Michigan Basketball: Update on potential season opening opponent
By Max S.
The Michigan basketball schedule for the 2020-21 season will start to take shape over the next few weeks. But we may have an answer as to who the Wolverines will open their season against.
As first reported by Jake Klein on Twitter, it appears Michigan basketball will take on Villanova in the Empire Classic at Mohegan Sun Arena.
The Tournament is set to be played November 25th-27th. Other teams included are Baylor and Boston College.
I am told Michigan will play Villanova and Baylor will play Boston College in the 2K Empire Classic, which will be held at Mohegan Sun Arena in CT from November 25-27.
— Jake Klein (@kleiny42) September 23, 2020
The tournament was originally supposed to include NC State, but they bowed out and were replaced by BC.
College basketball insider Jon Rothstein also confirmed that report but didn’t verify the potential matchups.
Sources: Boston College is expected to replace NC State in the 2020 Empire Classic at Mohegan Sun. Rest of field currently includes Villanova, Baylor, and Michigan. Matchups are TBD.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) September 24, 2020
If Michigan does in fact start their season against Villanova, that will be no easy task for a Michigan team looking to potentially break in a new point guard and center.
Villanova is ranked 2nd in the country in the ESPN way too early top-25 from last month. The Wildcats return four players who averaged double digit points a season ago. It will also be a rematch of the 2018 National Championship game where Villanova defeated Michigan 79-62.
Baylor, who is also in the field at the Empire Classic, is ranked 1st in the country in the same preseason ranking mentioned above. Baring any Covid-19 issues, The Empire Classic field is absolutely stacked and will be a great early season test for the Wolverines.
Michigan basketball will head into the 2020-21 season confident and looking to prove they can compete for a Big Ten Championship in year two under coach Juwan Howard.
The Wolverines return one of the best wing duos in all of college hoops in Franz Wagner and Isaiah Livers. Those two will carry the load and help break in the fresh faces for the Wolverines.
Michigan is still waiting to hear if shooting guard and Wake Forest transfer Chaundee Brown will be able to play this season. As the roster sits right now, here’s how I see the starting lineup heading into the new basketball season.
PG: Mike Smith
SG: Eli Brooks
SF: Franz Wagner
PF: Isaiah Livers
C: Hunter Dickinson
6th man: Chaundee Brown
Michigan basketball will need to be ready to play at a high level right off the bat this season to have a good showing in the Empire Classic.
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We will continue to provide updates as Michigan’s schedule develops in the coming weeks.