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College basketball returns, and the reigning national champions will be in action on Monday night. Michigan is set to host Oakland, marking the second consecutive year the Wolverines have welcomed the Golden Grizzlies to Crisler Center. Michigan owns a 9-1 all-time advantage in the series and has not lost a season opener at home since 1997.
Below is a viewing guide, along with key storylines and a game prediction.
How to Watch
- When: Monday, Nov. 2
- Where: Crisler Center (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
- Time: 6:00 p.m. ET
- Channel: Big Ten Network
Storylines to Watch
Can Michigan's bigs dominate down low? Oakland is severely undersized against Michigan. The Golden Grizzlies have William Kassi (6'10") and Josh Hill (6'11"), but both weigh around 200 pounds. J.P. Estrella and Moustapha Thiam hold a clear advantage in the paint. The Wolverines are expected to lean heavily on their guard play in 2026-27, but they need their bigs to produce. Thiam is poised to be Michigan's secret weapon this season and is the team's best rebounder. Rebounding was a concern during Michigan's exhibition games, but it shouldn't be on Monday. If it is, alarm bells could sound.
Watch the Wolverines' three-point shooting. Mike Boynton Jr. has said Michigan will shoot more threes this season than it has in each of the last two years. However, the Wolverines didn't knock down the triple with consistency. In their last two games against Oregon State and Houston, Michigan shot 25% and 27% from deep, respectively. Adding Roddy Gayle Jr. to the lineup should help, as he can be a reliable shooter. He's reinserted into the starting lineup after coming off the bench last season, and it will be interesting to see how he gels with the new team. Expect both Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney to fire up some threes, but they need to hit them at a higher clip.
How deep is Mike Boynton Jr.'s initial rotation? Mike Boynton Jr. will coach his first game as Michigan head coach when it counts on Monday. He has sat beside Dusty May for two seasons and was a big part of the Wolverines' success, but Boynton Jr. is going to have his own way of doing things. Last season, Michigan would play eight or nine players, and that's what Boynton Jr. has said is the sweet spot. But the Wolverines could look to play some extra players on Monday night if they get out to a big lead. Pay attention to how Boynton Jr. establishes his rotation ahead of a big game against UConn on Friday night.
Prediction
In the last three seasons, Michigan has scored 99 or more points to open the season. Last year, against Oakland, the Wolverines walked out with a 121-78 win over the Golden Grizzlies. The good thing about this team is that they've had a lot of experience together. Michigan played overseas for three games before playing three exhibition games. The offense has shown that it can explode at any given time and the Wolverines' bigs should have a dominant performance. Michigan's defense could give up some shots, but look for the Wolverines to win going away with UConn on deck.
Final score: Michigan 101, Oakland 65
Sign up for the Michigan Wolverines on SI newsletter for more free coverage. Trent began writing and covering Michigan athletics back in 2020. He became a credentialed member of the media in 2021. Trent began writing with Sports Illustrated in 2023 and became the Managing Editor for Michigan Wolverines On SI during the 2025 football season. Trent also serves as the Publisher of Baylor Bears on SI. His other bylines have appeared on Maryland on SI, Wisconsin on SI, and across the USA TODAY Sports network. Trent's love of sports and being able to tell stories to fans is what made him get into writing. Follow @trentknoop.