CMU men's hoops explores scheduling opportunities with in-state school Olivet College
CMU men's basketball coach Keno Davis says he's open to playing other non-conference, in-state schools.
The program had conversations about playing Michigan, Michigan State, Oakland and Detroit Mercy. Currently, none of those programs are on the schedule, but that could change as the season progresses.
"We had had conversations with all the regional schools before the year started," Davis said. "And even in the last two or three weeks, all the in-state schools, all the regional schools, we've had conversations with."
Davis mentioned UM and MSU specifically as schools that CMU tried to schedule games with, but said that the programs couldn't find a common date due to prior scheduled games. He added that having redshirt senior and MSU transfer Braden Burke on roster led to extended conversations with the Spartans about a potential matchup down the road.
There were reportedly talks of CMU travelling to MSU this week as the Spartans were looking for a game to replace last week's canceled matchup with Virginia. The talks fell through due to CMU focusing on preparing for its Mid-American Conference opener at Western Michigan according to Tony Paul of the Detroit News.
"Being in the state of Michigan, playing Michigan and Michigan State, those are marquee games for us on our schedule," Davis said. "We would love to play them if it fits."
CMU has not played Michigan State since 1997 and hasn't taken the floor against Michigan since 2017. The Chippewas are 3-31 all-time against the Spartans and 3-32 against the Wolverines.
For the time being, CMU has added a non-conference game at 1 p.m. Dec. 20 at home against Olivet College, a Division III school based in Olivet, Michigan. The Comets were 6-19 last season and play in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Olivet has not played a game yet this season.
