Michigan's coaching staff has no control over the Big Ten schedule, which we will be getting here

pretty soon. But the non-conference schedule is an opportunity for every program and for the

Wolverines an 11-game opportunity to boost its NCAA tournament resume, to secure some home

games for fans, to experience a unique and challenging MTE among other hopes and dreams.

It's a fascinating puzzle to put together, and the man who leads that charge for Michigan

men's basketball is Kyle Church, assistant coach, and general manager.

Here this week on Defend the Block, Church will share the process of this year's non-conference

slate along with some of the unique challenges that go into it.

He'll also talk plenty about the upcoming season and team and all the players, of course.

This is church and this coaching staff's second go-around building a Michigan non-conference schedule,

but I do think it's fair that we can identify some of the primary goals or tenants that Michigan tries to put into

those 11-game non-conference slates. Some have been talked about and mentioned by staff

members before even in our conversation with Coach Church last year about this. And some also can

be inferred by context clues, obviously understanding it's still a pretty small sample size.

The thing that has been discussed, the desire to sign a new home and home every season,

and with the way it's been staggered, to have the first game at home.

Michigan played TCU at home last year, but returned the game in Fort Worth this November.

This year's new home is with Villanova.

They'll come to town in December, the return trip on the horizon next season.

Also, most other prime non-con matchups will take place on neutral sites. It certainly appears,

and it feels like Madison Square Garden in New York City in general seems to be a priority,

and maybe in every year priority that'll have to play out.

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