Michigan’s 84-70 win over Marquette on Wednesday night came with a few clear signs of what this team wants to be early on: physical, disruptive and hard to speed up.
Marquette had already beaten Michigan State in a preseason tuneup three weeks ago, and the Golden Eagles watched another Big Ten team take center stage this week after Michigan State beat Duke in the Champions Classic on Tuesday. But Michigan made sure the spotlight shifted back to Ann Arbor with a strong second-half push that put the game away.
The defensive work stood out immediately. Marquette’s Nigel James Jr. was held scoreless for the second time in his career, and that other scoreless outing also came against a Big Ten opponent. Michigan also limited the Golden Eagles’ starters, with only one of them finishing in double figures.
JP Estrella has been the early engine for Michigan. The Tennessee transfer is averaging 17 points and 10.5 rebounds per night, and entering Thursday he ranked 10th in the country in field goal percentage while turning the ball over only three times.
He’s giving Dusty May exactly what was hoped for when he was brought in from the portal, and his start should feel familiar to anyone who remembers how Aday Mara opened his maize and blue run. Estrella isn’t on the NBA’s radar yet, but neither was Mara.
Michigan’s starters also delivered a major edge. The Wolverines’ first five outscored Marquette’s starters 66-32, with Marquette’s group shooting just 5-for-31 from the floor outside of Adrien Stevens.
Michigan got 65 points from Estrella, Elliot Cadeau, Trey McKenney and Quinn Costello, nearly enough for those four alone to outscore the Golden Eagles. Cadeau added 10 assists, while Moustapha Thiam continued to get healthier and helped solve the rebound issue that had been a concern.
Another encouraging number for Michigan: its transition defense is allowing just under five points per game. In the opener against the Golden Grizzlies, the Wolverines didn’t give up a single fast-break point.
Against Marquette, they allowed just two. That will be tested again Sunday at midday against William & Mary, a team that has scored more points than Michigan’s first three opponents combined in the fast-break game.
Even so, the Tribe haven’t faced anything close to the level of Michigan yet, and that number figures to change quickly in Crisler.
In Other News...
Michigan Heads Into Oregon With Troubling Questions Up Front
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Lewis Powell has made it clear the issue is about more than availability, stressing accountability and team rules while leaving Marshalls return uncertain. For a team still chasing bowl eligibility in a season that has already brought plenty of challenges, the timing is hardly ideal, and the trip to Oregon only sharpens the pressure on a defensive line that needs answers fast. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Suddenly Has A Depth Problem At The Worst Time
Michigans injury picture did not get any cleaner coming out of the loss to Michigan State, even with one notable defensive back no longer listed on the report. The bigger concern remains up front, where starting tackles Andrew Sprague and Blake Frazier are still dealing with injuries, and Frazier is doubtful heading into the next game.
The Wolverines are also carrying a longer list of banged-up players in John Henry Daley, Dom Nichols, Jalen Hoffman, Hogan Hansen and Channing Goodwin, which leaves the roster thinner at several spots at a bad time. For a team trying to steady itself after a frustrating setback, the issue is not just who is available now, but how much more strain Michigan can put on its depth before it starts showing on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans Battered Offense Faces One Last Shot To Keep Season Alive
Michigan heads into its next game with the season hanging in the balance, needing one more win to become bowl eligible. The challenge is a tough one, with Oregon coming in off a strong victory and Michigan still trying to find any kind of rhythm on offense after a stretch defined by injuries up front and at key spots.
The Wolverines may have to lean on younger players and whatever adjustments the new offensive coordinator can squeeze out in a short window. For a unit that has struggled to stay intact, this feels like the kind of week where progress matters almost as much as the result, even if the margin for error has nearly disappeared. [Read more 🡒]