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Nothing But ‘Net – Week #06 – 11/09/2026 – It’s Going To Be A Long Season

The (#16) University of Michigan men’s basketball team played two games this past week, and they won one and lost one.  On Monday (11/02/2026), they beat Oakland 84-68 in Crisler Arena, then on Friday (11/062026), they lost to (#4) Connecticut 85-77 in TD Garden in Boston.  Michigan’s record is now 1-1.

What Happened?

Michigan did not look good in either game.  Sure, they beat a lesser opponent (Oakland) handily at home, but they struggled to put them away.  Against a superior opponent (UConn), they struggled just to keep from getting blown out.  It’s going to be a long season.  Last season is just a (very) pleasant memory; this season’s team is a mere shadow of last season’s team.  After two seasons of having a dominant forecourt, this team is completely helpless in the post.  They will go as far as their 3-point shooting will take them.  So far, they have not shot well from deep, and it cost them in the UConn game.

Game Flow

Last season, Michigan thrashed Oakland 121-78 to start the season, scoring a school-record 69 points in the 1st half.  This season, Michigan struggled mightily to even get a 10-point lead in the 1st half.  After a few lead changes early, Michigan pulled ahead for good, 19-18, at the 9:16 mark.  They finally got the lead up to 10 points (29-19) with 6:22 left in the half, and managed to push it up to 11 points (47-36) at halftime.  They led for the entire 2nd half, growing the lead as high as 16 points, but letting Oakland get within 6 points once.  They finally got the game in hand, 65-55, at the 8:18 mark, and never let Oakland get any closer than that.  Still, it was a pretty unimpressive win over a mid-major opponent at home.

Also last season, Michigan beat UConn 69-63 to end the season, winning the National Championship.  This season, UConn was obviously the better team, beating Michigan in every aspect of the game.  Michigan did lead once, 2-0, in the first 6 seconds, before UConn went ahead.  Michigan managed to tie the score, 7-7, at the 15:56 mark, before UConn pulled away for good.  UConn kept their lead in the 4-6 point range for most of the 1st half, with Michigan pulling to within 2 points (27-25) with 6:29 left.  UConn promptly got their lead back to the 4-6 range again, and led by 6 points (36-30) at the 2:12 mark.  That’s when Michigan let the game start to slip away.  The last 2:12 of the half were disastrous, with UConn pushing their lead to 13 points (43-30) at halftime.  They led for the entire 2nd half, pushing their lead as high as 18 points (52-34) at the 16:22 mark, and keeping the lead in the 14-16 point range.  They never let Michigan get any closer than 8 points, which was the final margin of victory.

Stats

The stats for the Oakland game were pretty bad:

  • Overall shooting – 31/71 = 43.7% (Poor)
  • 3-point shooting – 7/34 = 20.6% (Terrible)
  • Free throws – 15/20 = 75.0% (Very good)
  • Rebounds – Michigan lost 42-44
  • Turnovers – Michigan won 9-15

Michigan won this game because Oakland shot even worse overall: 20/63 = 31.7%

The stats for the UConn game were even worse:

  • Overall shooting – 26/63 = 41.3% (Poor)
  • 3-point shooting – 7/28 = 25.0% (Terrible)
  • Free throws – 18/23 = 78.3% (Very good)
  • Rebounds – Michigan won 35-33
  • Turnovers – Michigan lost 14-12

Michigan lost this game with miserable shooting.

Who Started?

The starters for the Oakland game were Elliot Cadeau, J.P. Estrella, Roddy Gayle Jr., Oscar Goodman, and Trey McKenney.  Moustapha Thiam is the regular starter at center, but he was sick with the flu, so Estrella played center, and Goodman started at power forward.  Michigan started their preferred starting lineup, with Thiam at center, in the UConn game.

Who Looked Good?

McKenney was the leading scorer for Michigan in both games, with 17 points vs. Oakland, and 22 points vs. UConn.  He shot reasonably well in both games: 5/12 overall, 3/6 from deep, 4/4 from the line in the Oakland game, and 8/18 overall, 4/9 from deep, 2/2 from the line in the UConn game.  The only downside: he was scoreless (0/7 overall, 0/3 from deep) in the crucial 1st half of the UConn game.  By the time he got going, Michigan was in a deep enough hole that they couldn’t dig their way out.

Gayle was tied with McKenney as the leading scorer for Michigan in the Oakland game, with 17 points,         and he scored 18 points vs. UConn.  He shot well in both games: 7/11 overall, 0/2 from deep, 3/4 from the line vs. Oakland, and 6/12 overall, 0/3 from deep, 6/6 from the line vs. UConn.  The combined 0/5 from deep is a little troubling.

