remains an incredibly tough program to play on their home court. Altman had a strong offseason in the portal and on the recruiting trail, bringing in a Top 10 class, so it will be interesting to see what their rotation looks like come early December.
December 16 vs. Eastern Michigan
Michigan welcomes in-state foe Eastern Michigan to Ann Arbor for a mid-December tussle. The Eagles were one of the MAC’s worst last season with arguably the most well-known player in program history, Emoni Bates, so this looks like the perfect tune-up opportunity for the Wolverines before the schedule picks up.
December 29 vs. McNeese State
McNeese State has not had a winning season on the hardwood since 2011-12 and hasn’t made an NCAA Tournament in over two decades, but they took a swing at national relevance this offseason by hiring embattled former LSU head coach Will Wade. Wade’s off-the-court digressions aside, he’s been highly successful at each stop of his career and should inject much-needed energy into the program. Wade will be forced to serve a 10-game suspension to begin the year, but it’s likely he will be back on the sidelines by this one, providing an intriguing reason to tune in.