The ACC-Big Ten Challenge altered Michigan basketball's scheduling plan
John Beilein thought he had a good plan for Michigan’s 2011-12 basketball schedule. Then, the ACC-Big Ten Challenge almost forced him to rip the whole thing up.
The Michigan basketball team had been banking on a home game for the Challenge. The Wolverines played at Clemson a year ago and the usual pattern is alternating home and away games.
But when the leagues released the home and away schools — specific matchups should be announced soon — Beilein discovered his team will play on the road again this year.
John Beilein
“We were planning on a home game so when you’re scheduling, trying to get another big home game, it’s easier to schedule a game on the road and have a home coming back,” Beilein said. “Everything we’ve done (in the past), whether it was Duke, Connecticut or Kansas, this threw a wrench into that because we were about to do an away game to get a home coming back next year and now we have to get a home game.
“It hasn’t been easy.”
Beilein said he is still looking to fill a marquee game slot in Crisler Arena, which will have a new scoreboard and a slightly new look this season after the first set of renovations to the building is finished. It also means he is again potentially looking at playing that marquee game in the middle of the Big Ten schedule.
Michigan played both Kansas and Connecticut the past three seasons in the middle of Big Ten play.
His philosophy has always been to play one marquee non-conference team at home and one on the road in addition to an early-season tournament. This year, Michigan will go to a loaded Maui Invitational featuring Duke, Memphis, Georgetown, Tennessee, Kansas, UCLA and Chaminade.
“That could be four monster games in a row,” Beilein said.
One non-conference game Beilein did confirm was playing Oakland at The Palace at Auburn Hills this season, although the date of that game has not been announced.
He also said he wouldn’t rule out something out-of-the-ordinary, like Michigan State's game against North Carolina this season on an aircraft carrier.
“We’d embrace any type of opportunity where we could do something unique, that has fan appeal, TV appeal,” Beilein said. “Michigan gets very high ratings with TV games, so we’ll look at all of those kinds of opportunities as the program continues to grow.”
Michael Rothstein covers Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by email at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein.
Comments
XTR
Fri, May 6, 2011 : 3:33 p.m.
Morris was impt to this team coz of his ball hogging dribble penetration in the keyhole as the defenses sag opening Novak, Douglass, Smotrycz and Hardaway Jr in the outside for the shot or for the drive. If this Trey Burke can do that as a freshman, then there is no problem. Ball handling wise, Trey Burke is a natural handler and could score mid range too. If Burke needs a year or two to play BIG ball, then the loss of Morris is big.
tater
Fri, May 6, 2011 : 2:49 p.m.
This team could go 0-3 in Maui. Hopefully, they play someone a little bit easier in the home game against a "mainland Maui" team. It won't be a great place to break in a new point guard. Douglass will settle the team down some, but I he is a lot better 2 or 3 "spot up" shooter than PG, and won't be the main guy. This team is going to have to be Trey Burke's, for better or worse. I'm guessing the first good team they play makes him look bad, but that he adjusts and evolves very quickly with even a little bit of experience. 1-2 in Maui would be a good start, and 2-1 is highly unlikely. If they win the Maui, I just might start believing in some of this 2012 stuff. Since the NCAA does count wins and losses, and there will be plenty of strength of schedule this year, I wouldn't mind seeing another cupcake, or at least a mediocre opponent, instead of a home marquee game.