Michigan releases its 2010-11 basketball schedule
The Michigan basketball team should get comfortable living in the land of cable this year. The Wolverines will be on the Big Ten Network a lot.
According to the full men's basketball schedule released by the Big Ten Thursday, the Wolverines will play their first seven league games on the conference's network and have just three for-sure games off of the network: at Michigan State on Jan. 27 (ESPN/ESPN2), at Ohio State on Feb. 3 (ESPN/ESPN2) and at home against Michigan State on March 5 in the regular-season finale (CBS).
There is a possibility for a fourth game not on the BTN. The Michigan at Iowa flex date on Feb. 19 or 20 can be on the BTN or CBS.
Michigan will also be on ESPN2 against Clemson in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Nov. 30 and on CBS against Kansas on Jan. 9.
This shouldn't be unexpected after Michigan stumbled to a 15-17 record last year, returns no definite stars in a league full of them and is expected to be toward the bottom of a loaded Big Ten.
There are positives and negatives to Michigan's Big Ten schedule, though. The Wolverines will play a 9 p.m. game -- long a complaint of Michigan head coach John Beilein -- just once during the Big Ten season, at Northwestern.
They also have fairly manageable stretches throughout much of the year, nothing like the string of six games last year that matched Michigan against the top teams in the league with a non-conference game against Connecticut in the middle.
This year's gauntlet is just a three-game stretch with one road trip. And it is at the beginning of the schedule. After Michigan heads to Wisconsin on Jan. 5, it'll host Kansas on Jan. 9 in a non-conference game and then play Ohio State at home on Jan. 12.
The Wolverines also benefit from a home-loaded front part of the league schedule. Three of their first four Big Ten games are at home. But they will travel a lot toward the end of the year, finishing with three of the final five on the road.
Those first two conference games -- against front-runner Purdue and Penn State -- will be while Michigan's students are on winter break. The season-finale, against rival Michigan State, will be played when students are on spring break. Michigan's spring break is from Feb. 26-March 7.
In addition to the Big Ten schedule, Michigan released its full schedule Thursday. Most of the high-profile games were already known, but the Wolverines will play Summit League power - and future home of former Wolverines guard Laval Lucas-Perry - Oakland on Dec. 18.
Michigan already had non-conference games announced against Bowling Green, Gardner-Webb, Kansas, Clemson, Harvard and two games in the Legends Classic finals - a semifinal date against Syracuse and a game against either Georgia Tech or UTEP.
Michigan basketball schedule: Nov. 13: South Carolina Upstate at Michigan, 7 p.m., BTN.com Nov. 18: Bowling Green at Michigan (Legends Classic), 7 p.m., BTN Nov. 21: Gardner-Webb at Michigan (Legends Classic), 2 p.m., BTN.com Nov. 26: Michigan vs. Syracuse (Legends Classic), 8 p.m., HDNet Nov. 27: Michigan vs. Georgia Tech/UTEP (Legends Classic), 5:30/8 p.m., HDNet Nov. 30: Michigan at Clemson (Big Ten/ACC Challenge), 9 p.m., ESPN2 Dec. 4: Harvard at Michigan, 1 p.m., BTN Dec. 6: Concordia, Mich. at Michigan, 7 p.m., BTN.com Dec. 10: Utah at Michigan, 6:30 p.m., BTN Dec. 14: North Carolina Central at Michigan, 7 p.m., BTN Dec. 18: Oakland at Michigan, Noon, ESPN3.com Dec. 23: Bryant at Michigan, 7 p.m., ESPN Dec. 28: Purdue at Michigan, 2 p.m., BTN Jan. 2: Penn State at Michigan, 4 p.m., BTN Jan. 5: Michigan at Wisconsin, 8:30 p.m., BTN Jan. 9: Kansas at Michigan, 1:30/4:30 p.m., CBS Jan. 12: Ohio State at Michigan, 6:30 p.m., BTN Jan. 15: Michigan at Indiana, 8 p.m., BTN Jan. 18: Michigan at Northwestern, 9 p.m., BTN Jan. 22: Minnesota at Michigan, 7 p.m., BTN Jan. 27: Michigan at Michigan State, 7 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2 Jan. 30: Iowa at Michigan, 4 p.m., BTN Feb. 3: Michigan at Ohio State, 7 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2 Feb. 6: Michigan at Penn State, Noon/3 p.m., BTN Feb. 9: Northwestern at Michigan, 6:30 p.m., BTN Feb. 12: Indiana at Michigan, 4 p.m., BTN Feb. 16: Michigan at Illinois, 8:30 p.m., BTN Feb. 19/20: Michigan at Iowa, 4:30 p.m./1 p.m., BTN/CBS Feb. 23: Wisconsin at Michigan, 6:30 p.m., BTN Feb. 26: Michigan at Minnesota, 4:30 p.m., BTN March 5: Michigan State at Michigan, 2 p.m., CBS
Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein
Comments
win
Sat, Aug 28, 2010 : 8:15 a.m.
