A year after a national title run that changed the entire look of the program, Michigan basketball is back in the spotlight with a new coach, a new set of expectations and a roster that still has plenty of juice.
The Wolverines open their title defense tonight against Oakland, with former Oklahoma State head coach Mike Boynton now running the show after serving as an assistant under Dusty May for the past two seasons. Michigan enters the season ranked 16th in the AP Poll and 28th in KenPom, though that number would have looked even better if Brandon McCoy had not suffered a season-ending injury. Roddy Gayle’s return gives the group a lift, and the roster still has enough talent to make another serious run.
Here are five bold calls for what comes next.
Trey McKenney is the Big Ten’s best player
McKenney was already a major piece of last season’s championship team, putting up 10.2 points per game in 23 minutes while shooting 50.8 percent from the field and 40 percent from deep. Michigan fans will always remember the 3-pointer he buried to seal the national title, but that may end up being just one moment in a much bigger breakout.
The guard looks ready to take another leap, especially with Elliot Cadeau expected to make a significant jump as well. Michigan has two First-Team All-Big Ten-level players in that backcourt, and McKenney’s scoring package gives him a real chance to separate from the pack. Between the 3-point shot, the mid-range game and his ability to score in the post, he could land near 20 points a night and take home Big Ten Player of the Year honors.
Michigan gets back to the Sweet 16
The Wolverines have made the Sweet 16 in each of their last seven NCAA Tournament appearances, and that run should keep going.
Juwan Howard reached that stage twice, and Boynton is projected to do the same in his first season. Michigan looks strong enough to finish in the top four of the Big Ten and stay in the hunt for the league title, with Illinois and Michigan State standing as the main threats in that race. On the national side, the Wolverines look like a top-16 team, which would put them in line for a top-four seed.
That kind of profile is usually enough to survive the first weekend, especially with McKenney and Cadeau running the backcourt. Michigan should be one of the 16 teams still standing when the second weekend arrives.
Quinn Costello makes a run at Big Ten Freshman of the Year
Costello may not start, but he still has the profile to make noise in the league’s freshman race.
He’s expected to be Michigan’s top 3-point shooter, and Cadeau has already said that Costello is going to be a future NBA player. That kind of praise matters, and the opportunity should be there.
With Moustapha Thiam and J.P. Estrella providing low-post scoring, and Cadeau and McKenney likely handling more of the creation, Costello should see plenty of clean looks from outside.
The McDonald’s All-American was somewhat overshadowed by McCoy before the injury, but the extra minutes and expanded role should put him firmly in the mix for Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Michigan beats both rivals at home
Ohio State and Michigan State are both on the schedule twice, which always makes the season feel a little sharper.
Boynton’s first year will come with plenty of attention on the biggest games, and his résumé gives Michigan reason to believe it can handle those matchups. He’s a strong recruiter and a strong defensive coach, and while he’s not Dusty May, the roster around him is good enough to win at home against both the Spartans and the Buckeyes.
Michigan hangs a banner
Not the kind from last season. A second straight national title is not in the cards here.
But the Wolverines could still add another banner before the year is over, whether that comes from a Big Ten regular-season championship, a Big Ten tournament championship or a Final Four trip.
In Other News...
Michigan AD Search Just Got More Serious For Two Major Programs
Michigans search for its next athletic director is no longer a quiet background project. The university has brought in TurnkeyZRG to help replace outgoing Director of Athletics Warde Manuel, and the firms involvement gives the process a more formal, high-stakes feel as the school works toward a decision that will shape the departments next era. The search began on Oct. 1, 2026, and the eventual hire will be made by the university president and Board of Regents.
The timing matters because the new AD will inherit two of the schools most visible programs at a moment when both football and basketball are under plenty of scrutiny. Michigans coaching contracts already include performance benchmarks, so the next athletic director will not just be managing budgets and facilities, but also overseeing expectations that are built into the job. For a department with championship-level ambitions, this is the kind of hire that can ripple well beyond one office. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans Defensive Standout In Rutgers Win Might Surprise Wolverines Fans
Michigans defense steadied itself after halftime in the 28-21 win over Rutgers, and the turnaround showed up in the kind of details that usually get coaches talking. The Scarlet Knights were held in check after the break, with Michigan preventing a completed pass in the second half while the front seven did much of the heavy lifting against the run and in the pocket.
Pro Football Focus grades pointed to an unexpected trio at the top of the defensive report card, with linebacker Chase Taylor and defensive tackles Jonah La'ea and Enow Etta drawing the best marks for their work in run defense, tackling and pass rushing. Michigan finished with 14 total quarterback pressures, a sign the pressure was there even if some secondary issues in coverage still need cleaning up. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Escaped Rutgers But One Wolverines Problem Is Getting Harder To Ignore
Michigan got out of Rutgers with a win, but the way it got there only sharpened the concern around a run game that has not looked nearly as sturdy as it should. Against a defense that had been vulnerable on the ground, the Wolverines managed just 3.6 yards per carry, their least effective rushing outing against Rutgers this season, and the offense again had to work harder than expected to move the ball and finish drives.
The defense did enough to keep Rutgers from stringing together much through the air, but two explosive plays still flipped field position and kept the game uncomfortable deep into the afternoon. Add in the continuing issues with scoring and kicking, and the broader picture is hard to miss: Michigan keeps finding itself in tight games, and the margin for error is shrinking. [Read more 🡒]