2024-25 Season

Michigan excited to face high-major competition in Wake Forest

In its first tastes of action this season, Michigan hasn’t had too much trouble. Sure, the Wolverines went down to the wire in their second exhibition game against Toledo, but they were still largely in command for the vast majority of that game. And though Oakland, Toledo and Cleveland State are all solid programs with recent success, none of them are high-major programs on the same level as Michigan.

The same can’t be said of Wake Forest, the Wolverines’ next opponent. The Demon Deacons were picked preseason to finish third in the ACC, behind only perennial powers Duke and North Carolina. They narrowly missed the NCAA Tournament last season, but they return over half of their minutes this year, including star guard Hunter Sallis.

While Sunday’s contest isn’t a true road game for Michigan — being played in Greensboro, approximately 40 minutes from Wake Forest’s campus — it will give the Wolverines their first taste of a hostile crowd. Between the chance to go travel to a new environment and get a taste of high-major basketball, Michigan is excited for the opportunity.

“I’m really excited,” sophomore forward Sam Walters said Friday. “They got some really good players, some of my former teammates with them as well. So I’m really excited to play, play against guys that I know and a really good team. I think it’s gonna be a good test for us, especially early in the season to play a good team in their home state.”

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