Moustapha Thiam flashes inside-out game, playmaking in exhibition win over Oregon State

After sporting the country’s most dominant frontcourt last year, Michigan was left to deal with a ton of lost production this offseason after losing three first-round draft picks. To address this, the Wolverines brought in one of the top-rated centers in the transfer portal — Moustapha Thiam. 

Thiam dominated in Friday’s exhibition win over Oregon State, finishing with 19 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block in 31 minutes.

Thiam was productive last season for Cincinnati, averaging 12.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, but he shared the frontcourt with another dominant forward, Baba Miller.

This year, however, Thiam is the go-to big man for the Wolverines. Helping matters, he has two talented guards to play off of: Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney. 

“I’ve played with a lot of great guards, but I don’t think I’ve played with guys like Elliot and Trey,” Thiam said. “The three of us, I think we’re important pieces on this team. And the more we get comfortable being with each other and playing the game, we (will) understand what everybody should do.”

Thiam and Cadeau’s connection was evident in the second half. Thiam got three buckets off assists from Cadeau — two of which were from well-placed lobs. Despite missing much of Michigan’s overseas trip this summer due to injury, Thiam’s chemistry with Cadeau and McKenney is developing well. 

“I think we’ve seen through two exhibition games that we can find some real good opportunities for those guys to build leverage for each other,” Mike Boynton Jr. said. “(On the) back-screen lob, Elliot makes the pass and Trey sets the screen. Those are some of the things we’ll try to tweak as we go through the season to try and put ourselves in the best position on offense.”