Mike Boynton Jr. used his first official press conference as Michigan’s head coach to send a pretty clear message: the contract talk can wait, the roster is the real story, and the Wolverines’ identity is still taking shape.
Boynton Jr., who has made recent podcast appearances, was in front of the media for the first time on Tuesday and fielded questions about Michigan’s new-look team. One of the first topics was his deal, especially with Warde Manuel set to depart as Michigan’s Athletic Director after the calendar year. Manuel made the hire, and after Dusty May left for the Dallas Mavericks, he immediately put an interim tag on Boynton Jr. before the two sides settled on a two-year agreement with significant benchmarks tied to a possible second season.
Boynton Jr. didn’t sound interested in dwelling on any of that.
"I don't make anything of it," Boynton Jr. said of his contract. "I signed a contract that I read over, I felt comfortable with it.
And what I'm focused on is this team and the opportunity we have to try to build another championship-type of season. This job should have high expectations.
He also brushed off the idea that Manuel’s exit changes anything for the program in the short term.
"I don't think one has anything to do with the other, in all honesty," Boynton Jr. said of Manuel's departure. "We'll be in the middle of our season.
It's not like we're going to cancel games depending on who comes in or anything like that. It matters a lot more to the outside than it does to us on the inside."
That focus on the roster came through most clearly when he discussed Brandon McCoy Jr., a late addition to the recruiting class who committed live on TV during Michigan’s beatdown of Arizona in the Final Four. There had been some concern about McCoy Jr. sticking around after Dusty May left, but that never became an issue, and Boynton Jr. sounded bullish on what he can bring.
"I think Brandon's going to have a big role for us this year. I expect him to.
He's working really, really hard," said Boynton Jr. "He's probably different in terms of the collective skill and athleticism that he has, different than anybody we've had the last two years, to be honest.
Just the size. He's 6'6".
"He's got a 7-foot wingspan. He rebounds it as well as anybody that we've probably coached here other than Morez in the last two years.
But he's a guard, so it'll look different. He's really smart.
He's competitive. He's not selfish.
And he's a winner."
That kind of versatility matters for a Michigan team that has leaned into unselfish basketball under May, and the expectation is that won’t change under Boynton Jr. McCoy Jr. already had a reputation as a defender who can create his own shot, but Boynton Jr.’s comments added another layer, especially with the way he described McCoy Jr.’s rebounding and willingness to do the little things.
If McCoy Jr. settles into the role Michigan needs from him, the Wolverines could be in good shape. Even if he starts, he may not be asked to carry a massive load with two elite guards in the backcourt. The value could come in the details: defense, rebounding, and everything that helps the lineup function.
There was also encouraging news on the frontcourt depth chart. Jalen Reed, the LSU transfer, is still working his way back after back-to-back season-ending injuries, but Boynton Jr. said he is finally moving forward.
"Jalen Reed is going to go non-contact today for the first time since he's been here," Boynton Jr. said. "So that's a positive development for us.
And we hope because he's going to provide us some depth inside and certainly another experienced guy where we don't necessarily have a ton of experience. Guys who've played a lot of college basketball games, I saw those top four that we talked about earlier."
That matters because Michigan brought in three transfer big men this offseason, with J.P. Estrella and Moustapha Thiam as the headliners.
Reed is expected to be a major bench piece once he’s ready, but the timeline is still a question. The Wolverines are thin up front, and if Reed isn’t available early, someone else will have to step into that gap.
Incoming freshman Quinn Costello could be part of that answer. Boynton Jr. recently said Costello may have a bigger role than some expected, and that possibility looks more important now with Reed still ramping up. It could take weeks into the season before Reed is fully game-ready, so Michigan may need to patch things together early.
Boynton Jr. also addressed style of play, and he made it clear he isn’t locked into one rigid formula. When asked about big lineups, he said he’s aware that larger teams have had success recently, but he doesn’t see the game as permanently tilted in one direction.
"I don't know if I've really thought about it from that perspective," Boynton Jr. said of playing big lineups. "I'm aware that the bigger teams have been more successful recently.
But this thing cycles. But we have the potential to be big.
"We can still play a variety of ways. So we'll see again how this team evolves over the summer and into the fall. And then we'll put the best groupings of guys out there that we can to give us the best chance to win each night."
That leaves Michigan with some interesting possibilities. J.P.
Estrella and Moustapha Thiam are expected to start down low, and Boynton Jr. mentioned the possibility of using Brandon McCoy Jr. at the 3, which would give the Wolverines more of a three-guard look instead of a traditional forward on the wing. He also said earlier that each team develops its own personality when it comes to scheme.
For now, the picture is still coming into focus. Michigan is headed to Europe later for exhibition games, and those trips may reveal more about how Boynton Jr. wants this roster to function once the season starts.
In Other News...
Familiar Michigan Coach Is Staying In The Big Ten Spotlight
Biff Poggi is staying in the Big Ten spotlight, just in a different role than the one Michigan fans got used to. The Big Ten Network announced that the former Wolverines associate head coach will join its broadcasting team in 2026, adding another familiar voice to a lineup that will also feature other former players as game analysts.
Poggis path to the booth comes after a long coaching career that included recent stops at Michigan and Charlotte, and his next chapter keeps him close to the league that has long been part of his professional footprint. The move also follows a recent Michigan departure that made clear his coaching future in Ann Arbor had shifted, even as his presence around the conference is set to continue. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Has 3 Players Ready To Make The Media Look Wrong
Big Ten Media Days did not do much to lift Michigans profile, with projections slotting the Wolverines fifth in the league and USA Todays early All-Big Ten list giving them only one nod. Even so, there are still a few names on the roster who could force a rethink once the games start, especially if the people doing the voting end up remembering how much talent is still on hand in Ann Arbor.
Jordan Marshall is the most obvious candidate after showing real production in limited work last season, while Jyaire Hill has the kind of size and speed that can make a cornerback stand out quickly if the flashes turn into consistency. Rod Moore also belongs in the conversation, and his presence adds another layer to a Michigan defense that could end up looking much better than the preseason chatter suggests. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Is Suddenly In The Middle Of Another Massive Receiver Battle
Dakota Guerrants commitment to Oregon for the 2027 class gave the Ducks another major win on the recruiting trail, but it did not exactly close the book on his recruitment. The Harper Woods, Michigan, wideout is still viewed as one of the most coveted pass catchers in the country, and Oregon has built a loaded receiver group around him, continuing a run of five-star additions under Dan Lanning that has become hard to ignore.
For Michigan, the intrigue is obvious. Guerrant is the kind of in-state talent the Wolverines always want to keep home, and LSU is also expected to stay in the mix as he lines up multiple game-day visits. Even with Oregon holding the commitment, this looks more like a long recruiting fight than a finished decision, and the next round of visits could tell a lot about where the pressure is coming from. [Read more 🡒]