What I know and what I want to know about Michigan basketball in 2026-27

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Michigan opens the 2026-27 basketball season on Monday night (6:00 p.m., BTN) against Oakland as the Mike Boynton Jr. era officially gets underway.

The program and roster feel far away from that Monday night win in April. The Wolverines have a new coach, new players, and conflicting expectations. Opening night after a title season should bring euphoria about the program’s trajectory, but Michigan enters this season in a haze.

It’s difficult to predict what to expect from this team; it’s even harder to know how to feel about it. The Wolverines have some high-level individual pieces, but also some big question marks. They are the defending champions, but have a coach on a prove-it contract.

This annual column is my best attempt to lay out what I (think I) know about Michigan basketball this season and what I want to know, but I’ve never been less confident in what I actually know.

What I think I know

Moustapha Thiam will determine the ceiling

By this point, everyone knows the narrative: this team is more perimeter-oriented than the last two. Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney are both earning preseason All-American and All-Big Ten honors at various outlets. The backcourt has three returners who just won a national championship.

People will talk about the backcourt because it’s awesome. Cadeau and McKenney are both terrific players. At different points this season, each will win games on his own.

As awesome as the backcourt is, 7-foot-2 Cincinnati transfer Moustapha Thiam will determine just how good this team is and where it ends up.

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