Michigan got a clear early-season reality check Friday night in Boston.
In a rematch of the national title game, UConn handled the Wolverines 85-77 at TD Garden, and the gap between the two teams showed up in all the places that matter: physicality, shot quality and execution. Michigan battled back after falling behind by 13 at halftime and by as many as 18 in the second half, but the Huskies kept answering every push.
The biggest swing came from the way UConn controlled the game on both ends. The Huskies were the more physical team, and Michigan never really found a consistent offensive rhythm against Dan Hurley’s defense. UConn also turned Michigan’s mistakes into points, scoring 16 off turnovers while the Wolverines finished with 14 giveaways.
That pressure showed up early for Michigan’s backcourt. Elliot Cadeau had a mixed night and, while he was one of the Wolverines’ better players in the first half, he also forced several passes that turned into turnovers. Michigan had 11 turnovers before halftime alone, and that made it even harder to capitalize when UConn got into foul trouble.
Trey McKenney’s night followed a similar arc. The sophomore guard, who came back to Michigan with expectations of becoming the team’s star, looked out of sorts early.
He missed all seven of his first-half shots and also missed both technical free throws. But after the break, he finally started to settle in.
A layup and a three-pointer helped get him going, and he became the main reason Michigan was able to trim the deficit and make things interesting again. McKenney finished with 22 points, and the second half at least gave the Wolverines something to build on with him moving forward.
Still, the larger problem was hard to ignore. Michigan shot just 25% from three against UConn, and that’s been a recurring issue.
The Wolverines hit 25% from deep against Oregon State in exhibition play, 27% against Houston, and then 20% against Oakland before this game. Mike Boynton Jr. has repeatedly said Michigan will lean on its three-point shooting this season, but that plan only works if the shots start falling.
If the Wolverines keep living below 30% from beyond the arc, Boynton Jr. may have to rethink how often they launch from deep.
Michigan did show some fight, and that mattered. The Wolverines could have folded after falling into a big hole, but they kept competing and made UConn work for the final margin. Even so, the Huskies were the better team from start to finish, and this game gave Michigan a blunt look at where it stands right now.
It was a useful test, even if it was a disappointing one. The Wolverines still have plenty to clean up if they want to compete at a high level.
In Other News...
UConn Passed An Early Test In A Game That Got Heated
UConn got an early-season measuring stick at TD Garden and handled it with enough poise to leave with an 85-77 win over Michigan in the Naismith Hall of Fame Series. The Huskies had balanced scoring and a steady edge for much of the night, with Braylon Mullins pouring in 23 points and Silas Demary Jr. adding 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists as UConn kept control even as the game tightened.
The tone shifted at times as the matchup turned chippy, with technical fouls and foul trouble adding some edge to a game that already carried plenty of weight for both programs. Michigan made a second-half push and briefly threatened to turn it into a finish under pressure, but UConn never fully lost its grip, a useful sign for a team still sorting out its identity in the opening stretch of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Silas Demary Jr. Just Changed How UConn Fans See Michigan
UConns 85-77 win over Michigan at TD Garden had the kind of feel that can linger beyond one November night, especially with Silas Demary Jr. giving the Huskies a steady, composed performance in a game that mattered for more than just the box score. He scored 21 points and helped UConn build a strong halftime cushion, the sort of early control that let the Huskies dictate the tone before Michigan could fully settle in.
Braylon Mullins led UConn with 23 points, and even after Michigan made a late push, the Huskies had enough to hold firm. The bigger takeaway for UConn fans may be how this matchup looked from here, because the result offered a fresh lens on a program that had given them plenty of reasons to stay alert, and this one added a new wrinkle to that conversation. [Read more 🡒]
UConn Just Sent An Early Message Against Michigan
No. 4 UConns trip to the Naismith Hall of Fame Series at TD Garden offered an early-season measuring stick, and the Huskies handled it with the sort of edge that tends to travel. Against No. 16 Michigan, UConn stayed in front for the duration and walked away with an 85-77 win, getting a strong all-around effort from Silas Demary Jr. and a big scoring night from Braylon Mullins.
The game had the feel of a November heavyweight bout, with foul trouble and a few heated stretches adding some bite to the matchup. UConn never let Michigan fully settle in, and the Huskies ability to keep control even as the game got choppy is the kind of detail that will matter as the schedule gets tougher and the stakes climb. [Read more 🡒]