Estrella hit double figures in both games, with 15 and 19 points.  He also had 12 and 9 rebounds, for a nice double-double in the Oakland game.  He was solid out there.

Cadeau was quiet in both games, with 7 and 8 points.  He did not shoot well in either game: 1/5 overall, 0/4 from deep, 5/6 from the line vs. Oakland, and 3/11 overall, 1/5 from deep, 1/3 from the line vs. UConn.  More poor 3-point shooting: a combined 1/9.

Quinn Costello came off the bench, and had a good game vs. Oakland (13 points) and a mediocre game vs. UConn (3 points).  He didn’t shoot very well: 5/12 overall, 3/10 from deep in the Oakland game, and 1/5 overall, 1/5 from deep, 0/2 from the line in the UConn game.

Who Looked Not-So-Good?

Thiam didn’t play in the Oakland game (flu), and he was almost worthless in the UConn game: 2 points on weak shooting: 1/3 overall.  He got his one basket in the first 6 seconds of the game, then did nothing in the other 15 minutes.  Perhaps he’s still weakened by his bout with the flu?

Goodman chipped in 6 points in the game he started (Oakland), but was scoreless off the bench vs. UConn.

Ricky Liburd scored 0 and 5 points off the bench.

Kenny Noland scored 3 and 0 points off the bench.

Jalen Reed scored 6 and 0 points off the bench.

Who Else Played?

Marcus Møller played the last 32 seconds of the Oakland game, and missed his only shot attempt, an ollie-oop.

Who Didn’t Play?

Joseph Hartman is injured (shoulder), and will be out for “at least 2 weeks”.

Malachi Brown was the only healthy scholarship player who didn’t play this week.

The two players on the Scout Team (Howard Eisley Jr. and Harrison Hochberg) didn’t play this week.

What Does It Mean?

Let’s face it: we got spoiled last season (and even the season before).  We expected to be able to hang with any opponent, and stand a fighting chance in the last 2 minutes.  That doesn’t look to be the case this season.  Michigan does not have the force underneath to hang with the big boys, like UConn, and they’ll have to use perimeter play to try to stay close.  When the 3-pointers aren’t falling they will probably fall behind, and they don’t have the depth to catch up.

It’s still early in the season, and Michigan will have lots of opportunities to take on the elite teams on their schedule.  They still have plenty of time to work things out, and they won’t always have sub-par 3-point shooting, which will make the games look very different.

Still, this loss will not help their tournament resume in March.  They need to beat a couple good teams in the non-conference schedule to show what they’re capable of.

This Week

This week, Michigan plays 2 games.  On Wednesday (11/11/2026, 7:00 p.m., FS1), they play Marquette, then on Sunday (11/15/2026, 2:00 p.m., B1G+), they play William & Mary.  Both games are in Crisler Arena.

Marquette is currently 2-0, but they were 12-20 (7-13 in Big East) last season.  They beat Xavier, Providence (twice), Creighton, Georgetown, and (#4) Connecticut, but they lost to Dayton, DePaul (twice), Seton Hall (twice), and Butler.  They lost in the 1st round of the Big East tournament, and didn’t play in a post-season tournament.  They don’t have any noteworthy players, but they do have some height: a 6’11” player and a 7’1” player.  This is a game that Michigan is expected to win, but they need to play a lot better than they have so far in any of their exhibition or regular season games.  They either need to have a hot night shooting from 3-point range, or they need to toughen up down low.

William & Mary is currently 1-0, but they were 20-12 (10-8 in CAA) last season.  They didn’t have any impressive wins, and they lost to Richmond, George Washington, Charleston, Monmouth, Drexel, Elon (twice), Campbell, and Hampton.  They lost in the 2nd round of their conference tournament, and they didn’t play in a post-season tournament.  They don’t have any noteworthy players, and they don’t have much height: a 6’10” player.  This is definitely a game that Michigan is supposed to win handily.  If they struggle to pull away from a team like William & Mary, they are looking at a long season.

Check back next week to find out what happened and why.

Go Blue!

