Michigan’s first exhibition of the season offered an early look at a roster that’s trying to replace one kind of frontcourt punch with another, and the Wolverines got exactly what they needed in an 87-62 win over Eastern Michigan on Sunday at Crisler Center.
The headline in the paint was Moustapha Thiam. Michigan last season built its interior identity around Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr., a tandem that made life miserable for opponents trying to get easy looks at the rim. That same exact feel may not be there this fall, but Thiam looked like a real problem for the Eagles anyway.
Thiam, who began his college career at UCF and led the Big 12 in blocks, then swatted 50 shots last season at Cincinnati, showed off the rim protection that makes him so intriguing. He had a shaky start against the pick-and-roll, but once he settled in, he gave Michigan 11 points, five rebounds and four blocks.
J.P. Estrella and Jalen Reed also added a block apiece, another sign that the Wolverines’ big men could be a force again.
Michigan also had a wrinkle on the wing. Roddy Gayle Jr. was expected by many to play and did warm up with the team, but he never took the floor. Instead, Ricky Liburd started on the wing.
Liburd’s path to the game was notable too, since he had been hurt on the foreign tour and hadn’t appeared in either of Michigan’s exhibition games overseas. On Sunday, he played 10 minutes, all of them in the first half, and finished with two points, three rebounds and one steal. His only basket was a dunk for his first points as a Wolverine.
Joseph Hartman, a freshman, got extended run in the second half and made the most of it. He scored 10 points and added a steal, and he looks like someone who could have a real role if the rotation opens up. If Gayle Jr. is good to go, Liburd figures to settle into a bench role.
The biggest scoring burst belonged to Trey McKenney, who paced Michigan with 21 points while hitting 3-of-7 from beyond the arc. He’s widely expected to take a big step this season and should be the Wolverines’ primary scorer. Elliot Cadeau, the point guard, added one three-pointer of his own and should chip in offensively as well.
Another freshman who kept flashing was Quinn Costello. He was Michigan’s top-rated recruit until Brandon McCoy Jr. signed, and he continued to look ready for meaningful minutes.
Costello scored 16 points, good for second on the team, and knocked down 4-of-8 shots from three-point range while pulling down five rebounds. He still needs to add strength to bang inside more effectively, but the shot is clearly there.
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Michigans offense has spent much of the season looking like a unit still searching for its footing, and the latest stumble against Minnesota only sharpened the questions around Bryce Underwood. Under pressure, the quarterback had trouble finding rhythm on the road, reinforcing the pattern that he has been more comfortable at home than away from Ann Arbor. With Penn State next on the schedule, the Wolverines are carrying more than just ordinary game-week adjustments into the matchup.
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Andrew Sprague remains out with an undisclosed injury and does not appear close to a return, leaving Michigan thin at right tackle and short on reliable depth up front. Kyle Whittingham updated the situation this week, and the larger concern is clear: even with one lineman trending back, the Wolverines are still trying to protect a position group that cant afford many more losses. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Suddenly Faces A Defining Home Test Fans Cant Ignore
A bye week gave Michigan a chance to reset, but the next stretch hardly looks forgiving. The Wolverines return to action against Penn State after back-to-back losses, with Bryce Underwood still set to remain the starting quarterback as the offense tries to steady itself and get the season back on track.
The schedule only gets more demanding after that, with the Big Ten announcing Michigan will host unbeaten Indiana on Oct. 24 at noon ET on FOX. The Hoosiers are ranked No. 5 after beating Nebraska and now have Ohio State ahead of them, which means the meeting in Ann Arbor could carry a lot of weight by the time it arrives. [Read more 🡒]