Michigan Wolverines news: Season opener on Peacock, key transfer portal updates, and more

In our latest Michigan Wolverines roundup, Michigan football will open the 2023 season on Peacock, plus the latest on Michigan basketball and transfer portal targets, and more. 

If you’re a Michigan football fan, you’d better sign up for the NBC streaming service Peacock, because that’s where the first game of the 2023 season will be broadcast.

We knew eventually this day was going to come, but this will be the first time since the mid-1990s that Michigan football won’t be playing a game on television. It’s weird and I don’t like it, but more Michigan Wolverines sporting events will probably be shown on the service.

I expect Michigan basketball games to start being shown on Peacock at some point too, although the Big Ten Plus streaming service was also launched last year (it was equally annoying).

Michigan football will also play UNLV on CBS at 3:30 PM EST in Week 2 of the college football season, as well as a night game against Bowling Green on BTN in Week 3.

That’s in addition to a few other games we already knew about, such as the Michigan Wolverines traveling to Penn State for a Big Noon Kickoff. I’m betting we’ll see Michigan football and Michigan State showcased in a Big Noon Kickoff too, but that’s just my own prediction.

At any rate, sign up for Peacock, at least for a week, otherwise, you won’t see the Michigan Wolverines take on East Carolina in Week 1.

Michigan basketball transfer targets withdraw from NBA draft

Olivier Nkamhoua withdrew his name from the NBA draft on Wednesday, which felt like a formality after he took visits to Kansas State and West Virginia over the weekend. Michigan basketball is among five teams still in the mix as Baylor and Memphis are involved too.

Nkamhoua is expected to visit the Michigan Wolverines this week and we’ll see if Michigan basketball is able to seal the deal with a commitment it desperately needs.

We have talked about Nkamhoua a ton in recent weeks. That’s because there aren’t many fours in the transfer portal that would fill the need for Michigan as he would. Nkamhoua is the top-ranked power forward in the portal via On3.com. He’s a solid defender and scorer and would be a big upgrade for the Michigan Wolverines in 2023-24.

Michigan basketball has also been in contact with transfer guard Zyon Pullin, who averaged 18 points a game for UC Riverside last season. He also announced he’s coming back to college and the Wolverines are among his top five along with Florida, Gonzaga, LSU, and Xavier.

Add the combo of Pullin and Nkamhoua, and suddenly, this Michigan basketball team looks like one capable of making the NCAA tournament. Without them, the Wolverines could be left scrambling for whatever is left in the portal.

Duncan Robinson opens the NBA finals

In other Michigan Wolverines news, Duncan Robinson and the Heat will open the NBA Finals on the road against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday.

Robinson played a key role in the East Finals and averaged just under 12 points per game in 18 minutes for the Heat. He also made 46 percent of his 3-pointers and if Miami is going to have a shot at upsetting the Nuggets, Robinson and everyone will need to be firing on all cylinders.

This will be the second NBA finals appearance for Robinson, who also helped Michigan basketball reach the Final Four back in 2018.