Houston controlled the middle and made Michigan pay for it in a 10-versus-16 exhibition matchup that quickly tilted in the Cougars’ favor in Grand Rapids.
The No. 10 Cougars came out with force on the interior and never really let No.
16 Michigan settle in around the rim. That pressure showed up in the box score and in the rhythm of the game, where the Wolverines were pushed into tougher looks and had trouble generating the kind of clean paint touches they wanted.
Michigan’s inside options were noticeably muted. Junior center Moustapha Thiam and graduate forward J.P.
Estrella combined for only three field goals, a quiet night by the standard those two usually bring. Thiam did make the most of his trips to the foul line, but his overall imprint wasn’t what Michigan typically gets from him.
The Cougars were just as disruptive on the other end, turning the Wolverines away from the lane and forcing the offense outward. Michigan ended up putting up 33 shots from 3-point range and hit only nine of them, a number that tells the story of how often Houston dictated where the Wolverines had to operate.
Houston didn’t lean nearly as heavily on the perimeter. Instead, the Cougars kept driving into the paint, with guard Dedan Thomas Jr. leading the way. Thomas finished with 25 points, and every one of them came without a 3-pointer.
“He got way too many paint touches, and then once he got going he was able to find his teammates and get them some clean looks,” graduate guard Roddy Gayle Jr. said of Thomas. “Terrific player, he was able to just get going in that second half.”
That interior dominance wasn’t limited to scoring. Houston also kept Michigan from ever feeling fully comfortable when the Wolverines appeared to have an opening. About 10 minutes before halftime, senior guard Elliot Cadeau picked off a loose pass and streaked ahead for what looked like an easy breakaway layup, only for two Houston defenders to run him down and erase the chance before it could become points.
The rebounding battle tilted the same way. Michigan finished with 30 rebounds, while Houston collected 42 and turned that edge into nine second-chance points. The Cougars’ work on the glass helped them control the flow, while Michigan was left chasing possessions and trying to survive the extra cracks Houston kept creating.
“We asked our bigs to do a tough job, to keep these animals off the glass, it starts with our wings rebounding down,” Gayle said. “ … I can help (them) a lot more by coming away with some of these basketballs.
Most of these rebounds are the long ones. The bigs are able to get down there and smack it out, I think our guards need to win these 50-50 battles.”
In Other News...
Michigan Fans Can Already See The Next OC Debate Coming
If Michigan decides the offensive staff needs a new voice after Jason Beck, the candidate list is already starting to take shape. The names being floated all bring different angles, from experience calling offenses to familiarity with the program, and that mix alone is enough to set off the kind of debate Wolverines fans know well. Aaron Roderick, Dean Kennedy, Chandler Whitmer, Jedd Fisch and Jay Harbaugh each have a case in their own way, which means the conversation is not just about who is available, but about what direction Michigan wants to go.
The wider speculation only adds another layer, because there is also chatter about NFL-level options such as Brian Daboll or Nick Sirianni, even if that remains purely hypothetical for now. For a fan base that has grown used to dissecting every staff move, the real intrigue is less about the exact name and more about whether Michigan chooses continuity, experience or a bigger swing if the job opens up. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans Biggest Problem Showed Up Again In Loss To Houston
Michigans trip into a top-10 showdown with Houston quickly turned into a familiar frustration. The Wolverines fell 83-66 after the Cougars took advantage of early foul trouble and the kind of rebounding issues that can unravel a game against a disciplined opponent, then used efficient offense and sturdy defense to control the pace from there.
Michigan kept trying to hang around, but Houston never let the matchup get comfortable. The Cougars stayed composed, pushed the action when it was there and built a lead they protected throughout, leaving the Wolverines with the same glaring problem that has shadowed them before. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Still Has A Quarterback Problem It Can't Afford
Michigan football is keeping the quarterback picture cloudy for another week. Kyle Whittingham said at his Monday press conference that the Wolverines will not announce a starter for the upcoming game, a sign that the position remains unsettled as the offense works through a rough stretch marked by turnovers and too few scoring chances.
Whittingham still struck a confident note about Michigans overall potential, even while acknowledging the offensive issues that have dragged down recent results. He did not suggest any coaching changes are coming soon, which leaves the focus on whether the Wolverines can clean up the quarterback situation before it costs them another game. [Read more 🡒]