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Michigan 6 Michigan State 15 – Game 9 Recap

GAME 9 PROJECTION vs. RESULTS

Final Score: 6-15, Michigan State by 9 over Michigan
SP+ Projection: Michigan by 17.1 (-26.1)
CD Projection: Michigan by 8 (-17)

FIVE FACTORS

GAME 9 RECAP vs. Michigan State

Problems at every offensive position. That’s on the coordinator and the head coach. They didn’t install a system that maximized their talent. They didn’t teach what they installed well enough to make it work. They didn’t adapt fast enough. They now look lost. There are plenty of numbers that rub salt into the wound. Michigan nearly got shut out by the 68th ranked SP+ defense, at home, in a rivalry game. That’s an unacceptable failure that players and fans alike do not deserve.

Defensively, this is another game where a mediocre performance by the defense slides under the radar because they are light years ahead of the offense. However, what if I had told Jay Hill that they would give up 58 yards rushing in the 3rd quarter alone? They allowed another 10+ minute drive in a game that the offense needed life support. The defense is capable of playing championship level football, but we still don’t see it consistently. I would keep the coordinator, the scheme, and all the players. But they are not blameless in this season, or in this game.

Speaking of not blameless, another missed FG set the tone for this game.

Kicking is hard, I am not going to pile on to very specific players. The performance and production is just not good enough for this program.

This problem didn’t start tonight, and it probably won’t end tonight. How did Michigan end up with this coaching staff? How has the previous era that culminated in the 2023 National Championship collapsed to being humiliated by a Sparty team for their first Big Ten win? That level of existential failure needs to be excised from the program. The biggest long term problem right now is: who is the leader that can and will put the program under the microscope and cast out everything and everyone who needs to go? We’ll see, hopefully sooner rather than later. Go Blue

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𝑳𝑶𝑶𝑲𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑩𝑨𝑪𝑲: 𝑴𝑰𝑪𝑯𝑰𝑮𝑨𝑵 𝑽𝑺. 𝑴𝑰𝑪𝑯𝑰𝑮𝑨𝑵 𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑻𝑬, 2021

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins Highlighting Key Rivalry Games
𝑾𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒆𝒓 𝑺𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒍𝒖𝒆

The fifth installment of the series examining the football rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State takes us back just five years, to 2021. Midway through the season, it was obvious that the Wolverines had recaptured their mojo. Coach Jim Harbaugh had recommitted to the running game, brought in a new strength coach and a new defensive coordinator, and returned the team to its roots. Life was good. 

But now the Wolverines were traveling to East Lansing, where the Spartans were experiencing their own renaissance, fueled primarily by running back Kenneth Walker III. Each team entered the game with a perfect record. The irresistible force was meeting the immovable object. 

Michigan got off to a lightning-quick start when Cade McNamara connected with freshman Andrel Anthony on a crossing route, and Anthony raced past everyone for a 93-yard touchdown, arguably the best play of his brief time with Michigan. Gradually, the Wolverines increased that lead to 30-14. You couldn’t blame Michigan fans if they were already celebrating. A Michigan defense can usually protect a sizable lead. 

But then, late in the fourth quarter, Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne threw a pass that looked like a prayer, and Jayden Reed came down with the ball just short of the goal line. Walker then pushed his way into the end zone for the score. Making matters worse, Michigan State went for two, and Thorne found Tre Mosley in the back of the zone, and the Spartans closed the gap to just eight points. In the fourth quarter, Walker found a hole in the middle of the Michigan defensive line and raced 58 yards for a touchdown. Just like clockwork, Thorne found Reed in the end zone again, and the game was suddenly tied at 30. 

Still, the Wolverines fought back. McNamara connected with Mike Sainristil for a big gain, but the drive stalled and the Wolverines settled for a Jake Moody field goal. The Wolverines were in good shape midway through the fourth quarter, but a fumble by J.J. McCarthy gave Michigan State possession deep in Wolverines’ territory. Michigan State knew what to do with that opportunity, and Walker raced 23 yards up the middle for the go-ahead score. With the rain hampering both offenses late in the game, the Wolverines had one final shot, but McNamara was intercepted by Charles Brantley, and Michigan State held on for a 37-33 win. 

Despite the loss, Michigan went on to accomplish great things in 2021. J.J. McCarthy? It’s fair to say that he redeemed himself after that loss. 

Thanks to the Big Ten Network and YouTube for the attached highlights of this game. As always, we own nothing and do not profit from this blog post, which is provided strictly for the benefit of readers. 

