Wolverines to Host Cincinnati in Preseason Exhibition

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan males’s basketball group will host Cincinnati on Friday (Oct. 16) at Crisler Center, giving followers their first take a look at the 2025-26 Wolverines within the first of two preseason exhibition video games. Tipoff is slated for six p.m. and might be streamed on B1G+, with Ethan Sommers, Zach Edwards and Jaden Fode on the decision.

Notes

• Now in his second yr on the helm, head coach Dusty May appears to be like to construct on a formidable debut marketing campaign in Ann Arbor. In his first season, May guided Michigan to a 27-10 total document, together with a 14-6 mark in Big Ten play, securing the No. 3 seed on the convention event. The Wolverines rattled off three straight wins to seize their fourth Big Ten Tournament title with a 59-53 victory over Wisconsin. Earning a No. 5 seed within the NCAA South Regional, U-M superior to its sixth straight Sweet 16 earlier than falling to top-seeded Auburn.

• Michigan earned a preseason No. 7 rating from the Associated Press, its highest spot within the opening ballot for the reason that 2021-22 season, when the Wolverines started at No. 6. It marks the sixteenth time Michigan has appeared within the preseason high 10. In a number of media projections, U-M has been picked to complete second within the Big Ten behind preseason No. 1 Purdue.

• Michigan and Cincinnati meet for the primary time in 33 years, with the Wolverines holding a 3-1 benefit within the all-time sequence. The final matchup got here within the 1992 NCAA Final Four in Minneapolis, the place U-M earned a 76-72 victory to advance to the nationwide championship recreation. Friday’s contest marks the primary time the Wolverines and Bearcats will sq. off in Ann Arbor, because the earlier three regular-season conferences have been performed on the highway.

• Cincinnati posted a 19-16 document final season, together with a 7-13 mark in Big 12 play. The Bearcats superior to the College Basketball Crown postseason event, defeating DePaul within the opening spherical earlier than falling to UCF.

• Senior guard Day Day Thomas is the lone returning starter, having averaged 10.2 factors, 2.7 assists and a couple of.7 rebounds whereas enjoying 25.4 minutes per recreation a yr in the past.

• Head coach Wes Miller enters his fifth season on the helm. Prior to Cincinnati, Miller guided UNC Greensboro for 10 seasons, main the Spartans to NCAA Tournament appearances in 2018 and 2021.

• The 2025-26 marketing campaign marks the a hundred and twenty fifth season of Bearcats basketball. Cincinnati’s storied historical past consists of 44 All-Americans, 41 convention titles and 6 Final Four appearances.

• May had this to say in regards to the Wolverines’ preseason: “Exhibition games are where you find the truth — what travels, what doesn’t. We’ll get beat on some things, and that’s how we grow.”

• In the brand new period of faculty basketball, Michigan noticed eight gamers depart from final season’s roster and welcomed eight newcomers for 2025-26. The incoming group options transfers Yaxel Lendeborg (UAB), Elliot Cadeau (North Carolina), Morez Johnson Jr. (Illinois) and Aday Mara (UCLA). U-M additionally added 4 signees, highlighted by 2025 Michigan Mr. Basketball Trey McKenney and sharpshooter Winters Grady.

• Yaxel Lendeborg was named to the 2025-26 Preseason All-Big Ten Team, changing into the twenty fourth Wolverine in program historical past to earn the consideration. Before arriving in Ann Arbor, he performed two seasons at UAB (2023-25), the place he led the Blazers with 17.7 factors and 11.4 rebounds per recreation, taking pictures 52.2 p.c from the sphere and recording a nation-leading 26 double-doubles.

• The Wolverines will honor former consensus National Player of the Year Trey Burke by elevating his No. 3 jersey to the Crisler Center rafters when U-M hosts Ohio State (Jan. 23). Burke will turn out to be the sixth Wolverine to have his jersey honored inside Crisler Center, becoming a member of Cazzie Russell (No. 33, 1993), Rudy Tomjanovich (No. 45, 2003), Phil Hubbard (No. 35, 2004), Glen Rice (No. 41, 2005) and Bill Buntin (No. 22, 2006). Of that group, Russell’s No. 33 stays this system’s solely retired quantity.

• In addition to honoring Burke, Michigan will increase its 2025 Big Ten Tournament championship banner within the regular-season opener towards Oakland on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The first 5,000 followers will be capable to seize a duplicate banner upon entry.