Defend the Block 406 - Eastern Michigan Transcript
10/11/2026 6:02:00 PM | MGoBlue Podcasts
Brian Boesch • 00:00
On Thursday at Big Ten media day, head coach Mike Boynton junior Was willing to divulge some of his thoughts about Michigan's rotation. Obviously things can change, but he was pretty frank that Ricky Liburd was higher in the pecking order than the tail end of a nine man rotation. Same for Oscar Goodman being squarely in that rotation. And he described Kenny Noland's backup point guard duties in his transfer from Columbia. Throw in Jalen Reed's experience in college basketball. This is his fifth season, though each of the last two were over with injuries before the calendar flipped to a new year and then Roddy Gayle junior's hopeful eligibility. He was out on Sunday, with the team statement being that he will not play. Quote as we continue to work through the legal process regarding his eligibility, we'll provide updates when we have more information to share.
Brian Boesch • 00:45
End quote with all that being considered, you think to rotations tending to get shorter as the season goes on. Eight, maybe nine, maybe seven. Remember back to the twenty twenty one Big Ten Championship and Elite eight team here at Michigan. But rarely if ever ten or more. So surmise with all of that being considered at this juncture, the incoming freshman class, a talented one, a highly rated one, could be on the outside looking in. One game does not make a season, and one exhibition games storylines may not make it to the season's first game in terms of the topics around it, but it is tough not to be impressed with what freshman Quinn Costello and Joseph Hartman provided the Wolverines against Eastern Michigan. Costello shot well from three on the European trip, eleven for twenty four, and he continued that on Sunday. Four of eight from three throw in a perfect two of two inside the arc for a sixteen point performance, only trailing Trey McKenney.
Brian Boesch • 01:41
We'll talk about him plenty this year and what a great start from him. And as for Hartman, he operated smoothly in the flow of the offense, logging ten points on four or five from the floor. Throw in an assist and a steal as well. Of course, a rotation is often a moving target. Last year's Michigan team was an anomaly from that standpoint, but this exhibition offered fans a glimpse of what the staff has seen for much of this summer and into the this is a competitive roster. Beyond the stars, there are a bunch of guys who have the skill set and the ability to contribute. Now it's a matter of showing what they can do. This was the first time fans saw the Wolverines. It was the first time the coaches saw the group against a different team. And while there's plenty to work on and also plenty to like from the team as a whole. Performances have to stack and you only get three chances before things really truly count and it will go against you or for you in the standings with all of that being considered.
Brian Boesch • 02:35
Quinn Costello and Joseph Hartman established a nice foundation with the ability to stack performances on top of them in exhibition game Number one Michigan, a winner over Eastern Michigan in the exhibition opener. Thoughts from Terry Mills, coach Boynton and three players coming up next on Defend the Block.
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Jeff Laurence • 02:53
We're talking Michigan basketball. Welcome to Defend the Block where we'll take you inside the basketball programs with interviews, analysis and so much more. Now here's your host, Brian Boesch.
Brian Boesch • 03:06
A few quick hitters on some of the other players from this performance I mentioned Trey McKenney, twenty one points. I mean the bag has just gotten bigger and bigger. He looks incredibly mature. He is someone who puts in as much work as anybody out there. He's got high high upside. Elliot Cadeau probably how it should look. Seemingly effortless at times against a Mac team in October, but ten points, eight assists and seven rebounds. He is every bit one of the best point guards in the country, if not the for Mustafa Thiam. I think the four blocks stood out most to me. Plus that game starting and exhibition season starting alley oop from Elliot Cadeau. JP Estrella really impressed me. His minutes out in Europe maybe were some of the least indicative of what he will have to do if everything goes to most smoothness this season because of the Thiam injury.
Brian Boesch • 03:56
Six minutes in out in Lithuania. Estrella definitely played well. Minutes restrictions for both Ricky Liburd and Jalen Reed. Jalen Reed just being out there right now is a success. ACL into Achilles he popped that Achilles less than eleven months ago. So him being out there is a huge success. He has ways to go. We'll talk to him here in a little bit. But just him being out there I think is something that when he got injured back with LSU last season, if you'd have told him he was going to play in an exhibition game on october eleventh, I think he would have very much accepted that. Not Oscar Goodman or Kenny Noland's best performances, but those guys have practiced well. Malachi Brown he'll continue to build confidence in what will be a behind the scenes type of season for that young man, but definitely has some of the tools. And as mentioned, no Roddy Gayle junior in this one.
Brian Boesch • 04:45
He really does connect a lot of what Michigan can do, especially considering the injury to Brandon McCoy junior so all in all a very solid performance. Some things to work on unquestionably but as Terry Mills talked about on the broadcast, the this time of year, his teams didn't even start practicing yet. It's very early, the seasons are longer, and Michigan is still in that mode of trying to figure out what this all looks like. But you see the vision and you see some of the stars and budding stars that Michigan has, and they'll need those guys to be really, really good, to have the type of season that will put them in position to be contending in the Big Ten and beyond. All right, those are some of my thoughts from Michigan's win over Eastern Michigan on Sunday. Let's bring in the national champion, Terry Mills. Of course, he always catches up with our buddy Rob Joyce.
