College basketball fans have an outstanding opportunity to get an early look at the upcoming season Sunday, October 11, with 11 exhibition games scheduled across the country. Several recognizable programs are in action, including defending national champion Michigan, Indiana, Maryland, Rutgers and Villanova.
The exhibition schedule provides an opportunity for coaches to evaluate new players, experiment with rotations and establish chemistry before the regular season begins in November. Although the results won't count toward regular-season records, the performances can provide valuable information about which players might assume important responsibilities.
Sunday's matchups also feature several intriguing coaching storylines. Michigan begins its exhibition schedule after winning the national championship, Indiana faces an in-state opponent at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse and Maryland meets Georgia Tech in a neutral-site contest.
Here is the complete schedule, with all times Eastern.
College basketball exhibition schedule for Sunday, October 11
Mercer at Kennesaw State
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: KSU Convocation Center, Kennesaw, Georgia
Viewing: No confirmed television or streaming broadcast.
Villanova at Rutgers
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Jersey Mike's Arena, Piscataway, New Jersey
Streaming: B1G+
Radio: Villanova Sports Radio Network and Rutgers student radio WRSU.
Eastern Michigan at Michigan
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Location: Crisler Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Streaming: B1G+
Long Island University at UMBC
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Location: Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena, Baltimore, Maryland
Viewing: No confirmed television or streaming broadcast.
Lees-McRae at UNC Wilmington
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Location: Trask Coliseum, Wilmington, North Carolina
Viewing: No confirmed television or streaming broadcast.
Rhode Island at Massachusetts
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: Mullins Center, Amherst, Massachusetts
Viewing: No television or streaming broadcast.
New Mexico at Oklahoma State
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: Gallagher-Iba Arena, Stillwater, Oklahoma
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network and Varsity Network
Viewing: No television or streaming broadcast.
Evansville at Austin Peay
Time: 4 p.m. ET
Location: F&M Bank Arena, Clarksville, Tennessee
Viewing: No confirmed television or streaming broadcast.
Northern Colorado vs. Wyoming
Time: 4 p.m. ET
Location: Pronghorn Center, Gillette, Wyoming
Audio: Available through Wyoming Athletics
Streaming: Video availability not confirmed on Wyoming's official live-events listing.
Georgia Tech vs. Maryland
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Location: Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena, Baltimore, Maryland
Streaming: B1G+
Indiana at Butler
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Location: Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
TV: WISH-TV in the Indianapolis market
Streaming: Free through WISH-TV's website.
Michigan begins its national championship defense
One of Sunday's most interesting exhibitions features Eastern Michigan visiting the defending national champion Wolverines at Crisler Center. Michigan is coming off a remarkable 37-3 season that ended with a victory over UConn in the national championship game.
The Wolverines must replace several important contributors from that championship team, creating opportunities for returning players and newcomers to assume larger responsibilities. Elliot Cadeau returns to direct the offense, while Trey McKenney could become a more important scoring option. Michigan has also added several talented frontcourt players who will be competing for significant minutes.
Sunday's exhibition should provide an early indication of how the Wolverines plan to organize their new rotation. The result won't affect Michigan's regular-season record, but the performance could reveal which players are prepared to assume important roles.
Indiana visits Butler in an intriguing in-state matchup
Indiana's exhibition against Butler provides another fascinating storyline because the Hoosiers are visiting Hinkle Fieldhouse for the first time since 1993. The matchup also marks the beginning of Ronald Nored's tenure as Butler's head coach.
The Bulldogs are attempting to establish a new identity under Nored, who brings extensive NBA coaching experience to his alma mater. Facing Indiana provides an immediate opportunity to evaluate how effectively his players execute against a recognizable Big Ten opponent.
Indiana also has several important questions entering the season after adding experienced transfers such as Markus Burton and Aiden Sherrell. Darian DeVries must establish chemistry among those newcomers while developing a dependable offensive system. Sunday's matchup should provide useful information about how quickly the Hoosiers are progressing.
Maryland and Georgia Tech meet in Baltimore
Maryland and Georgia Tech will meet in the second game of an exhibition doubleheader at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena. The afternoon begins with UMBC facing Long Island University at 2 p.m. before the Terrapins and Yellow Jackets take the court at 4:30 p.m.
Maryland enters the season with several newcomers, including experienced guard DJ Wagner. Buzz Williams must establish a dependable offensive identity while determining which players are prepared to assume important responsibilities. Sunday's exhibition provides an opportunity to evaluate those combinations against an ACC opponent.
Georgia Tech begins a new era under Scott Cross, who inherited a roster featuring numerous newcomers. The Yellow Jackets have significant work ahead as they attempt to establish chemistry and improve their competitiveness. Facing Maryland should provide a useful early test.
Villanova and Rutgers offer another major-conference matchup
Villanova's visit to Rutgers provides another opportunity to evaluate two programs preparing for demanding conference schedules. The Wildcats are attempting to establish themselves among the Big East's strongest teams under Kevin Willard, while Rutgers is looking for greater consistency in Big Ten competition.
The game should provide both coaching staffs with valuable information about their rotations and defensive execution. Villanova's experienced contributors will have an opportunity to establish chemistry, while Rutgers can evaluate its ability to compete against a recognizable opponent.
The matchup will be available on B1G+, giving fans an opportunity to follow the action before the regular season begins.
What to watch during Sunday's exhibition games
The most important thing to remember about exhibition basketball is that the final score doesn't always tell the entire story. Coaches frequently experiment with lineups, distribute minutes among numerous players and emphasize development rather than simply trying to win.
Sunday's schedule should provide useful information about several major programs, particularly those introducing significant numbers of newcomers. Michigan's championship transition, Indiana's rebuilt rotation and Maryland's new offensive combinations are among the most interesting storylines.
With the regular season approaching, these games provide another opportunity for teams to identify strengths, address weaknesses and prepare for the demanding schedule ahead.
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