On Monday’s appearance on his weekly WXOU radio show, Oakland University men’s basketball coach Greg Kampe gave fans a sneak peek at the always-anticipated reveal of the team’s non-conference schedule for next season.

While the expected slate of games is not likely stack up to the grueling gauntlet of teams the Grizzlies faced this season — five Big Ten opponents, among others — there expects to be plenty of intrigue once again.

“We’ll have the most favorable home schedule we’ve ever had in Division I next year,” Kampe said.

Unlike this season, Oakland fans won’t have to wait until December to see the Grizzlies play a home game. In total, Kampe said fans can expect 15 home games — four more than this season — thanks to several commitments from other schools to visit the O’rena in the non-conference portion of the season.

The highlight of the home schedule will be a date with the Volunteers of Tennessee, the ranked team OU knocked off in December to gain national notoriety. Last summer, the two programs agreed to a 3-year deal with games alternating locations.

Oakland will also play host to the University of Michigan at The Palace of Auburn Hills just as the Grizzlies did with the Michigan State Spartans earlier this season.

Other opponents fans can expect to see visit the O’rena include Central Michigan and Rochester College as part of a two-day, four-team holiday tournament. A fourth participant has yet to be finalized.

Kampe also said the team has received verbal commitments to face Minnesota, Marshall and Arkansas on the road in the 2011-12 season.

The Grizzlies will also take part in ESPN’s BracketBusters event next February against an opponent to be determined much later.

The Greg Kampe show airs weekly on Monday’s at 3 p.m. on WXOU, 88.3 FM with host Matt Pocket and an assortment of co-hosts and special guests. The show can be streamed live at www.wxou.org

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Dan Fenner is the Senior Editor of The Oakland Post and covers Oakland University basketball.  You can follow him on Twitter @DanFenner for updates and analysis throughout the week.