Michigan Basketball: 5 things to expect in Juwan Howard’s 2nd season

A Schedule Of Opportunities

Although the full schedule won’t be released for the foreseeable future, it’s shaping up to be another doozy of a non-conference docket. The highlight may or may not come in London when the Wolverines are set to meet up with John Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats. That showdown will likely get relocated to the states depending upon what happens over the coming months.

Rematches with Oregon and Villanova are on the table as well. A cross-country trip to Eugene to battle with the powerful Ducks, minus point guard extraordinaires Payton Pritchard and Zavier Simpson will be one that gets circled on the calendar for everyone involved.

Then a return to Michigan basketball’s home away from home, Madison Square Garden, to compete in the 2k classic with heavyweights Villanova, Baylor and N.C. State. Jay Wright’s bunch is being touted as the way too early number one team in the preseason top 25 rankings.

After those grueling tests, the knockdown, drag-it-out Big Ten awaits. It appears it is going to be just as stacked as it was this past year with new and familiar faces. Potentially having returning leaders including Eli Brooks, Franz Wagner, Brandon Johns, Austin Davis and maybe Isaiah Livers back in the fold should help ease the transition for the incoming freshman to find their rhythm amongst the reshuffled group.