Michigan basketball headed to New York to battle John Calipari, Arkansas at MSG

Michigan basketball is headed back to the Big Apple for a big game.

The program announced Wednesday that it has added a powerhouse matchup to its 2024 slate as the Wolverines will now play Arkansas, led by new head coach John Calipari, as part of the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York on Dec. 10.

Michigan will play in the second game (ESPN, approx 9 p.m.), which follows the opener, Miami (Florida) vs. Tennessee.

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"Playing in the Jimmy V Classic for a second straight year is not only an honor, but it will be a special opportunity for our program," new head coach Dusty May said in a statement. "The city, the atmosphere, and playing in the Garden is a tremendous experience for our team and Michigan fans. However, it's not just about a game against Arkansas.

"It's about bringing continued awareness for the research that needs to be done so hopefully one day we can rid the world of this disease."

May's Florida Atlantic squad played in the tournament last year and fell to Illinois, 98-89, though U-M transfer Vlad Goldin had 23 points and four rebounds.

The tournament, named for legendary college basketball coach Jim Valvano, is held annually to raise both money and awareness for the V Foundation for Cancer Research. This is the 30th year of the tournament, which began in 1995, and the 21st time it will be held at Madison Square Garden.

This will be the eighth all-time meeting between Michigan and Arkansas: U-M has a slight edge in the series, at 4-3, and was the winner when these teams last met 12 years ago, an 80-67 victory on Dec. 8, 2012 under John Beilein in Ann Arbor.

Overall, Michigan has played well at the most famous arena in America. The Wolverines are 26-11 all-time in Madison Square Garden, including last season when Michigan knocked off U-M knocked off Rick Pitino and St. John's, 89-73, in the Gavitt Tipoff Games for the program's 11th straight victory in New York.

Tickets for the event will go on sale later this fall. For priority and access to the best seats, sign up for the pre-sale through jimmyvclassic.com .

Michigan basketball's 2024-25 non-conference schedule

Oct. 20: Oakland ( at Little Caesars Arena, Detroit).

Nov. 4: Cleveland State.

Nov. 10: Wake Forest (in Greensboro, North Carolina).

Nov. 15: TCU.

Nov. 18: Miami (Ohio).

Nov. 21: Tarleton State.

Nov. 25: Virginia Tech (in Fort Myers, Florida).

Nov. 27: South Carolina or Xavier (in Fort Myers, Florida).

Dec. 10: Arkansas (at Madison Square Garden, New York).

Dec. 18: Oklahoma (in Jumpman Invitational in Charlotte, North Carolina).

Dec. 22: Purdue Fort Wayne.

Dec. 29: Western Kentucky.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan basketball headed to New York to battle John Calipari, Arkansas at MSG