No. 10 Houston didn’t just beat No.
16 Michigan on Sunday. It controlled the game with the kind of composure that turns a close, physical battle into an 83-66 win.
Michigan came in carrying the expectation that comes with a championship pedigree, but Houston played like the more disciplined team from the opening minutes and never really let go of that edge. The Cougars answered the Wolverines’ physical style with sharp shooting, steady execution and a pace that kept Michigan off balance.
The tone was set early. Houston made Michigan work deep into the shot clock and forced uncomfortable looks, even pushing the Wolverines’ big men into contested three-point attempts. After those misses, the Cougars turned up the tempo and cashed in on the other end, finding clean looks from behind the arc and in the lane to open up a nine-point cushion.
Michigan’s problems multiplied quickly. Four fouls in the first three minutes handed Houston easy chances at the line, and the Wolverines also lagged on the glass, giving the Cougars extra possessions. Still, Michigan managed to fight back by leaning into its physicality, drawing free throws and creating turnovers before briefly grabbing a 29-28 lead midway through the first half.
Houston answered with patience. With 1:30 left before halftime, the Cougars moved the ball around the perimeter until Delrecco Gillespie got a clean look and buried a three to push the margin to six.
The second half brought more of the same for Michigan. The fouls kept piling up around the rim, and Houston kept making the Wolverines pay.
In just eight minutes, Michigan was whistled for eight fouls, and the Cougars kept converting those mistakes into efficient trips down the floor. While Michigan scrambled to recover, Houston kept finding high-percentage chances before the defense could get set.
Up 13 nine minutes into the second half, Houston delivered another burst. Deadan Thomas Jr. picked off an errant pass, took it right at senior guard Elliot Cadeau and finished through contact for an and-1. On the next possession, Thomas fed Mercy Miller on a cut for a two-hand dunk that stretched the lead to a game-high 16.
Michigan still had some fight left. Using junior center Moustapha Thiam as a focal point, the Wolverines kept getting to the line and moved the ball well, even if the three-pointer never really cooperated. A pair of open shots from freshman forward Quinn Costello helped trim the deficit to nine with five minutes remaining.
But Houston never blinked. The Cougars kept slicing through Michigan’s full-court trap and finished with easy baskets at every level. Once the offense settled in, the result was never in doubt.
Michigan showed enough toughness to hang around, but Houston’s poise and discipline made the difference against the reigning national champions.
In Other News...
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The wider speculation only adds another layer, because there is also chatter about NFL-level options such as Brian Daboll or Nick Sirianni, even if that remains purely hypothetical for now. For a fan base that has grown used to dissecting every staff move, the real intrigue is less about the exact name and more about whether Michigan chooses continuity, experience or a bigger swing if the job opens up. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Still Has A Quarterback Problem It Can't Afford
Michigan football is keeping the quarterback picture cloudy for another week. Kyle Whittingham said at his Monday press conference that the Wolverines will not announce a starter for the upcoming game, a sign that the position remains unsettled as the offense works through a rough stretch marked by turnovers and too few scoring chances.
Whittingham still struck a confident note about Michigans overall potential, even while acknowledging the offensive issues that have dragged down recent results. He did not suggest any coaching changes are coming soon, which leaves the focus on whether the Wolverines can clean up the quarterback situation before it costs them another game. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Already Has One Early Problem Fans Wont Ignore
Michigans first serious test of the preseason offered a quick reminder that exhibition games can still reveal real problems. Against No. 10 Houston, the No. 16 Wolverines had trouble holding up inside and on the glass, areas that matter even more when the competition tightens and the margin for error shrinks. Key frontcourt pieces like Moustapha Thiam and J.P. Estrella were limited offensively, and Michigan never consistently found a rhythm against a Cougars team that controlled the paint from the start.
Houstons edge was reflected in the numbers, as Michigan was outrebounded 42 to 30 and managed just nine made 3-pointers in 33 attempts. Dedan Thomas Jr. led the way with 25 points, while the Wolverines were left sorting through an early reminder that shot-making alone may not be enough if the interior play does not come around. For a team with Big Ten expectations, the bigger concern may be whether this was just one rough night or the first sign of a bigger issue. [Read more 🡒]