Michigan’s foreign tour has already put the Wolverines through a couple of useful stress tests, even if the results haven’t gone their way. After two games in Lithuania - a loss to the national team on Sunday and another to the B Team on Monday - Michigan now gets one final chance to sort through its rotation when it faces Mega Superbet (Serbia) in Croatia.
For Mike Boynton Jr., the exhibitions have been less about the scoreboard and more about discovery. He said he wasn’t going to get wrapped up in wins and losses, but he did want to experiment with lineups and figure out where this group needs work. That process has been complicated by fouls, which have been a constant problem from the opening tip.
Elliot Cadeau has been right in the middle of that issue, averaging five fouls per game after fouling out in both exhibitions. Trey McKenney and J.P.
Estrella also fouled out in the first game, while Brandon McCoy Jr. joined Cadeau by hitting the limit in Game 2. Those early whistles have forced Boynton’s hand and taken some of the coaching staff’s flexibility away.
What Michigan hasn’t gotten yet is one clean game where the rotations can breathe. The Wolverines have been forced to shuffle pieces around because of fouls, when the ideal would be a night that lets Boynton mix and match on his own terms.
The second-half slide has been another theme. Michigan led by 12 at halftime of the first game and was up by one after the first half against the B Team, but both times the back half belonged to the opposition.
The Wolverines’ youth and foul trouble have shown up late, and their physicality has dropped off in the final 20 minutes. Whether that’s fatigue or fear of another whistle, the result has been the same.
That makes this last game a chance for Michigan to start sharper and maybe carry a little more freedom into the closing stretch. A cleaner first half could open the door to a better finish.
The roster has also been thinner than expected. Jalen Reed and Lincoln Cosby were already known absences before the trip, but Ricky Liburd was another surprise because he hasn’t played in either game.
There still hasn’t been an update on him, and getting him on the floor for the finale would be valuable. He’s viewed as a player who could have a big season and is competing for a starting job, so a first look at his game would be welcome after he sat out his freshman year.
Moustapha Thiam is another name to watch. The center left Game 1 after playing fewer than six minutes.
He opened well with six points, then Cadeau rolled up on his ankle and Thiam did not return. He also sat out Game 2.
The injury is being treated as minor, and while the guess here is that he probably won’t play in Game 3, Michigan would benefit from getting him back on the court if he’s able.
If Thiam can go, he should. If he can’t, Marcus Moller becomes an even more interesting player to track.
J.P. Estrella and Quinn Costello handled a lot of the action in Game 2, and Costello has stood out.
But Moller logged more than 22 minutes in Game 1 and only nine in Game 2, even without Thiam available. With a few days off before the final game, it would make sense to give Moller a longer run.
He’s shown he can stretch the floor with his three-point shot, but there’s more to his role than that. Michigan would like to see him get more touches in the paint, finish stronger at the rim and use that size more consistently. The rebounding has room to grow too; Moller has averaged four boards across the two games, and that’s another area worth watching as the trip wraps up.
In Other News...
Michigan Fans Will Have Strong Opinions On This New Game Update
EA Sports gave Michigan fans a fresh talking point this week with a major roster update for College Football 27, one that adds 12 new Wolverines into the game. Among the notable newcomers are five-star wide receiver Salesi Moa, running back Bryson Kuzdzal and safety Jordan Deck, along with several others who now give the virtual roster a more complete look heading into the season.
The update also includes position corrections for some players, which should help the game better reflect how Michigan is sorting out its depth chart. Even so, not everyone expected to see their favorite name included, and a few omissions are already the kind of detail Wolverines fans will notice immediately as they dig through the latest changes. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan May Have Finally Fixed A Problem Fans Hated Watching
Michigan took another step toward overhauling a part of the game that had become too familiar for the wrong reasons, bringing in former UNLV punter Cam Brown through the transfer portal to steady the special teams picture. Brown was a starter for the Rebels in 2025 and averaged 42.9 yards per punt, which gives the Wolverines a more proven option as they look to clean up a unit that has been a concern for fans.
Brown is expected to open 2026 as Michigans starting punter, and the fit has already drawn confidence from coaches Kerry Coombs and Kyle Whittingham. For a team that wants better field position and fewer shaky moments when the offense has to hand the ball away, this is the kind of move that can quietly matter a lot, even if the full impact will only be clear once the season starts. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Still Has 3 Starting Jobs To Settle Before Week 1
Michigan has spent most of the offseason sorting out the edges of its lineup, and by now the picture is clearer in a few important spots. The offensive line appears close to taking shape, while coach comments and spring and summer performances have helped narrow the field at edge rusher and linebacker as the Wolverines move toward their Week 1 meeting with Western Michigan.
Still, the job is not finished, and the final starting lineup remains open to change as injuries and competition keep things fluid. Michigan knows what it wants to look like once the season begins, but the last few calls on defense and up front will determine how settled this team really is when the opener arrives. [Read more 🡒]