The Michigan basketball team will begin its national title defense in a few weeks, but we got our first look at the Wolverines on Sunday in an exhibition game against Eastern Michigan.
It went like you would expect an exhibition game to go in October, yet, the Wolverines won with ease, defeating Eastern 87-62. Trey McKenney was the leading scorer for Michigan with 21 points.
Here are three takeaways from the Wolverines 25-point win.
FINAL: Michigan 87, EMU 62
— Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) October 11, 2026
Wolverines have another exhibition Friday night against Oregon State at home. pic.twitter.com/32ixfgrpJd
Trey McKenney has taken a step forward.
The preseason All-Big Ten selection was expected to be Michigan's best player this season and one of the best players in the Big Ten. In the first game, McKenney scored 21 points. He knocked down some 3-pointers, got to the bucket, and made some plays. It was a good start for McKenney and Cadeau. They each looked to be in midseason form.
Two freshman turned heads
Quinn Costello was billed as one of the best 3-point shooters in the 2026 recruiting class. He scored in double figures in his Michigan basketball debut, and the McDonald's All-American made multiple shots from beyond the arc coming off the bench.
Michigan over Eastern Michigan 87-62.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) October 11, 2026
Always take these exhibition games with a grain of salt, but have seen enough from two of the Wolverines' freshmen --- Quinn Costello and Joseph Hartman --- today and overseas to know that they'll be capable rotation pieces in 2026-27.
Joseph Hartman, the four-star freshman guard, has also played well. Jon Rothstein, the CBS college basketball analyst, said he has seen enough from both to believe they will contribute in a big way. Both will have to play more than expected due to the Brandon McCoy injury.
Costello made four 3-pointers, finishing with 16 points. Hartman added 10. He also made two treys. The tandem went 6-for-10 from deep. It remains to be seen how effective they will be in the Big Ten, but it appears as though the Wolverines hit on two freshmen coming out of the gate.
Moustapha Thiam looks the part
The 7-foot-2 transfer portal addition only made two field goals in 25 minutes of action, but he earned nine free throw attempts (making 7). Thiam grabbed five rebounds, dished out three assists, and provided the rim protection Michigan needs.
EC and Mou got straight to work 😤 https://t.co/JXJzIfiXQD pic.twitter.com/YhYeCEBOS7
— Michigan Men's Basketball (@umichbball) October 11, 2026
Thiam isn't Aday Mara, at least on the defensive end. He's a better offensive player, though. Jalen Reed also got into the game for 13 minutes. That's a postive.
Still, if Thiam could develop into an All-Big Ten caliber center like Mara did last season, that's the path to Michigan repeating as Big Ten champs and making a deep run in the NCAA tournament.
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