Michigan’s non‑conference schedule delivers tourney taste before January

Few hires in last offseason's coaching carousel proved to be as impactful in 2024-25 as Dusty May at Michigan. The former Florida Atlantic head coach took over a Wolverines program that had spent the entire winter previously in the Big Ten cellar, and proceeded to win 27 games, claim the league crown, and make a Sweet 16 run.

That success, combined with what Michigan did over this offseason, means that expectations will be raised this winter. Roddy Gayle Jr. and Nimari Burnett are back after playing key roles on the team last season. Yaxel Landeborg comes in from UAB and after briefly flirting with the NBA, should be the team's go-to big with Vlad Goldin now gone. And UNC transfer Elliott Cadeau provides May the veteran floor general he coveted.

It doesn't feel like May and company are going to shy away from those elevated expectations in 2025-26. And, they have a non-conference schedule to match, loading up on power conference foes before they hit Big Ten play come January.

With this roster and the non-conference schedule that could make a major difference come Selection Sunday, this could have the makings of a special second season for May in Ann Arbor. The event includes a preseason battle with the St. John's Red Storm. Now, it's about getting on the court and proving it in one of the most unforgiving conferences in the country.

Regular Season Games

November 3 vs. Oakland

It will be an in-state battle to begin Michigan's 2025-26 campaign as they welcome Greg Kampe and the Oakland Golden Grizzlies at the Crisler Center. The Grizzlies fell back to Earth last season after their 2023 NCAA Tournament heroics, as they finished 16-18 overall and 11-9 in the Horizon League. They've lost seven straight to the Wolverines, but Kampe and company are never one to be intimidated by an opponent. They'll be eager to come into Ann Arbor and look to spring an upset, especially with Michigan primed to raise a Big Ten Title banner during pre-game festivities.

November 14 at TCU

In the second part of a home-and-home between the two, Michigan will travel to Fort Worth to take on Jamie Dixon's Horned Frogs. The Wolverines came out victorious last year, with Danny Wolf going for a double-double in the 12-point win. However, traveling to TCU is a whole different challenge, and the Horned Frogs are hopeful they can rise up the totem pole in the Big 12 this year.

Dixon and staff bolstered this roster through the portal, and will likely feature a new-look backcourt that includes Jayden Pierre from Providence and Brock Harding from Iowa. JUCO transfer Xavier Edmonds also strengthens the Horned Frog frontcourt, meaning this should be an interesting early test for the Wolverines.

November 19 vs. Middle Tennessee

It's back to the Crisler Center for the Wolverines, as they welcome Middle Tennessee to town. It will be just the second ever meeting between the two programs, and a game that Michigan should not overlook as they look ahead to Thanksgiving weekend and the Players Era Tournament. To be fair, Middle Tennessee may also be looking ahead to their own travel, as they'll head down to the 2025 Cayman Islands Classic just days removed from this Ann Arbor trek.

December 9 vs. Villanova

After the Players Era Championship serves as the highlight of Michigan's non-conference slate, their December will be a light one, with just three games total. However, one of those includes a familiar foe, as Kevin Willard comes to town, this time leading the Villanova Wildcats.

It's hard to know what to expect from Willard and his first Villanova team, but they should still offer a power conference foe almost sure to battle for the entire 40 minutes against the Wolverines. This could be a Wildcats team that goes 10-11 deep, so the rest beforehand will be huge for Michigan, and Cadeau's defense will be crucial against freshman point guard Acaden Lewis. The former Kentucky commit has been receiving ample hype throughout the offseason, and may be the primary feature in this Villanova offense.

December 21 vs. La Salle

The Darris Nichols era will begin this fall for La Salle, who is looking to climb back into Atlantic 10 relevance after three underwhelming years with Fran Dunphy back in charge. What better to do just that then upsetting Michigan? Yet, this looks more like a tune-up opportunity for the Wolverines, as Nichols will still be figuring out a new-look roster so fresh into the 2025-26 campaign.

December 29 vs. McNeese

The final game before Michigan begins Big Ten play will be against the McNeese State Cowboys. The Will Wade-less McNeese State Cowboys that is, as the program begins a new era without the best head coach in school history.

Bill Armstrong has been tasked with the unenviable task of replacing Wade at McNeese in what is almost sure to be a rebuilding season for the Cowboys. He spent a long time on Wade's staff here at LSU and was most recently with Scott Drew at Baylor, but this may be an uphill climb this winter.

Events / In-Season Tournaments

November 11: Wolverine-Deacon Challenge vs. Wake Forest (Detroit)

Michigan will be out for vengeance in the second part of the Wolverine-Deacon Challenge, a neutral site series with Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons won a thriller in Greensboro last season, thanks in large part to 18 points from Hunter Sallis. But with Sallis gone and the game closer to home in Detroit, this feels like an early opportunity for the Wolverines to prove themselves.

November 24-27: Players Era Festival (Las Vegas)

After an inaugural season that saw the event host eight teams, the Players Era has expanded to 22 teams total - 18 men's teams and four women's teams. It's now the largest tournament outside of the month of March in college basketball, and features a field of heavyweights this year.

The Wolverines will have two confirmed games against San Diego State, led by longtime UM assistant Brian Dutcher, and Auburn. Depending on how they fare will determine whether they are able to move on, as teams that finish 2-0 entering Wednesday of the event will be the first to qualify for the Players Era Championship game and the third-place game, with 1-1 teams to follow. Tiebreakers will be determined by point differential, points scored and points allowed.

Among the other headliners that will be in action in Las Vegas over Thanksgiving weekend will be Houston, Kansas, St. John's, Gonzaga, and many more that should be among the top contenders for the National Title next spring.

February 21: Duel in the District vs. Duke (Washington D.C.)

Last season, it was Illinois who squared off with Duke in a late non-conference game in mid-February. This season it will be Michigan, as they will match up with the Blue Devils in Washington D.C. on February 21 in the Duel in the District. The hope here is that the results will be far better than what happened with the Illini, who were run out of Madison Square Garden to the score of 110-67.

Being sandwiched right in the heart of Big Ten play, this is going to be a tricky game for the Wolverines, but it could be the type of game that catapults them forward over the final month of the regular season. With Caleb Foster and Isaiah Evans back, plus the addition of the Boozer twins, the Blue Devils are going to be a stiff challenge, but also likely a great resume-boosting opportunity for the Wolverines.