@tater, seriously? It's not ESPN's job to keep the games competitive. It's the teams job to do that. And I think we will be competitive this year. I don't see this team being embarrassed by anyone. It will be another tough year, but not an embarrassment. And, we will upset a couple teams this! Hopefully MSU and OSU.
trigg7
Fri, Aug 27, 2010 : 11:29 p.m.
We would be lucky if they would pull all their games off the air. Who wants to watch this pos team.
A2D2
Fri, Aug 27, 2010 : 11:46 a.m.
I've never heard of these opponents (well, I've heard of Concordia, but that's not the point....). I guess what it points out is the need for an exhibition season in major college sports.. Nov. 13: South Carolina Upstate (who dat?) Dec. 6: Concordia, Mich.(the guys on Geddes Rd?) Dec. 14: North Carolina Central (I think I heard of them) Dec. 23: Bryant at Michigan (who dat?)
Michael Rothstein
Fri, Aug 27, 2010 : 8:14 a.m.
What I said is correct, iambill, not really sure what you're getting at here.
iambill
Fri, Aug 27, 2010 : 6:56 a.m.
Maybe what you were looking for is "three *conference* games off the network" but that isn't what you said. I know this isn't as interesting as tweeting the times people arrive and leave meetings, but that's no reason to be sloppy.
win
Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 10:01 p.m.
13 of the first 17 at home! Gotta win early to gain some confidence and momentum. I see 6 definite wins and 4 possible wins in those first 17. 12-14 total wins will be it for this squad.
bigtenknight
Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 6:12 p.m.
Awww...does Tatertot need a tissue? ESPN isn't doing their job. It's not fair because Big Sister isn't as good as Little Brother in East Lansing. BOO HOO. Welcome to reality. Until Tater's dream of Izzo leaving MSU for the NBA comes true, expect to see more TV schedules like this. Nobody wants to see lousy basketball, especially after seeing the same school go through a lousy football season. Michigan will be lucky to finish with 15 wins this season. But Tater's right, Beilein is doing an outstanding job in Ann Arbor...very glad, being a Spartan fan, that he was given an extension.
Howard the Duck
Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 4:33 p.m.
That non-league home slate is going to pack Crisler to the gills! South Carolina Upstate? Concordia? North Carolina Central? Gardner-Webb? Bryant?? Even with this cupcake schedule they'll be lucky to finish 6-6!
Michael Rothstein
Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 4:26 p.m.
Iambill, In the Big Ten, the first seven games are on the BTN and in the league there are three for-sure games not on the network. You're looking at the overall schedule.
Oscar Lavista
Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 3:34 p.m.
Looking forward to another year of easily obtaining last-minute walk-up tickets at Crisler, and choosing from many available open seats. Go blue!
Bob
Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 3:32 p.m.
Their first 7 league games are: Dec. 28: Purdue at Michigan, 2 p.m., BTN Jan. 2: Penn State at Michigan, 4 p.m., BTN Jan. 5: Michigan at Wisconsin, 8:30 p.m., BTN Jan. 12: Ohio State at Michigan, 6:30 p.m., BTN Jan. 15: Michigan at Indiana, 8 p.m., BTN Jan. 18: Michigan at Northwestern, 9 p.m., BTN Jan. 22: Minnesota at Michigan, 7 p.m., BTN
iambill
Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 3:24 p.m.
You say "...the Wolverines will play their first seven league games on the conference's network and have just three for-sure games off of the network..." This is a factually incorrect statement. Games that will not be broadcast on BTN; Nov. 26: Michigan vs. Syracuse (Legends Classic), 8 p.m., HDNet Nov. 27: Michigan vs. Georgia Tech/UTEP (Legends Classic), 5:30/8 p.m., HDNet Nov. 30: Michigan at Clemson (Big Ten/ACC Challenge), 9 p.m., ESPN2 Dec. 23: Bryant at Michigan, 7 p.m., ESPN Jan. 9: Kansas at Michigan, 1:30/4:30 p.m., CBS Jan. 27: Michigan at Michigan State, 7 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2 Feb. 3: Michigan at Ohio State, 7 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2 March 5: Michigan State at Michigan, 2 p.m., CBS There are 8 games that are not broadcast on BTN. This doesn't include games that could flex to CBS, or games broadcast online.