One thing about being a defending national champion: You’re going to get everyone’s best shot, even if your roster isn’t the same and your coach is different.
If No. 20 Michigan didn’t know it before its 85-77 loss against No. 4 UConn last Friday in Boston, it surely has realized it now. And in their first game since their first loss, the Wolverines won’t get to take it easy.
On Wednesday night in Ann Arbor, Mich., they’ll host a Marquette team that’s off to a fast start in its effort to bounce back from a rare losing season.
Michigan (1-1) has experienced problems making 3-point shots so far, hitting only 22.6%. That comes on the heels of shooting worse than 30% in exhibition games against Oregon State and Houston.
First-year coach Mike Boynton Jr. said his team will lean on 3-pointers this season. With capable shooters like Trey McKenney, Roddy Gayle Jr. and Elliot Cadeau in the lineup, a progression to the mean should occur at some point.
But Boynton also says that the Wolverines must create their own identity.
“I would hope we’re mature enough, particularly for the new guys, to understand that we’ve got to create our own legacy,” he said. “And that includes me. You know, I’m not the defending national championship head coach, either. I was an assistant coach on that team.”
Dusty May parlayed that national title after a Final Four trip at upstart Florida Atlantic in 2023 into the head coaching job with the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. May’s former team struggled with turnovers Friday night, committing 11 in the first half and 14 for the game against the Huskies.
That will be one thing to watch on Wednesday night. Marquette coach Shaka Smart’s teams come off the bus in a full-court press, contesting nearly every pass and dribble. And as 25 assists against only three turnovers during a 93-32 rout of Detroit Mercy on Friday demonstrated, the Golden Eagles might be more than a system team.
“When you get into a game like this, it’s easy to get selfish or for the ball to stick, but when you pass like this, you’re going to win a lot of games,” Smart said. “And our rebounding set a tone for this game.”
While Marquette (2-0) hasn’t played anyone close to the caliber of Michigan, it boasts a 97-62 rebounding advantage through two games. The Golden Eagles grabbed a combined 37 offensive rebounds in their first two games while connecting on 48.2% of their field-goal attempts, showing more offensive acuity than last season’s team did when it finished a surprising 12-20.
Four players are scoring in double figures, led by Royce Parham at 14.0 points per game. Joshua Clark is averaging 13.0 points and 7.5 rebounds off the bench, while Alex Egbuonu (10.5) and Sananda Fru (10.0) have also been steady contributors.
The Wolverines’ attack is mostly guard-oriented, a contrast to the heavy scoring the Golden Eagles have received from the frontcourt. McKenney leads Michigan with 19.5 points per game and Gayle is hitting for 17.5. JP Estrella adds 17.0 points and 10.5 rebounds.
