Michigan basketball trailed by 18 at the half, then got within two multiple times in the final four minutes in a 100-98 loss to Cincinnati.
The good news: Exhibition games don't count.
The bad news: Michigan basketball's start to the 2025-26 season left something to be desired. The Wolverines fought back from an 18-point halftime deficit and cut the lead to two multiple times late, but it was too much to overcome as U-M fell to Cincinnati, 100-98, in the exhibition Friday, Oct. 17, at Crisler Center.
U-M got within two as late as 4.3 seconds left after Cincinnati missed two free throws and Will Tschetter made a deep 3-pointer, but on the Bearcats' inbound pass, U-M was unable to send Cincy to the line again before the clock ran out.
It takes time to jell with new pieces – and the Wolverines weren't helped by the absences of key frontcourt players Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. (both of whom are ) – but this wasn't what Dusty May and Co. envisioned. Mara and Johnson are expected to be ready for the season opener against Oakland on Nov. 3 (8:30 p.m., FS1) – but will U-M be?
The Wolverines had vowed to clean up the turnovers this season, yet they had 20 against the Bearcats, with 14 in the first half. The 3-point shooting, also a concern coming in, was likewise subpar; the Wolverines finished 8-for-31 (25.8%) from long range.
There was little flow at any time, with an incredible 83 free throw attempts in 40 minutes. (Michigan went 41-for-48, Cincinnati made 23 of 35.)
The Wolverines made their push early in the second half behind a quick 9-0 run, with UAB transfer Yaxel Lendeborg leading the way. They got as close as two four times without ever tying it. Lendeborg was sensational, leading the way with 31 points and 12 rebounds; Roddy Gayle Jr. scored 18; Elliot Cadeau added 14 points and seven assists; and Will Tschetter scored 15.
Six Cincinnati players scored in double figures, led by 15 apiece from Moustapha Thiam, Kerr Krissa and Shon Abaev.
Here's how the different pieces of U-M's roster looked in their first live action as a group.
The transfers
Only Cadeau and Lendeborg were on display, really, and both had some nice flashes. Cadeau, a transfer guard from North Carolina, facilitated early, finding Roddy for a corner 3, driving the lane and to create a three-point play and setting up Lendeborg for a corner 3 just three minutes into the game.
Lendeborg had a steal early, then poked away a pass to send U-M in transition the other way. The highlight play for the duo of the day came when Cadeau broke down the defense, got into the lane and floated a lob for the crashing Lendeborg off the left corner; he threw down the slam to go up, 15-11.
Lendeborg also opened the second half with a 3 from the top of the key before Cadeau drove the lane and kicked out to Nimari Burnett for an open 3. Then Lendeborg had a steal, got the pass back on the fastbreak and finished a three-point play. On the next possession, he finished an even tougher floater off the high glass for another three-point play.
Two minutes later, he caught the ball in the post and finished yet another three-point play. (Did we mention U-M went to the line 48 times?) Lendeborg starred for U-M, making 10 of 16 shots and 9 of 9 free throws, though he did have four turnovers.
Cadeau, meanwhile, had just one shot attempt, but did his work at the line, making 12 of 15 to go with seven assists and just two turnovers.
The freshmen
Five U-M players – Trey McKenney, Oscar Goodman, Winters Grady, Malick Kordel and Ricky Liburd (who will redshirt) –made their collegiate debuts Friday, and, well, they all looked it.
McKenney, a McDonald's All-American and reigning Michigan Mr. Basketball out of Orchard Lake St. Mary's, struggled early. In his first stint, he had a pair of fouls and missed two 3-pointers. Later in the half, he had a pair of turnovers, but got on the board when he split a pair of free throws. McKenney missed three more 3s early in the second half and sat the rest of the game.
Grady, however, looked like he will push for a bigger role this season. He canned a 3 from the right corner as U-M mounted its comeback, then hit another moments later to cut the deficit to five.
Goodman made a layup in the first half while Lliburd and Kordel were all zeros in three minutes of playing time.
The returners
Michigan went heavy with returning players in its starting lineup as Burnett, Gayle and Tschetter all got the nod.
Gayle was aggressive early and often, going 4-for-6 from the field and finishing second among Wolverines with 18 points, but he was at times out of control. He had a team-high seven turnovers, complete with travels, bad passes and charges.
Tschetter's best stretch came when he canned back-to-back 3-pointers to get U-M within five with 10:41 left – but he was also whistled for a technical foul after celebrating too long.
Burnett was quiet, hitting just two of seven shots for seven points while sophomore L.J. Cason made just one layup and a pair of free throws.
Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Yaxel Lendeborg steps up in Michigan basketball exhibition loss
Category: General Sports
