Michigan basketball has a handful of known commodities on the 2026-27 roster.
There's Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney at the guard spots; the former was last season's Final Four Most Outstanding Player, the latter hit the winning shot in the national championship game and both were All-Big Ten preseason picks. Roddy Gayle Jr., meanwhile, returns as the expected starting wing, a veteran presence with nearly 150 games of college experience.
In the front court, there's J.P. Estrella, who arrives from Tennessee having played in three Elite 8s, and Moustapha Thiam, an All-Big 12 player last season for Cincinnati. Those five are the projected starting lineup heading into next month's season opener against Oakland on Nov. 2 (6 p.m., Big Ten Network).
But one of U-M's greatest strengths last season was its bench. New coach Mike Boynton Jr. is confident this season's second unit can be a plus, as well.
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"I think this team does have a good level of depth," he said Thursday, Oct. 22, at the team's media day. "As I go in today, I would imagine Roddy will slide into that starting wing spot with Elliot and Trey, with JP and Mustapha. Then you're looking at Ricky [Liburd], Quinn [Costello] and Oscar [Goodman] probably in that next group with Joseph [Hartmann] out [with a shoulder injury].
"Jalen Reed certainly going to be a part of what we do. So I feel good. I mean, that's where you want to be."
Costello is the real name to know in the second group, as he seeks to assume McKenny's role as the first sub off the bench. Costello is a sharpshooter, a classic stretch four that U-M can also use on the wing − and someone Cadeau cited earlier this month as "for sure" an NBA player in the making.
Costello, a McDonald's All-American out of the Boston area, scored 16 points (including four 3-pointers) in Michigan's exhibition opener against Eastern Michigan, then added 10 in the team's win over Oregon State on Oct. 16. Still, the 6-foot-10 forward is only 220 pounds – not big enough to play down low, but his length makes it hard to move nimbly on the perimeter.
It's all a work in progress, particularly in isolation situations. Oregon State coach Justin Joyner – who was a U-M assistant last season – had his team attack that, which Boynton said was a great lesson for him and the team.
"The truth is, if we can get him to be even average defensively, [that's a win]," Boynton said. "He gives us tremendous, tremendous leverage on the offensive end. So we got to find ways to keep them on the court.
Elsewhere, Reed has been a pleasant surprise. Michigan added him as frontcourt depth despite ACL and Achilles injuries for the fifth-year senior the past two seasons. At one point, there was a possibility he'd sit out this season and factor in next year.
Instead, he's ahead of schedule in his return and is not on any minutes restriction. He's currently the third-string center, but will also be used as a backup four. Michigan feels comfortable running offense through him in certain situations, which is perhaps as notable as any behind-the-scenes development this offseason
"He's sort of a piece we can move around that we weren't expecting," Boynton said. "He easily slides to the four because he can move well, and you saw in the game he's a very good passer and playmaker off the bounce.
"Like the other day when Elliot and Trey were both in foul trouble, we talked about playing through him as kind of our initiator. He's really that intelligent that he can handle that."
Liburd and Goodman are the X-factors. They've played well in practice in recent years, but U-M will need them to step up this season. On Thursday, Liburd came up with back-to-back steals in one drill while fighting through screens, and Goodman blew by a defender for an easy layup in five-on-five work.
They were among the list of potential leaders Boynton identified Thursday.
"Those two are guys who know what we're about," he said. "When they see things necessarily not going as well, they need to be comfortable [speaking up]."
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And then there's Kenny Noland, a backup point guard and transfer from Columbia after a court ruling giving him a fifth season. Boynton said the team scouted perhaps two dozen potential options, but Noland was the one the staff felt fit a "specific" role.
The minutes may not be there night to night, a new challenge for the Ivy League second-leading scorer last season. But he's learning the speed and physicality of the Power Four level. He's also already buying into the mantra that led to U-M winning the national championship.
"Just trying to, like, win and be the star in my role as best I can," he said. "Anyone on any given day can produce. So I feel like it's gonna be that kind of team where, each day, it's gonna be someone else's night."
Tony Garcia is the Michigan beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
Next up: Cougars
Matchup: No. 20 Michigan (37-3 in 2025-26) vs. No. 8 Houston (30-7 in 2025-26); exhibition finale, The Battleground 2k26.
Tipoff: 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25; Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids.
TV/radio: B1G+; WCSX (94.7).
Regular-season opener: vs. Oakland; 6 p.m. Nov. 2; Big Ten Network.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan basketball's depth key to hopes for NCAA tournament repeat