Roddy Gayle Jr. embraces veteran role for revamped Michigan

Caught up in the pandemonium that is recruiting or losing a double-digit scorer to a conference rival, junior guard Roddy Gayle Jr.’s worth to a new-look Michigan basketball program is more than a simple recruiting ‘gotcha.’

While, yes, flipping the would-be second-highest leading scorer from Ohio State to the Wolverines likely brought a smirk across the Maize and Blue faithful, Gayle’s presence on a new-look Michigan group marks an important distinguishing factor. Gayle occupies both an enticing recruiting win as a Buckeye turned Blue and as the lone newcomer on the team who has played big-time Big Ten minutes.

“Just trying to let them understand that,” Gayle said of teaching his new teammates on the ways of the Big Ten on the Defend the Block Podcast Tuesday. “This is a physical league. There’s no walk over teams. You can’t expect to get an easy win any night. Any team is more than capable of being able to battle and fight every night.”