Brian Boesch • 05:36
Here are those guys chats after the game.
Rob Joyce • 05:38
Terry, we're not going to make any sweeping conclusions on an exhibition three weeks before the start of the season, but a lot to like here today, notably right from the opening tip, seemed like Michigan came out a lot of energy.
Terry Mills • 05:47
Yeah, a lot of energy right off day, right off the top. I mean, it couldn't have been scripted any better from Elliott, the throwing alley oop. I thought that streamers and balloons were going to come down at that point in time, but I tell you what, it was very impressive. Same. Same as last year. I thought defensively, they were locked in defensively. I think this is going to be one of those teams that can get after you defensively. Coach Mike Boynton had his hands all over that team last year from a defensive standpoint, and I think it's trending in the right direction from an exhibition.
Rob Joyce • 06:19
Trey McKenney had an excellent freshman season, but he never had to be the guy with. With the big three. Well, this year, that's different. Very early, very positive signs here early on that he could be the guy.
Terry Mills • 06:30
Yeah, there's no doubt about that. I mean, he can turn it on. I thought that what he did was he played his role because we were loaded last year. Everyone bought in. He was one of the ones that bought in because he would probably start anywhere else in the nation, but he bought in. And tell you what, it's his turn now and he's playing with a loads of confidence.
Rob Joyce • 06:50
Some of the newcomers here, JP Estrella, a lot of experience, obviously with Tennessee. No one is going to mistake him for classic stretch four, but that ability to step out a couple of threes, some really nice signs there.
Terry Mills • 06:59
Yeah, well, JP Showed me some things that I didn't see when they went to Europe. I mean, being able to, you know, get some put Backs finishing around the basket and also being able to stretch it out a little bit and make some three point shots. So I'm excited to see how that young man develops as the season goes on.
Rob Joyce • 07:16
You just talked to one freshman, Joseph Hartman, another young and nice second half, Quinn Costello, four of eight from three point range. Kid can shoot.
Terry Mills • 07:22
Yeah, well, Quinn is going to be special, I can tell you that right now. I got big hopes for that young man. And I talked during the broadcast. It kind of got that feel that when he gets it in his hands and it's wide open, you can get this crowd to roaring because more than likely it's going down because it's that Duncan Robinson kind of feel that he's open. It's going down.
Rob Joyce • 07:43
Two more exhibitions before for the real thing against Oakland on november second. Obviously the game will take precedent on Friday, but it's going to be good to see Justin Joyner on Friday. Obviously he was a big part of the staff the last couple of years, including last year's national title run.
Terry Mills • 07:55
Oh, yes, it is. It's going to be always good to see him. And he did such an excellent job here and doing a good job at building him a team out that way. Sure, he's going to have some success. But you know, you come in here, you just want to try to get your rotations down, see the players play. And you talked about it earlier. Say, didn't nobody take a timeout in the second half. I wouldn't think that's unheard of. I mean, will we finish this game in under two two hours?
Rob Joyce • 08:21
Your lips to God's ears. We had a couple of long exhibitions last year, so good stuff. We'll talk to you, friend.
Terry Mills • 08:28
All right, thanks.
Brian Boesch • 08:29
Time now to hear from the head coach. Here's Mike Boynton junior Post game.
Brian Boesch • 08:32
I'll just keep it broad in an exhibition. What stood out to you as you first think about this performance?
Mike Boynton Jr. • 08:37
I thought for the most part our guys tried to play the right way. So I was pleased with that. Sometimes you practice a certain way and then there's people in the building, the parents are watching, they know it's on, they're streaming even, and they try to play a different way than we've practiced for the most part. We did the things that we've been practicing and obviously a lot of things that we got to continue to improve on.
Brian Boesch • 08:56
Of course you have Trey McKenney. We'll get into him a ton this year, but a couple of freshmen with standout performances and Terry in my eyes, Quinn Costello, Joseph Hartman, they seem to belong. How do you interpret their efforts?
Mike Boynton Jr. • 09:08
Absolutely. Those are two guys that, you know, put in the work and have earned the trust of their teammates and our staff and guys that we hope to continue to develop is what we do here in our program. And those guys that we think will be able to help us win games as we move forward throughout the season.
Brian Boesch • 09:24
Mention Trey twenty one. We all knew that he was going to take steps forward. Where in this game did you see some of his offseason work from last year to this year show up the most?
Mike Boynton Jr. • 09:33
Just his poise. I mean, he's always been poised, but even he's taken that a whole nother level. You see him playing really, really under control when he drives the ball deep into the paint. He's making really good decisions and pick and rolls, not forcing passes like he did from time to time last year. And so again, we talked about just taking his game one step further. You know, everybody wants him to make this big, giant leap and he doesn't really have to. He's already at a pretty good spot coming into the season. So he's just got to understand that any improvement is going to put himself in the best position to help this team. And then everything else from there's gravy.
