For the next two years, Michigan now knows who it will only see once a year in men's basketball -- and for the Wolverines it's a pretty good deal.

Michigan will play every team in the league twice except for Purdue and Illinois. The Wolverines will travel to Purdue this season and the Boilermakers will come to Ann Arbor in 2010-11. Illinois comes to Ann Arbor this year and Michigan will make the trip to Champaign, Ill. in '10-'11.

Considering Purdue is being thought of as a Final Four contender and Illinois is perennially strong, this bodes well for a Michigan team that could also see itself fighting for a Big Ten title this year. Last season, Michigan played Michigan State (54-42 loss at home) and Indiana (72-66 overtime win in Bloomington, Ind.) on the road in its one-play games.

Big Ten Breakdown Illinois:Minnesota; at Michigan Indiana: Michigan State; at Penn State Iowa: Penn State; at Wisconsin Michigan: Illinois, at Purdue Michigan State: Ohio State; at Indiana Minnesota: Wisconsin; at Illinois Northwestern: Purdue; at Ohio State Ohio State: Northwestern, at Michigan State Penn State: Indiana; at Iowa Purdue: Michigan; at Northwestern Wisconsin: Iowa; at Minnesota

Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for annarbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558 or at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com.