Michigan Men’s Hoops Set to Close 2025 Strong with Kids Day Clash vs. La Salle
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The holidays are coming early for Michigan basketball fans. Crisler Center is set to host a full day of Maize & Blue action this Sunday, Dec. 21, with both the men’s and women’s teams taking the floor in a festive doubleheader that blends high-level hoops with family-friendly fun.
The No. 2-ranked Michigan men’s basketball team (10-0, 2-0 Big Ten) will look to stay perfect as it welcomes La Salle for a 4 p.m. tipoff in its final game of the 2025 calendar year. The matchup marks Kids Day at Crisler - a Wolverine Kids Club event packed with in-game promotions, bonus loyalty points, and a youth scrimmage at halftime. It’s the kind of atmosphere that reminds you how much college basketball can mean to a community.
Before the men take the court, the sixth-ranked Michigan women’s team opens the day at noon against Oakland in a holiday-themed showdown of its own. The first 750 fans through the doors will receive a free set of coasters - a nice little bonus to go with what promises to be an exciting day of basketball.
A Rare Meeting with La Salle
Michigan and La Salle haven’t crossed paths in nearly 50 years. Their only previous meeting came back in 1975 at the Las Vegas Holiday Classic, where the then-No.
16 Wolverines rolled to an 86-71 win. That Michigan squad went on to make a run all the way to the national championship game, only to fall to an undefeated Indiana team that remains one of the greatest in college basketball history.
While this year’s team isn’t looking back too much, it’s hard not to notice some parallels. At 10-0, Michigan is off to one of its best starts in program history - just the sixth time the Wolverines have opened a season with ten straight wins.
The last time they did it? That 2020-21 campaign that ended with a Big Ten title and an Elite Eight appearance.
Offensive Firepower on Full Display
What’s fueling this hot start? In a word: offense.
Michigan is scoring in bunches, averaging 94.7 points per game - tops in the Big Ten and sixth nationally. The Wolverines have already hit the century mark five times this season, including a 101-point showing at Maryland.
The frontcourt has been a force. Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr., and Aday Mara are combining for nearly 40 points per game, giving Michigan a physical, skilled trio that can score inside, rebound, and protect the rim.
Mara, in particular, has been a defensive anchor - leading both the Big Ten and the team with 27 blocks (2.78 per game), while also pulling down a team-best 8.3 rebounds per contest. He’s recorded at least one block in every game and has had multiple blocks in eight of them.
Cadeau’s Command at the Point
Freshman point guard Elliot Cadeau is playing well beyond his years. He’s the engine behind Michigan’s ball movement, leading the team with 6.1 assists per game and helping the Wolverines lead the nation with 21.3 assists per contest. Cadeau has dished out 10 or more assists in two of his last five games, including a 12-point, 10-assist double-double at Maryland - the first point-assist double-double by a Wolverine in nearly four years.
Over that five-game stretch, Cadeau has racked up 37 assists to just nine turnovers - a sparkling 37:9 ratio that speaks to his poise and decision-making. He’s also been a consistent threat from beyond the arc, hitting at least one three-pointer in every game this season. After knocking down two more at Maryland, he now has 17 on the year.
Bench Boost from Roddy Gayle Jr.
Roddy Gayle Jr. has embraced his sixth-man role with the kind of veteran presence every contender needs. In just over 22 minutes per game, he’s averaging 10.8 points on a scorching 55.6% shooting clip. Add in 3.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and over a steal per game, and you’ve got a reliable, efficient contributor who gives Michigan a spark every time he checks in.
A Familiar Face on the Broadcast
Sunday’s matchup will air live on Peacock, with play-by-play from Paul Sunderland and analysis from former Wolverine Tim McCormick. While McCormick played his college ball at Michigan - helping the program to an NIT title in 1984 and earning MVP honors - he also has ties to La Salle, making this a bit of a full-circle moment.
McCormick went on to be a first-round NBA Draft pick in 1984 and spent eight seasons in the league before transitioning into a career as a broadcaster and player development consultant.
Final Tune-Up Before Big Ten Play Heats Up
As Michigan wraps up its non-conference slate, Sunday’s game offers one more opportunity to fine-tune before the grind of Big Ten play kicks into high gear. With a deep roster, balanced scoring, and a defense that’s starting to round into form, the Wolverines are positioning themselves as a legitimate contender - not just in the conference, but on the national stage.
And with the Crisler Center rocking for Kids Day and a double dose of top-10 hoops, Sunday is shaping up to be a celebration of everything Michigan basketball is building this season.