Michigan’s defense will look much different this year.
Last year, the Michigan basketball players set a goal before the season started to become the best defensive team in the country. By the end of the season, the Wolverines became the best team in the country and cut down the nets after winning the NCAA national title.
But with Aday Mara, Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr. all becoming NBA Lottery Picks, Michigan’s devastating lockdown front line is long gone, leaving new head coach Mike Boynton Jr. with a major challenge.
And that was very evident for Michigan Friday night, when the Wolverines held off Oregon State 98-93 and moved to 2-0 on their exhibition schedule.
“I don’t think this team will be the dominant, forceful defensive team that last year’s (team) was,” said Boynton after the game. “We just don’t have the depth of rim force that we did last year.
“So, this team will have to find a way to be effective defensively by being probably more disruptive from a perimeter standpoint. We think we can be that.”
On Sunday, Michigan beat Eastern Michigan 87-62 but gave up 44 points in the paint. That number was trimmed down significantly against Oregon State, with the Beavers scoring just 32 inside.
However, Oregon State canned 10 3-point shots, good for 35.7 percent, leaving Michigan with a whole different challenge along the perimeter.
Boynton pointed to senior guard Elliott Cadeau’s first-half foul trouble as a key to Michigan’s perimeter defensive struggles against Oregon State. He also looks for Roddy Gayle Jr., who was a key wing player and defender on the national title team, to join the team and play for a fifth-year next week.
Gayle played in the NBA summer league with the Detroit Pistons — making him ineligible — but a New York judge granted Gayle a preliminary injunction clearing him to play.
In an unrelated case, Columbia transfer guard Kenny Noland was also issued a preliminary injunction clearing him to play for the Wolverines.
“Hopefully, we will get Roddy here soon and he’ll be able to bring some of that (defense prowess),” Boynton said. “I think this team can be a really good defensive team. But we have to keep reminding ourselves that last year’s team was fairly historic and dominant the way they played. I know it is natural (to compare), but it will look a little bit different.”
Michigan’s defense forced 17 Oregon State turnovers and turned them into 31 points, an improvement from the Eastern Michigan game where the Wolverines forced 21 turnovers but were only able to muster 21 points from the spoils.
Michigan was led by Cadeau with 27 points, eight assists and two steals. Junior transfer center Moustapha Thiam scored 19 while hauling down 10 rebounds – nine off the defensive glass – and dishing out five assists.
One Thiam assist, a behind-the-back interior bounce pass to Trey McKinney for an easy layup, was very reminiscent of Chris Webber’s passing from Michigan’s Fab Five days.
McKinney finished with 18 points while canning two 3-point shots and Quinn Costello knocked down two 3-pointers on his way to 10 points for Michigan.
Oregon State was led by DeShawn Gory with 20 points and Legen Smiley with 17 while Josiah Lake II and Chris Johnson both added 13.
Michigan led at the half 45-42 after holding a 13-point lead with 4:06 remaining. The Wolverines closed out the win, outscoring the Beavers 6-3 in the final minute of the game after holding a slim 92-90 lead.
Michigan will finish its preseason slate Sunday at The Battleground 2k26 in Grand Rapids when they face Houston at 1 p.m. It will open the regular season Nov. 2, hosting Oakland at 6 p.m.
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