Wolverine Digest

How to watch Michigan basketball host Cincinnati in first exhibition game

The Wolverines are back in action on Friday
Trent Knoop|
Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

In this story:

Michigan WolverinesCincinnati Bearcats

For the first time this season, fans will get a chance to check out the Michigan basketball team. The Wolverines will host Cincinnati on Friday night for Michigan's first exhibition game of the season. The Bearcats will come into town and Dusty May will have a competitive team to test out some rotations for the season.

Michigan returns veterans Roddy Gayle, Nimari Burnet, Will Tschetter, and LJ Cason. The Wolverines went out and landed key portal players like Yaxel Lendeborg, Elliott Cadeau, Aday Mara, and Morez Johnson, while landing Trey McKenney, Winters Grady, and Ricky Liburd.

How to watch Michigan host Cincinnati

  • Day: Friday, Oct. 17
  • Time: 6 p.m. ET
  • Where: Crisler Center (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
  • Network: BIG+
  • On the call: Ethan Sommers, Zach Edwards and Jaden Fode

Michigan's full 2025-26 schedule

  • Fri Oct. 17: vs. Cincinnati (6 pm on BIG+) [preseason game]
  • Sat Oct. 25: at St. John's (7 pm on BIG+) [preseason game]
  • Mon. Nov. 3: vs. Oakland (8:30 pm on FS1)
  • Tues. Nov. 11: vs. Wake Forest (6:30 pm on FS1) [Detroit, Michigan]
  • Fri. Nov. 14: at TCU (9 pm on ESPN2)
  • Mon. Nov. 24: vs. San Diego State (10:30 pm on TruTV) [Las Vegas]
  • Tues. Nov. 25: vs. Auburn (8:30 pm on TNT) [Las Vegas]
  • Wed. Nov. 26: TBD
  • Wed. Nov. 27: TBD
  • Sat. Dec. 6: vs. Rutgers (4 pm on BTN)
  • Tues. Dec. 9: vs. Villanova (6:30 pm on FS1)
  • Sat. Dec. 13: at Maryland (8 pm on FOX)
  • Sun. Dec. 21: vs. La Salle (4 pm on Peacock)
  • Mon. Dec. 29: vs. McNeese (7pm on BIG+)
  • Fri. Jan. 2: vs. USC (7pm on Peacock)
  • Tues. Jan. 6: at Penn State (7 pm on FS1)
  • Sat. Jan. 10: vs. Wisconsin (1 or 2 pm on CBS)
  • Wed. Jan. 14: at Washington (10:30 pm on BTN)
  • Sat. Jan. 17: at Oregon (4 pm on NBC)
  • Tues. Jan. 20: vs. Indiana (7 pm on Peacock)
  • Fri. Jan. 23: vs. Ohio State (8 pm on FOX)
  • Tues. Jan. 27: vs. Nebraska (7 pm Peacock)
  • Fri. Jan. 30: at Michigan State (8 pm on FOX)
  • Thurs. Feb. 5: vs. Penn State (6:30 pm on FS1)
  • Sun. Feb. 8: at Ohio State (1 pm on CBS)
  • Wed. Feb. 11: at Northwestern (8:30 pm on BTN)
  • Sat. Feb. 14: vs. UCLA (1 pm on CBS)
  • Tues. Feb. 17: at Purdue (6:30 pm on Peacock)
  • Sat. Feb. 21: vs. Duke (6:30 pm on ESPN) [Washington D.C.]
  • Tues. Feb. 24: vs. Minnesota (8:30 pm on BTN)
  • Fri. Feb. 27: at Illinois (8 pm on FOX)
  • Thurs. March 5: at Iowa (8 pm on Peacock)
  • Sun. March 8: vs. Michigan State (4:30 pm on CBS)

More From Michigan On SI:

Published
Trent Knoop
TRENT KNOOP

Trent began writing and covering Michigan athletics back in 2020. He became a credentialed member of the media in 2021. Trent began writing with Sports Illustrated in 2023 and became the Managing Editor for Michigan Wolverines On SI during the 2025 football season. Trent also serves as the Publisher of Baylor Bears on SI. His other bylines have appeared on Maryland on SI, Wisconsin on SI, and across the USA TODAY Sports network. Trent’s love of sports and being able to tell stories to fans is what made him get into writing.

Share on XFollow @trentknoop
Home/Basketball