MBB Non-conference schedule officially announced. Kentucky matchup is not happening.
https://mgoblue.com/news/2021/8/30/mens-basketball-eleven-games-on-non-conference-portion-of-u-m-mens-hoops-schedule.aspx
"The weekend match-up was originally set to be against Kentucky; however, due to uncertainties with scheduling, the Wildcats elected to not play this season. U-M and Kentucky are still scheduled to play at London's O2 Arena in December of 2022, and continued discussions are being made to reschedule both home games."
August 30th, 2021 at 2:21 PM ^
I was really looking forward to the UK game in Ann Arbor.
August 30th, 2021 at 2:27 PM ^
Has our bball program reached the level where Kentucky is ducking a home and home? Looks like London game next year is still a go.
August 30th, 2021 at 2:32 PM ^
Definitely would consider scheduling a trip to London around trying to see that game.
August 30th, 2021 at 2:42 PM ^
Take it from a Wolverine in Lexington, the answer is basically "yes"... though it's definitely a combination of how far UK bball has fallen in the last few years and how much M bball has risen...
August 30th, 2021 at 5:28 PM ^
August 30th, 2021 at 10:18 PM ^
Fellow Lexingtonian here as well. I moved here when I was 10, I am now 32. I tried to like UK basketball back in 99/2000, but everyone was so aggressive towards me for loving Michigan more that I fell into the boat of “anyone playing UK” 22 years ago
August 30th, 2021 at 2:45 PM ^
Those curious on hunter dickinson’s thoughts…
https://twitter.com/h_dickinson24/status/1432413327746011138?s=21
”@lanceware12 tell your man Cal stop ducking we want that smoke‼️“
August 30th, 2021 at 3:01 PM ^
5. Profit
August 30th, 2021 at 3:14 PM ^
Since they're playing a full schedule of out of conference and out of state second rate schools like Albany and an osu, I would say that's a yes.
August 30th, 2021 at 8:57 PM ^
Sure as fuck has!
Kentucky also refuses to play one of their biggest rivals, IU. Bunch of chumps in Lexington.
August 30th, 2021 at 2:33 PM ^
The fact that they made it a point to note that Kentucky's not on the schedule and that it was Kentucky's decision not to play that game probably reflects extreme annoyance with Kentucky in the AD.
August 30th, 2021 at 2:38 PM ^
UK not breaking a contract or anything?
August 31st, 2021 at 12:57 PM ^
Given the accommodations everyone had to make for the COVID year, I doubt the contracts were tight enough that UK would be in breach. More likely that it was handshakes all around, and they're still committed to fulfill it through the games mentioned in the future. I'm sure both sides built in a way to delay, if not get out entirely.
August 30th, 2021 at 2:41 PM ^
For those wondering, bartorvik trank preseason has sd state as 37, so should still be a reasonable game (obviously lacks same brand name appeal).
August 31st, 2021 at 1:03 PM ^
SDSU would have been a 2-3 seed had there been a tournament in 2020. They missed out on a huge opportunity that year, which is really unfortunate. Mid-majors have to build in cycles since they can't reload with talent every year, and that was their peak.
The Howard-Dutcher matchup should give the game some additional juice. I would expect Dick Vitale to call the game if it's on ESPN.
August 30th, 2021 at 2:57 PM ^
Wait. Is Kentucky trying to be as sports-annoying as its neighbor Tennessee?
August 30th, 2021 at 3:04 PM ^
Being born and raised in Kentucky, I’m going to have fun with this one!
August 30th, 2021 at 3:18 PM ^
Dammit i was looking forward to that game
August 30th, 2021 at 3:19 PM ^
See this is called ducking an opponent. Glad we replaced them with SDSU though
August 30th, 2021 at 5:04 PM ^
It will be nice to have Brian Dutcher back. I'm sure Juwan is looking forward to it as well. I hope the fans give him the respect he's due during pre-game intros (right before we destroy his team).
August 30th, 2021 at 3:25 PM ^
We're playing AT Wayne State? I know it's just an exhibition, but that seems weird to me.
August 30th, 2021 at 3:32 PM ^
We're helping Wayne State open a new arena, that they will share with the Pistons' new G league affiliate. Good way to help out a smaller school by increasing their gate, and increasing (or maintaining) presence in the City.
August 30th, 2021 at 4:44 PM ^
I would love for UM to play UDM at Calihan.
August 30th, 2021 at 3:31 PM ^
Wish we could have scheduled someone slightly more sentient than Tarleton State. Southern Utah is another one where you look over at the MAC or Horizon or some such conference and scratch your head a bit.
August 30th, 2021 at 9:17 PM ^
Isn't Tarleton that cigarette where everyone in the ad had a black eye?
August 31st, 2021 at 12:04 AM ^
Tarleton's on the schedule because they're also part of the "Roman Main Event." U-M just sort of "gets who they get" as an OOC foe there.
It also means that while John Calipari won't be visiting AA this year, the UK coach prior to him (Billy Gillispie) will be.
When Southern Utah's full schedule comes out, I'd imagine they're doing some Eastern road trip where they play multiple buy games in one trip. They were 20-4 last year, so they likely won't be terrible as regards their influence on NET rankings and such.
August 30th, 2021 at 3:40 PM ^
Good idea to focus the schedule on teams that actually make the tournament like SDSU instead.
August 30th, 2021 at 3:41 PM ^
Can't believe I'm going to drive 90 minutes to see Michigan blow Prairie View A&M out by 40 in Washington, DC but apparently I am.
August 30th, 2021 at 5:22 PM ^
Hey when you're a fan from ann arbor you take every opportunity you can get to see a Michigan team near home. I wish we'd play teams in New York more often...
August 30th, 2021 at 3:49 PM ^
It's retaliation for poaching Clinkscale.
August 30th, 2021 at 3:54 PM ^
SDSU coming to Ann Arbor and Juwan getting to coach against his former coach at Michigan, Brian Dutcher, is pretty cool.
August 30th, 2021 at 3:57 PM ^
"U-M and Kentucky are still scheduled to play at London's O2 Arena in December of 2022"
I was scared for a minute, thanks for adding this as I had already started mentally planning this trip.
August 30th, 2021 at 5:37 PM ^
Anyone hear anything about rescheduling the game @Oregon? As a PNW Wolverine, I was looking forward to seeing both football and basketball out here last year, but obviously that didn’t happen. With the football game now pushed nearly a decade, I’m hoping basketball can serve as a shorter-term fix.
This article from April is the most recent update I could find, and at least indicates that Oregon definitely still wants it to happen.
August 30th, 2021 at 6:05 PM ^
Very weak nonconference for UK
August 30th, 2021 at 7:42 PM ^
Just ran across my 25c program from the meeting with Kentucky on 12-2-67, the first game played at "The University Events Building," as it was known then. M lost 96-79. Rudy Tomjanovich was the leading scorer at 17 points. This is the game that he grabbed 27 rebounds, still a Crisler record and second to his performance about a year later when he got 30 against Loyola. The starting five also included Jim Pitts (hard worker), Dennis Stewart (quite a shooter), Dave McClellan (from Toledo), and Ken Maxey (5-9 from Chicago). Bob Sullivan (former #1 Wisconsin HS player) had 14. Dave Strack was still the head coach. Folks, that's 54 years ago!!! Was looking forward to the second meeting in A2.