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Critical Michigan basketball roles could be filled by unsung returners

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Critical Michigan basketball roles could be filled by unsung returners


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The most notable Michigan basketball returnees are Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney. The most exciting, proven players came from the transfer portal in Moustapha Thiam (Cincinnati), J.P. Estrella (Tennessee) and Jalen Reed (LSU). The most intriguing prospects came from the high school ranks, and five-star Brandon McCoy (Sierra Canyon) tops the list.

But in terms of potential glue guys and those who could make a sneaky impact on next year’s roster, it’s two holdovers from the 2025-26 national championship team who could be flying under the radar more than anybody.

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“Oscar Goodman and Ricky Liburd, I think they’ve even gotten buried in terms of attention below the incoming freshman class,” assistant coach Mike Boynton Jr. told the Free Press when he joined the “Hail Yes!” podcast earlier this week. “Oscar’s been in our program for two years. He knows our system really, really well.

“He has an opportunity to be a nice rotational player for us, a guy who fills an energy, rebounding, versatile defender [role] … think of the energy and versatility that we were able to use Will Tschetter with. Shoots it well, brings great energy, tough enough to guard multiple positions, so it gives you great versatility in a system that requires it.”

Goodman, a 6-foot-7, 235-pound forward from New Zealand, was buried on the depth chart this past season behind Aday Mara, Morez Johnson Jr., Yaxel Lendeborg and Tschetter in what was a crowded frontcourt. But he didn’t look overmatched when he was on the court.

His highlights were a few high-flying dunks, as Goodman, who appeared in 16 games, averaged 1.4 points and 1.3 rebounds in 5.2 minutes per contest. Goodman joined in the program in January 2025 and was able to serve on scout team in practice for the back half of Dusty May’s first season with the program, then was a freshman last year who got his first complete season of experience.

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Goodman is strong enough to play the four but athletic enough to play the wing, a position he may need to fill more than initially expected without many natural 3s on the roster.

U-M can go a few ways, with someone like McKenney running the wing in a small ball lineup or someone like Goodman manning the spot in a larger lineup, and if his early years are any indication, May will likely try both options.

“He’s not a one-trick pony kind of guy,” Boynton said of Goodman.

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Meanwhile, Liburd, who redshirted in 2025-26 after coming in as an unheralded three-star out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, impressed coaches behind the scenes and appears poised to crack the rotation next season.

The 6-foot-4 wing came up frequently last season as a standout on the scout team and, after putting in time behind the scenes, could be a real piece to U-M’s new puzzle.

“He’s flown under the radar as much as anybody because he was new to our program and didn’t play at all,” Boynton said. “He’s a guy who’s got the ability to both defend one-through-four from his size, quickness, strength, physicality and he can also play offensively in any of our perimeter spots, as well.

“He can be a floor-spacer, he can be a shot-creator, he’s a guy who’s really good on the move as a cutter and offensive rebounder. I think both of those guys are names people should just right now pencil in and keep their eyes on early in the year to see how they progress.”

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Boynton said the hope is that Michigan can get those guys “a lot of reps” on the team’s foreign trip this summer (which hasn’t been officially reported but appears almost a certainty to happen sometime in late August) to find out how they fit with the new pieces and see the leap they’ve taken from one year to the next.

Boynton isn’t the only one with high hopes for this team. Assistant coach and general manager Kyle Church recently joined Brian Boesch on “Defend The Block” and lauded where the Wolverines stand with their roster largely complete. He spoke of the importance of players who help keep the culture going from one year to the next, which Goodman and Liburd both intend to do.

“I think we have a very, very competitive roster. I think a potential top-five, top-10 type roster,” Church said. “No matter who joins us or doesn’t join us, we’re really excited about the position we’re in.

“To have some guys that [joined] more with the future in mind and keep that continuity is going to be so important.”

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Tony Garcia is the Michigan beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.





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Opinion | Parents should decide who has access to their children – Bridge Michigan

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Opinion | Parents should decide who has access to their children – Bridge Michigan


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Missing White River kayaker found safe, police say

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Missing White River kayaker found safe, police say


Michigan State Police say a kayaker who went missing on White River northeast of Montague and Whitehall on Sunday, June 14, has been located safe, after a three-day search.

The man, Justin Wolfiss, 44, entered the river in a kayak at Sischo Bayou around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday with a friend, but did not arrive with his friend at the end point of their trip.

Wolfiss was located safe near Pines Point, officials announced on Tuesday, June 16.

He is currently being medically evaluated, officials say.

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Wolfiss and his friend were traveling downstream toward the Happy Mohawk Canoe Livery, near Diamond Point, when they were separated early in the 3- to 4-hour trip, police said.

The friend, police said, waited several hours for Wolfiss to arrive after reaching Diamond Point around 7 p.m.

“The Michigan State Police would like to thank Blue Lake Township Fire Department, Hesperia Fire Department, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, MSP Aviation, MSP K-9, partnering agencies, volunteers, and members of the public who assisted in the search effort and shared information.”



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Report: Michigan cancels volleyball game vs. Texas Tech, to discuss prohibiting other contests

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Report: Michigan cancels volleyball game vs. Texas Tech, to discuss prohibiting other contests


The fallout from the Brendan Sorsby saga continues. On Monday, Michigan canceled a scheduled volleyball game against Texas Tech, according to a report from Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger.

According to Dellenger, Michigan “plans to hold further discussions with its athletic staff on prohibiting contests against the Red Raiders.” The program becomes the latest to expressly state intent not to schedule Texas Tech amid the ongoing Sorsby saga.

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The controversy involves legal rulings that have made Sorsby eligible to play after Texas Tech and the NCAA declared him ineligible over sports wagering. Sorsby was granted an injunction against the NCAA that restored his eligibility temporarily, allowing him to play in 2026 after serving a two-game suspension.

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Many, including the Big 12 itself, have come out staunchly against the ruling. They argue it presents an existential threat to the integrity of college athletics.

Sorsby placed dozens of sports bets while a student-athlete, including bets on his own program while at Indiana. The NCAA prohibits such activity.

Because of the legal posturing by Sorsby, the Big 12 and even programs outside the conference, like Michigan, have explored various avenues to state their own intent. Already, programs like Georgia and Nebraska have taken steps to avoid scheduling Texas Tech in athletics contests as a form of protest.

Last week, reports emerged from both athletic departments about their intent. Dellenger provided much of the reporting.

“Based on recent developments, Georgia Athletics will not schedule future contests against Texas Tech until further notice,” Georgia’s internal message read.

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“Please review your sport’s current schedules and future scheduling plans. If you have any contests currently scheduled against Texas Tech, or are actively engaged in scheduling discussions with Texas Tech, please notify your sport administrator as soon as possible so we can evaluate the situation and determine next steps.

“Effective immediately, no new contests should be scheduled against Texas Tech without prior approval from the Athletics Department.”

The message from Nebraska was a bit briefer. But it carried the same directive.

“I want to reach out to let you know we will not schedule any contests vs. Texas Tech in any sport,” the memo read. “If you currently have a future contest already scheduled, please connect with (Nebraska athletic director) Troy (Dannen) immediately.”

Now Michigan has reportedly actively taken a step to cancel a contest against Texas Tech. It may not be the last, either.

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