Photos by: Aaron J. Thornton
College basketball is back, and the Michigan Wolverines made sure their season opener lived up to the hype. Ranked No. 5 in the nation to start the year, Michigan rolled past another in-state school, the Oakland Golden Grizzlies, with an emphatic 121–78 victory Monday night at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor.
Yes, Oakland University is a smaller program out of the Horizon League, but tenured Head Coach Greg Kampe consistently puts together competitive teams. The Golden Grizzlies finished 16–18 a year ago, yet on this night they simply couldn’t slow down a red hot Michigan squad that looks poised for a special season under second year Head Coach Dusty May.
Before tip off, Michigan raised last year’s Big Ten Tournament Championship banner to the rafters, celebrating the program’s latest accomplishment. Then, it was back to business as the Wolverines started this year’s journey with goals to achieve what they did last year and more.
Even with UAB transfer Yaxel Lendeborg, arguably the team’s top player, starting the game on the bench due to injury, Michigan dominated from the opening possession. UCLA Transfer big man Aday Mara threw down a dunk for the first points of the season, and moments later, Point Guard Elliot Cadeau (another transfer in from North Carolina) lobbed an alley-oop to Mara for a second slam and a quick 4–0 lead.
Oakland hung around briefly, trailing just 14–10 at the first media timeout. But from there, the Wolverines erupted with a 20–0 run over the next four minutes, seizing complete control at 34–10.
By halftime, Michigan led 69–38, setting a program record for points in a first half. The Wolverines shot a blistering 71% from the field and 53% from three-point range, with eight players scoring and three already in double figures. Forward Morez Johnson Jr. led the way with 20 first half points on 8 of 10 shooting. Perhaps most encouraging for May’s team was the ball security. After struggling with turnovers in the exhibition games, Michigan committed just four in the opening half on Monday.
The Wolverines cooled off only slightly after the break, still shooting 56% in the second half from the field. Michigan literally shot the lights out, as midway through the period, the arena lights briefly went dark for about five seconds during play. The unusual moment happened right as True Freshman guard Trey McKenney was driving to the basket. And he didn’t flinch as he scored the basket and drew a foul on the shot. The officials counted the bucket and McKenney calmly sank the free throw once the lights came back on.
In his first official game as a Wolverine, McKenney caught fire in the second half, scoring 15 of his 21 points after intermission and going a perfect 4 for 4 from deep. Michigan cruised to the 43 point win, matching a program record with 19 made three pointers.
Despite playing shorthanded with Lendeborg not at 100% and guards L.J. Cason and Winters Grady out, the Wolverines looked every bit like a top five team. Johnson Jr. led all scorers with 24 points in just 19 minutes, while Mara recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. In all, seven Wolverines finished in double figures.
Oakland’s Isaac Garrett led the Golden Grizzlies with 20 points.
For Head Coach May and the Wolverines, it was a statement performance. A fast, efficient, and confident start to a season filled with high expectations in Ann Arbor.
With a week before their next game, Michigan (1-0) will prepare to host Wake Forest (1-0) at Little Caesars Arena next Tuesday. Oakland (0-1) will have another tough game ahead of them as they travel to W. Lafayette, Indiana to battle No. 1 ranked Purdue (1-0) on Friday.
Final Score: Michigan 121 – Oakland 78