This and other great content can be found at newyorkwolverine.com

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𝑳𝑶𝑶𝑲𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑩𝑨𝑪𝑲: 𝑴𝑰𝑪𝑯𝑰𝑮𝑨𝑵 𝑽𝑺. 𝑴𝑰𝑪𝑯𝑰𝑮𝑨𝑵 𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑻𝑬, 1968

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins Highlighting Key Rivalry Games
𝑨 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑽𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝑴𝑺𝑼 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑩𝒖𝒎𝒑

The fourth installment of this series examining the football rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State takes us to 1968. The offseason had been rough for Michigan coach Bump Elliott, who endured intense criticism from alumni following a 4-6 season in 1967. Quietly, the Wolverines had assembled quite a roster for the 1968 campaign, but that did little to ease the criticism. 

Michigan entered the game against Michigan State with a 2-1 record. Making matters worse, the Spartans had defeated Michigan for three years in a row, and most pundits expected that streak to continue. It’s fair to say that Elliott was feeling some pressure before that game. 

But on one, glorious fall afternoon, the Michigan Wolverines gave outgoing coach Bump Elliott a day to remember, one that recalled times when Michigan was one of the elite powers of college football. For three hours on a Saturday in October, 1968, the Wolverines recalled the memories of previous years, and sent Bump out with a final victory over the Spartans. 

The game definitely had some drama. In the fourth quarter, Michigan State seized the lead when Charles Wedemeyer connected with Frank Foreman on a 2-point conversion to give the Spartans a 14-13 lead. The Michigan State defense was converging on Michigan quarterback Dennis Brown when Brown found tight end Jim Mandich along the Michigan sideline for the turning point of the game. Mandich made the catch and outraced everyone to the south end zone of Michigan Stadium for a 53-yard touchdown that put the Wolverines ahead to stay, as Michigan topped Michigan State, 28-14. 

Elliott chose to resign after the 1968 season. He’s remembered mostly for losing his final game to Ohio State, 50-14, but that’s not the most fair assessment of his tenure. In 1964, he led a Michigan squad that went 10-1, won the Big Ten championship and the Rose Bowl, and was just a failed 2-point conversion from a perfect season and a likely National Championship. That’s certainly worthy of note. 

Thanks to YouTube and YouTube poster College Football Historian for this highlight film of the game, which has no sound. As always, we own nothing, and this blog post is provided strictly for the enjoyment of readers. 

This and other great content can be found at newyorkwolverine.com

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𝑳𝑶𝑶𝑲𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑩𝑨𝑪𝑲: 𝑴𝑰𝑪𝑯𝑰𝑮𝑨𝑵 𝑽𝑺. 𝑴𝑰𝑪𝑯𝑰𝑮𝑨𝑵 𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑻𝑬, 2006

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins Highlighting Key Rivalry Games
V𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝑴𝒊𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒂𝒏 𝑫𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆

The third installment of this series examining the football rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State takes us to 2006. In a series that’s known for controversy, the only controversial play in the 2006 game served as little more than a footnote to the theme of the game. 

The play in question was a touchdown pass from Michigan quarterback Chad Henne to Adrian Arrington. In all honesty, it appeared that Arrington landed out of bounds before he hit the end zone, but anyone who watched the game would have been hard pressed to argue that play might have altered the game’s outcome. 

The game pitted the modern spread-option offense of Michigan State coach John L. Smith vs. the pro-style offense favored by Michigan coach Lloyd Carr. The Wolverines approached the game with a workman-line seriousness of purpose. They controlled the game by running Mike Hart behind a dominant offensive line that buckled their chin straps on every play and opened gaping holes with ease. The result was a game that played directly to Michigan’s strengths, as the Wolverines used a suffocating defense that limited Michigan State’s offensive threats. The Spartans were repeatedly forced to punt after three plays, while the Michigan offensive line made running easy for Hart. The beauty of the Wolverines’ approach was that it placed the Michigan State defense between a rock and a hard place. The Spartans could commit to stopping the run, which would leave receivers like Arrington, Mario Manningham and Steve Breaston running free in the secondary, or play a more cautious defense, which would provide minimal support to stopping Mike Hart. Virtually everything Michigan tried worked. Early in the second quarter, Manningham beat double coverage and Henne connected with him in the end zone to extend Michigan’s lead to 14-0. By halftime, the Wolverines led 17-0, and it was all over but the shouting. 

Michigan State fought back in the second half, with rushing touchdowns from running back Jehuu Caulcrick and quarterback Drew Stanton, but it was strictly a formality by that time. The Wolverines established their superiority early, and cruised to a 31-13 victory in the type of game that would put a smile on Bo Schembechler’s face. 

Thanks to YouTube, ESPN, Michigan Replay and YouTube poster College Football Historian for the attached broadcast of this game. As always, we own nothing, and this blog post is provided strictly for the enjoyment of readers. 

This and other great content can be found at newyorkwolverine.com