Michigan’s Summer Tour has already brought its share of bumps, but Thursday’s exhibition against Serbian club Mega Superbet may have delivered the most alarming one yet.
Just 20 seconds into the game, five-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. went to the basket on what appeared to be a fast break, slipped under the rim and fell hard while trying to finish the layup. The scene looked rough immediately. McCoy had to be carried off the court, was clearly in pain, and was most likely done for the day.
Michigan freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. was carried off the court just 20 seconds into Michigan’s exhibition game pic.twitter.com/xbaBEiTQgY
- The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) August 27, 2026
There was no immediate word on the nature of the injury, but the way McCoy went down left little room for optimism. He was not the first Wolverine to get banged up during the European exhibitions, either. Earlier, Cincinnati transfer Moustapha Thiam had his leg rolled up on six minutes into Michigan’s exhibition against the Lithuanian National Team.
The timing is especially rough for a Michigan team trying to defend a national title after winning it all in April. The Wolverines lost their entire frontcourt and their head coach to the NBA, opening plenty of holes in the rotation. Dusty May then brought in a strong 2026 recruiting class before leaving for the Dallas Mavericks, and every recruit stayed with Mike Boynton.
McCoy was the headliner of that group, the only five-star in the class and a player expected to carry a major load this season. Michigan also got back veterans Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKinney, but McCoy was viewed as the Yaxel Lendeborg replacement the roster needed, even as a 6-foot-5, 190-pound point guard.
If the injury proves serious and costs McCoy meaningful time, Boynton will have to lean on other options fast. LSU transfer Jalen Reed and Columbia transfer Kenny Noland are the most obvious experienced choices. Among the freshmen, Florida natives Lincoln Cosby and Joseph Hartman would be the likely candidates to take on bigger roles.
For now, Michigan is left waiting. Early exhibition games can help a new group come together, but they can also turn suddenly ugly. The Wolverines will be hoping this one ends with McCoy back on the floor soon.
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