Game 1: Cleveland State at Michigan Preview

The Dusty May era tips off tonight as Michigan hosts Cleveland State (8:00 p.m., BTN) at the Crisler Center. The Wolverines have had a pair of public exhibition games to ease their way into the season and give us an idea of what to expect on the floor, but the games that count start tonight.

Everything changes when the lights flip on opening night, and the journey through May’s first season begins.

More Preseason Coverage

• What I know and what I want to know about Michigan basketball in 2024-25
• UM Hoops Podcast
• Dusty 101: Deep dive into Dusty May’s coaching philosophy

Michigan opens the year against a pesky Cleveland State program that has been on the upswing over the last five years. The Vikings are re-tooling their roster this offseason after losing All-Horizon League performer Tristan Enaruna to the NBA G-League. They finished 7th in the Horizon League last year, and are picked to finish 7th in the Horizon League by seemingly everyone that counts: the official poll, Three Man Weave, and Blue Ribbon magazine.

Here’s everything you need to know about Cleveland State and what to expect from Michigan on opening night.

In this preview

1. The Vikings
2. Personnel
3. Keys
4. Bottom Line

Preview

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