It was good to be back watching Michigan basketball again, after what has been a frustrating football season.
There were a few frustrating moments on Monday night in the season opener for both teams. Michigan didn't shoot the ball particularly well, but the Wolverines were stingy on defense in the second half of an 84-68 win over Oakland.
Here are four buckets (positives) and bricks (negatives) from the win.
Bucket: Quinn Costello's debut
The McDonald's All-American looked the part in his Michigan basketball debut. In 20 minutes, Costello scored 13 points. He was 3-for-10 from 3-point range and 5-for-12 overall.
Costello saw time at the three and the four for Michigan. He didn't look out of place defensively, although I'd like a longer look. He did pull down four rebounds, one on the offensive end, and blocked a shot.
Bucket: Roddy Gayle's offense
As a sophomore, Gayle averaged 13 points per game for Ohio State. He was a playmaker and didn't even shoot well from 3-point range that season.
With Yaxel Lendeborg and others graduating from last season's team, Gayle was more willing to showcase his offense. The fifth-year player took the second-most shots on the team (11) and tied for the lead in points (17) with seven field goals (7-for-9 on 2-pointers). He didn't make a 3-pointer, but attacked the basket constantly and threw down a dunk before the half.
Michigan is going to need that kind of production from Gayle if this team is going to reach its ceiling, so that was good to see.
Bucket: Defense was mostly solid
Moustapha Thiam, the 7-foot-2 rim protector, missed the game due to Illness. Even so, the defense has a solid opening game.
Oakland shot 32 percent overall from the field. The Grizzlies made just 37 percent of their 2-point attempts and shot just 23 percent from 3-point range.
The biggest issue was allowing 30 free-throw attempts. Actually, there was another problem, but we are saving that for the bricks.
Bucket: J.P. Estrella
The transfer portal addition exceeded expectations. He scored 15 points, pulled down 12 rebounds, with five of them coming on the offensive end.
Estrella was an active defender, too. He blocked one shot. It feels like he will play the role of Morez Johnson -- not an elite shot blocker, but a solid rim protector all the same. He showed some capability of being able to switch ball screens, which has been a weapon the past two seasons.
Brick: The defensive rebounding
The Wolverines let Oakland rebound 46 percent of its missed shots. That's what kept the game closer than it needed to be, or at least one reason. The Grizzlies missed 43 shots and rebounded 21 of them.
You have to hope it's a fluke. Thiam will make a difference, and one game isn't enough of a sample to call it a concern, but it will be something to watch against UConn in the national title rematch on Friday.
Brick: 3-point shooting
Only three Wolverines made shots from beyond the arc. Trey McKenney matched Gayle's 17 points thanks to a 3-for-6 effort from deep. Costello was 3-for-10. Kenny Noland is the only other Wolverine who made a triple. Michigan was 7-of-34 overall (21 percent).
Oscar Goodman, who got the start for Thiam, was 0-for-5. Ricky Libuard was 0-for-4. Elliot Cadeau also had a 0-for-4 night. It's not something to be overly concerned about. It's one of the reasons Oakland was able to cover the spread.
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