Michigan
Michigan State depth chart, injury report: A lot of unknowns for starters at Indiana
Three straight wins followed by three consecutive losses.
That’s how Michigan State started last season and is in the same spot again.
If the Spartans (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten) are going to avoid their first four-game skid under second-year coach Jonathan Smith, it will require a massive upset at No. 3 Indiana (6-0, 3-0) on Saturday (3:30 p.m., Peacock) in Bloomington.
Injury report:
Out: OL Luka Vincic (season), LB Brady Pretzlaff (season), DB Andrew Brinson (season), DB Caleb Gash (season), EDGE Anelu Lafaele (season), OL Stanton Ramil, WR Alante Brown. Questionable: QB Aidan Chiles, DT Ben Roberts, DE Jalen Thompson, S Nikai Martinez, DB Ade Willie, DB NiJhay Burt, TE Michael Masunas, TE Brennan Parachek, TE Jayden Savoury, OL Kristian Phillips, LB Marcellius Pulliam, LS Kaden Schickel, K Tarik Ahmetbasic, RB Jace Clarizio.
There’s obviously a lot to unpack here that’s not good for the Spartans. It starts with Chiles, who was knocked out of last week’s 38-13 loss against UCLA after suffering a helmet-to-helmet hit. Smith called him questionable and on Wednesday said the junior was limited but active in practice while CBS Sports reported Chiles is expected to be available. It’s a bit unclear what that means and Alessio Milivojevic will make his first career start if Chiles is sidelined.
Smith said there’s a chance Thompson, Martinez and Roberts – a late scratch last week – return against the Hoosiers. Masunas and Phillips are among the long list of those also questionable.
Projected depth chart:
Quarterback
Starter: Aidan Chiles
Backup: Alessio Milivojevic
Others of note: Leo Hannan, Ryland Jessee
If Chiles is actually able to go on Saturday, he will be trying to break out of a two-game funk against one of the best defenses in the nation. Milivojevic played solid in relief each of the last two weeks.
Running back
Starter: Makhi Frazier
Backup: Brandon Tullis
Others of note: Elijah Tau-Tolliver
The backfield depth chart hasn’t changed all season but the run game has been a disappointment and failed to even reach 90 yards on the ground in either of the last two games.
Fullback
Starter: Jay Coyne
Backup: Jaxon McCaig
Coyne played three snaps against the Bruins.
Wide receiver
Starters: Nick Marsh, Omari Kelly, Chrishon McCray
Backups: Rodney Bullard, Evan Boyd
Others of note: Braylon Collier, Charles Taplin
Marsh showed up last week and had seven catches for 77 yards and a touchdown on a whopping 15 targets. The Spartans want to get him the ball as much as possible but also need to get the other top targets involved.
Tight end
Starter: Jack Velling
Backups: Kai Rios, Michael Masunas, Brennan Parachek
Others of note: Jayden Savoury
The Spartans could be very thin at tight end with three of the top five at the position (Masunas, Parachek and Savoury) all questionable and untested depth behind them.
Offensive line
Starters: LT Conner Moore, LG Gavin Broscious, C Matt Gulbin, RG Caleb Carter, RT Ashton Lepo
Backups: OT Rustin Young, OG Kristian Phillips
Others of note: C Cooper Terpstra, OT/C Rakeem Johnson
Phillips was using crutches and wearing a walking boot on the sideline late last week. That wasn’t an encouraging sign so it’s just a guess that he’s out on Saturday and the Spartans shuffle at guard with two experienced options in Broscious and Carter. It also wouldn’t be a surprise to see a change at tackle depending on which side they want to use Moore.
Defensive tackle
Starters: Alex VanSumeren, Ru’Quan Buckley
Backups: Ben Roberts, Grady Kelly, Jalen Satchell
Others of note: Mikeshun Beeler, Derrick Simmons
With Roberts out, Buckley played a season-high 45 snaps last week, according to Pro Football Focus. VanSumeren tied a career high with six tackles.
Defensive end
Starters: Isaac Smith, Kekai Burnett
Backups: Jalen Thompson, Quindarius Dunnigan, David Santiago
Others of note: Cam Williams, Tyler Gillison
Thompson’s absence last week led to Burnett making his first career start. Dunnigan and Williams combined for a sack.
Linebacker
Starters: Jordan Hall, Wayne Matthews, Darius Snow
Backups: Aisea Moa, Semaj Bridgeman
Others of note: Marcellius Pulliam, Sam Edwards
Hall continues leading the way while Matthews and Snow have a ton of experience.
Cornerback
Starters: Malcolm Bell, Joshua Eaton
Backups: Aydan West, Chance Rucker, Jeremiah Hughes
Others of note: Anthony Pinnace, NiJhay Burt
Michigan State shook up its starting corners by going with Rucker and true freshman West to open last week but that didn’t last. Bell, Eaton, West and Rucker make up the top four at the spot.
