With the regular season just over a week away, the defending national champion Michigan Wolverines held their annual media day and open practice at the Crisler Center on Thursday. Here are six takeaways from the event.
Roddy Gayle Jr. is cleared and available to play
The biggest storyline of the offseason has undoubtedly been the eligibility ruling and potential return of guard Roddy Gayle Jr. Well, for now at least, Gayle is cleared and expected to slide into the starting lineup.
Michigan head coach Mike Boynton Jr. said Gayle brings “invaluable experience” to the team after being a key part of the program’s ascension throughout the last two years. Not only does he add experience, Gayle also brings elite perimeter defense, a scoring punch, and versatility.
Boynton wants this team to ‘make its own mark’
Boynton has made it clear he wants this team to move on from the national championship season and try to “make its own mark.” Boynton doesn’t want the team to “be burdened by last year’s expectations because they need to have a chance to evolve themselves.”
The current team will be compared to last year at times, but Boynton is driving home the mentality that in order to reach their full potential this year, last season has to be a thing of the past.
The back court should be one of the best in the nation
It won’t surprise anyone, but Michigan’s back court should be one of the best in the nation, as Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney take on a bigger scoring load and leadership role than last year. Cadeau said he’s ready to score more when the team needs it, but his playmaking is what makes him “special” and he wants to “prioritize” getting teammates involved. Meanwhile, McKenney feels more “calm and comfortable” than a year ago. Expect a big season for both guards.
Moustapha Thiam, JP Estrella form intriguing frontcourt
There’s no doubt Michigan’s front court will take a step back after losing three NBA Draft lottery picks from a season ago. However, it might not be as big of a drop off as many originally thought.
The Wolverines will lean on forward JP Estrella and center Moustapha Thiam, and both transfers have looked the part in the preseason. Estrella plays with an extremely high-motor and is an exceptional rebounder, while Thiam is a premier defender with a very impressive offensive skillset.
The coaching staff will continue to be elite
Michigan had arguably the best coaching staff in the country a season ago, and even with former head coach Dusty May and assistant coach Justin Joyner moving on, the current coaching staff isn’t far off. With the offseason addition of assistant coaches Dylan Murphy and Mike Martin, Michigan will be just fine. Boynton has praised Murphy and Martin for their offensive “creativity” and ability to draw up offensive sets, and Murphy told me this staff “doesn’t have many weaknesses.”
The schedule is difficult, but it will pay off in the long run
Michigan could suffer a few setbacks as it faces a very difficult non-conference schedule, but it will pay off in the long run by preparing the team for the Big Ten and NCAA Tournament. When asked about the schedule difficulty, McKenny said last year’s non-conference slate “did wonders” for getting the team ready for Big Ten play. Murphy said “if you want to be the best, then you have to beat the best.” It’s as simple as that. Michigan wants to be the best and the schedule reflects it.