Michigan needed a response, and it got one in a hurry.
After last week’s loss to UConn, the Wolverines lined up against another high-major test in Marquette and spent the opening stretch on their heels. But once Michigan ripped off a 13-0 run, the game flipped. The Wolverines took control from there, built a lead that grew beyond 20 points, and rolled to an 84-70 win to improve to 2-1.
The result came with a few clear signs that Michigan’s ceiling gets a lot higher when certain pieces click together.
The biggest one was the frontcourt. Because of an illness, Moustapha Thiam and JP Estrella had not really been able to show what they can do together, but against Marquette they looked every bit like the kind of tandem Michigan hoped it was getting.
Thiam finished with 9 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks, while Estrella added 18 points and 8 rebounds. Together, they controlled the Golden Eagles’ bigs for the full 40 minutes.
For Michigan, that matters. When the starting lineup is doing its job, especially up front, the Wolverines are in a much better position to handle quality opponents.
Elliot Cadeau also answered the bell after a rough night against UConn. In that loss, he managed just eight points on 3/11 shooting and turned it over five times.
This time, he looked far more like the engine Michigan needs him to be, putting up 17 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists. He also helped shut James down on the defensive end.
When Cadeau is operating at that level, Michigan becomes a much tougher team to deal with - the kind that can put him on triple-double watch and still keep control of the game.
Then there was Quinn Costello, who gave the Wolverines a needed jolt off the bench. Michigan’s second unit doesn’t appear built to deliver much every night, but Costello can be the exception.
He knocked down 5 of 6 shots from deep and finished with 15 points in the win. He had gone 1 of 5 from beyond the arc in the loss to Michigan, but he’s now scored in double figures in both of the Wolverines’ victories.
He’s clearly an impact player; the question is whether that impact can keep showing up against high-major competition too.
In Other News...
Michigan Heads Into Oregon With Troubling Questions Up Front
Michigans front has become a source of concern at just the wrong time, with the Wolverines trying to steady themselves for a difficult trip to Oregon while also keeping an eye on bowl eligibility. Dominic Nichols is still working back from a lower-leg injury, but the recovery has not been entirely smooth after some aggravation, leaving another question mark in a position group that needs all the help it can get.
Nate Marshalls situation adds another layer of uncertainty, with the defensive lineman suspended indefinitely and his return to the team still unclear. Lewis Powell has stressed accountability and team rules as Michigan tries to navigate a challenging season, and the timing is hardly ideal with the Ducks next on the schedule and little margin for error left in the chase to keep the postseason picture alive. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans 2027 Defensive Class Suddenly Has A Recruiting Problem
Michigans 2027 defensive class is already drawing plenty of attention, and not all of it is the kind a staff wants to see. The Wolverines have been keeping close tabs on four-star defensive back Tavares Harrington, who is committed to Michigan but is reportedly being pursued by Ole Miss, adding an early wrinkle to a class that still looks promising on paper.
There is still some stability in the group, starting with four-star edge commit Ifeanyi Emedobi, who took a visit to Tennessee but remains pledged to Michigan and plans to enroll in January. Michigan is also working on Boston College defensive line commit Jayden Paulino, who came away impressed from his visit to Ann Arbor, though he remains committed to Boston College while continuing to look around. [Read more 🡒]
Tom Izzo Had Quite A Message For Duke After This Loss
Michigan States 79-73 preseason win over Duke gave Tom Izzo a chance to do what he often does after a big night: keep the focus on the bigger picture. The Spartans got a quality test against a blueblood opponent, and Izzo made clear afterward that he respected the way Duke played while also acknowledging his own teams performance in the exhibition setting.
The more revealing part of the night was how quickly Izzo shifted from basketball to the broader mood around the program. With Michigan State still riding the emotional lift of its recent football win over Michigan, he drew a sharp contrast between the two moments, underscoring just how much that rivalry result meant in East Lansing. The Duke game mattered, but it was only part of a much larger stretch of celebration around the Spartans. [Read more 🡒]