KALAMAZOO, Mich. – On Wednesday Western Michigan men's basketball head coach Steve Hawkins announced the Broncos 2018-19 schedule with five non-conference home games and match-ups against three NCAA Tournament participants.

"Every year we challenge our team to a very difficult non-conference schedule and this will be extremely challenging for our young basketball team," said head coach Steve Hawkins. "The goal every year is to try and schedule your non-conference in a way to prepare you for conference play and this schedule gives us an opportunity to do that."

WMU's non-conference slate includes seven home contests (two exhibition and five regular-season games) and match-ups on the road against NCAA Tournament participants Cincinnati and in-state rival Michigan.

The Broncos tilt with the Wolverines is set for Dec. 15 inside Crisler Center in Ann Arbor. It's the first meeting between the two programs since 2012 and just the 40^th all-time. Last season, Michigan fell to Villanova in the 2018 National Championship game.

It will be the third straight year the Brown & Gold have played an opponent that is coming off a Final Four appearance. The Broncos played defending national champion Villanova in 2016 and South Carolina last season.

"We appreciate the opportunity that Michigan head coach John Beilein has given us as some games just make sense to play," said Hawkins. "It will be a very difficult game for us but one our guys will surely be excited about."

The Broncos are set to play two exhibition games at home, hosting Northwood University on Saturday, Oct. 27 and Kalamazoo College on Saturday, Nov. 3.

WMU begins the season inside University Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 6 against Detroit before embarking on a two-game road trip at Ole Miss (Nov.10) and at Oakland (Nov.13). The Broncos return home on Saturday, Nov. 17 for a match-up with Aquinas.

Following its match-up with Aquinas, WMU heads to NCAA Tournament participant Cincinnati on Monday, Nov. 19. The Bearcats ended the season ranked No. 12 in the final USA Today's Coaches' poll.  Over Thanksgiving weekend the Broncos travel to the Sunshine State to take part in the Emerald Coast Classic, squaring off with Southern on Nov. 23 followed by either Nicholls State or North Carolina Central the next day.

Prior to the Michigan game on Dec. 15, the Broncos will take on the Spartans of USC Upstate on Dec. 1 at home before three straight road games beginning on Dec. 8 at Youngstown State. In their final non-conference road game, the Broncos head to mid-major power Dayton on Wednesday, Dec. 19.

Wrapping up the non-conference schedule, the Broncos will host Milwaukee inside University Arena on Saturday, Dec. 22 before ending non-conference play against UC Riverside on Dec. 30. 

Western Michigan opens Mid-American Conference play with four of their first six on the road beginning on Saturday, Jan. 5 at Akron. The Broncos then head to Kent State (Jan.8) before hosting defending MAC West champion Toledo on Jan.12 and defending MAC regular season and tournament champion Buffalo on Jan. 15.

"Last year the MAC was one of the top ten leagues in the country in RPI and I don't see the league getting any easier," said Hawkins. "Whether you are playing at home or on the road it appears as if it is going to be another tough year in the MAC."

The Broncos open up February with a road contest at in-state rival Central Michigan, Feb. 2 before returning to Kalamazoo three nights later for a match-up with the Falcons of Bowling Green (Feb. 5).

Two of the final three games of the regular season are at home for WMU beginning with a Saturday, March 2 tilt against MAC West foe Ball State. The Brown & Gold head to Toledo on March 5 prior to the regular season finale inside University Arena against Central Michigan on Friday, March 8.

This year's MAC Men's Basketball Tournament will begin Monday, March 11 with first round games on campus before moving to Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena (March 13-16).