Safety/nickelback
Starters: Malik Spencer, Nikai Martinez, Ade Willie
Backups: Armorion Smith, Dontavius Nash, Devynn Cromwell
Others of note: Justin Denson, Tracy Revels, Khalil Majeed, Aveon Grose
Another group with more uncertainty. Spencer should be good while Armorion Smith is coming off a rough outing as a safety/nickel option.
Special teams
PK: Martin Connington
KO: Martin Connington
P: Ryan Eckley
LS: Jack Wills
KR: Elijah Tau-Tolliver, Chrishon McCray
PR: Omari Kelly
A week after special teams sunk Michigan State in a loss at Nebraska, the third phase of the game was mostly a non-factor. The Spartans will be challenged by an Indiana team with three blocked kicks, two blocked punts and two punt return touchdowns.
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Michigan
Trey McKenney to return to Michigan Basketball next season, per report
In the middle of what’s been an incredible season for the Michigan men’s basketball team, Dusty May and the program are now confirmed to be bringing back a big contributor for next season. According to a report from Tony Garcia of the Detroit Free Press, freshman guard Trey McKenney is set to be back with the Wolverines next year.
“We’re going to have a really talented team next year,” McKenney told Garcia. “I came in with a role this year and I think my role would definitely expand next year, so I’m definitely looking forward to coming back.”
McKenney joined the program this offseason as a prized five-star recruit in the Wolverines’ 2025 recruiting class. So far he’s lived up to the billing, coming off the bench to average 9.7 points per game, but shooting an impressive 38.5 percent from three-point range this year. He has already asserted himself as one of the team’s best shooters.
In addition to his offensive game, he’s gotten after it on the defensive end as well and has been regularly on the floor to close games this season. We’ve seen McKenney’s role slowly grow, especially in the absence of fellow guard L.J. Cason, who has missed the last month and is set to miss all of next season with an ACL tear.
By cementing his status with the program, McKenney is a great foundation for what the team hopes to build next season. He’ll likely step into a starting role as the Michigan’s shooting guard, while May and company also look to get players like Elliot Cadeau, Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara back in the fold.
Michigan will get a shot to fill out the rest of its roster when the transfer portal opens up on April 7, just one day after the National Championship.
For now though, McKenney and the Wolverines will focus on punching their ticket to the Final Four for the first time since 2018 by defeating Tennessee on Sunday afternoon.
Michigan
Michigan women’s basketball vs. Louisville in Sweet 16: Time, TV, stream
When the Sweet 16 continues on Saturday during the 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament, Michigan women’s basketball (27-6) will continue its climb to reach the Final Four for the first time.
The Wolverines, who earned the No. 2 seed in the Fort Worth 3 Region, are playing in the program’s third Sweet 16 under head coach Kim Barnes Arico.
“We committed to Michigan to do this, and we committed to Coach Arico to do it for her and for each other,” Michigan guard Olivia Olson said. “We’re accomplishing the goals we set out to, and we’re not done yet. So we’re going to keep having fun with it and keep preparing.”
Michigan will take on No. 3 Louisville Cardinals (29-7) at 12:30 p.m. ET Saturday at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
“This is my first time going to the Sweet 16, all of our first times, so I think the feeling of, we’re still dancing, we’re still playing basketball, it’s a great feeling,” Louisville guard Taj Roberts said.
The winner from Saturday’s matchup will play in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament on Monday, March 30, for the right to advance to the Final Four.
What time is Michigan vs. Louisville?
- Date: Saturday, March 28
- Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Dickies Arena (Fort Worth, Texas)
The Michigan Wolverines will play the Louisville Cardinals in the Sweet 16 round of the 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 28, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
Michigan vs. Louisville: TV, streaming
Michigan
Morez Johnson Jr. NBA mock draft projection: Where Michigan star is expected to land
The 2026 men’s NCAA Tournament is down to its Sweet 16 and we’ll have a Final Four by Sunday evening. For half of the college stars taking the court this weekend, it’s one final opportuniy to impress NBA teams with their play at full game speed when the lights are brightest as this year’s draft class comes into focus.
The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY’s latest mock draft, Michigan’s Morez Johnson Jr. is expected to go in the first round. Here’s how USA TODAY currently projects the big man’s draft night will play out.
Our draft order is based on ESPN’s projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.
Morez Johnson Jr. 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 25 overall, Los Angeles Lakers
Kalbrosky’s Analysis:
Morez Johnson Jr. is one of the best, most underrated two-way players in the NCAA. He is a crucial part of the Michigan identity this season and has thrived since transferring to the Wolverines from Illinois. Johnson’s shooting form at the free throw line looks good, and he scores well near the rim, especially when cutting to the basket. The former FIBA U-19 Team USA standout and All-Big Ten big man is a trustworthy defensive playmaker, too, and should find minutes at the next level.
See USA TODAY’s full mock draft here
Morez Johnson Jr. player profile
(all stats as of March 15)
- Position: Forward-Center
- Current Team: Michigan
- 13.1 points per game
- 7.2 rebounds per game
- 1.1 assists per game
- 62.8% field goal percentage
- 37.9% three-point field goal percentage
Los Angeles Lakers 2026 projected draft picks
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