Maui trip highlights non-conference slate
Nov. 24-26 @ Maui Invitational
Nov. 30 — MARIST
Dec. 03 — BRADLEY
Dec. 06 — @ Notre Dame
Dec. 13 — vs. Purdue
Dec. 20 — @ Michigan
Dec. 23 — @ Loyola-Chicago
Dec. 30 — TRI-STATE
* CAPS DENOTES HOME GAMESs
Big-name non-conference opponents highlight the men’s basketball schedule this winter.
The schedule begins with an appearance in the EA Sports Maui Invitational.
It also calls for a four-game road trip in December against some of the bigger schools in the Midwest, including Michigan, Notre Dame and Purdue.
“There is a lot there,” said Head Coach Jay Smith. “I think that we’ll have one of the toughest schedules. In terms of strength of schedule, ours has to be up toward the top.”
The schedule opens in Hawaii with a three-day outing in the 20th annual Maui Invitational. The Chippewas will face Dayton Nov. 4. Other teams in the bracket include Chaminade, Hawaii, Ohio State, San Diego State, Santa Clara and Villanova. The team is guaranteed three games in the tournament.
The Chippewas then return to Rose Arena Nov. 30 against Marist, followed by another home game, Dec. 3 against Bradley.
CMU then will endure one of the hardest road programs in school history.
The team plays at Notre Dame Dec. 6 and then faces Purdue Dec. 13 as part of the Boilermaker Blockbuster at Indianapolis’ Conseco Fieldhouse. A week later, the team heads to Ann Arbor for a rematch with the Michigan squad it beat 85-78 last year. The road stretch ends with a game at Loyola-Chicago Dec. 23.
“I’m not going to deny, when we scheduled, we scheduled some of these games with Kaman in mind,” Smith said. “I’m not going to sit and cry about it though.”