Brian Boesch • 10:05
We knew that there'd be some minutes restrictions on guys like Ricky and Jalen. Did not see Ricky in that second half. How did he and Jalen just look health wise and then and then anything else basketball that you saw?
Mike Boynton Jr. • 10:16
Yeah, I thought Ricky was really impactful. You know, his minutes coming off the bench in the first half, he really brought some physicality to our team. He was active in our gaps, got some deflections and he got us a glass, which is the thing he really, really impacts the game with. J. Reed was in a different position. He was more of a playmaker. From a big standpoint, you could tell he's been rusted. He hadn't played in two years. Ricky's only played, not played in one year. J. Reed hasn't played in two years, so it's going to take some time. We got to have some grace with him, but he's another guy. He's a big body, really, really skilled, smart and tough and it's something that we're going to need as we move forward at stretches.
Brian Boesch • 10:50
It seemed like some of those defensive four or five minutes were really, really strong when that was happening. What would you like from your group?
Mike Boynton Jr. • 10:57
Just that we were able to at least close off the paint a little bit more and protect the rim. A little bit better, which is something we struggled at, particularly in the second half as they got down to the rim quite a bit more. But we weren't playing. Ricky, obviously, when Roddy gets back, you hope you got another perimeter guy who can stop penetration. But I thought for the most part, when we communicated, when we were early in our gaps and credit to them, they're a team that attacked us. It was good for us to get this on film to see how teams may try to play against us early. And so it's on us to make the proper adjustments.
Brian Boesch • 11:28
And lastly, along those lines, anything that
Brian Boesch • 11:30
they did or that you experienced that
Brian Boesch • 11:31
maybe you didn't expect or that you think, yeah, we got to work on this. This is on the to do list for right now.
Mike Boynton Jr. • 11:37
Well, it didn't necessarily hurt us a ton, but we don't press very much. They pressed us pretty much every possession, full court. And so it was good for us to see that. We may see that, but just their physicality and their downhill determination, driving to the basket and being willful at the rim. They're going to win a good number of games this year and it's a team I look forward to watching, Coach.
Brian Boesch • 11:56
Appreciate it.
Mike Boynton Jr. • 11:57
Thank you very much.
Brian Boesch • 11:59
Three player conversations to share with you here on this post game edition of Defend the Block. Right after the game, Joseph Hartman swung by the broadcast table to catch up with Terry and me. Joseph, your thoughts on your performance, your
Brian Boesch • 12:10
first time playing at Crisler Center.
Brian Boesch • 12:11
How do you think you did?
Joseph Hartman • 12:12
I think I did all right. I got to take care of the ball a little better, not get sped up, handle the ball to the team, get the team better in offense, but I don't know. I think I did all right. Yeah.
Terry Mills • 12:20
How did you feel for your first time playing against someone outside of your teammates? How did that feel?
Joseph Hartman • 12:25
Yeah, it was very fun and, you know, just surreal. Playing on college corps is always been my dream to do so and doing it at such a good school. Crazy.
Brian Boesch • 12:33
When you're a point guard, what have you learned from a guy like Elliot Cadeau? It seemed like you had some of those same skill sets.
Brian Boesch • 12:38
I'm sure you've gleaned a lot from him. How has he taught you and made you better?
Joseph Hartman • 12:41
Just confidence. Having confidence in your skills and your ball handle and just trusting in your work.
Terry Mills • 12:47
Yeah. Do you feel like you're one of those players that can help in a lot of different areas from a defensive standpoint? Also from an offensive standpoint, I didn't think you were a point guard and you did a Good job of handling the basketball. I thought you're more of a wing.
Joseph Hartman • 12:59
Yeah, no, that's definitely the biggest thing. I just try to be versatile and do whatever I can to help the team win and, you know, just trying to work on my game as much as possible.
Brian Boesch • 13:08
Joseph, appreciate it, man.
Brian Boesch • 13:09
Congratulations. Thanks for stopping by.
Joseph Hartman • 13:10
Thank you guys so much.
Brian Boesch • 13:11
Now let's hear from a man who, as mentioned earlier, just glad to be back out there. Jalen Reed stopped by.
Brian Boesch • 13:17
Take me through what it was like. You've had a long journey back. How do you think just physically, mentally, you played out there today and how it felt.
Jalen Reed • 13:24
Physically, physically, I feel really good. It's been probably, honestly it's been like two years since I've been played in a consistent season. So I'm positive, looking forward to the season. Mentally, I'm a long way from feeling as comfortable as I did out there, but it's just day one.
Brian Boesch • 13:37
What was the key to success for you guys? What do you feel like you as
Brian Boesch • 13:40
a team did best?
Jalen Reed • 13:42
I feel like we did things really well and things we can improve on. I think a lot of us all know we can improve on defense, especially in the two point round the rim. We're a much better two point defense team than we showed tonight. But offensively, I feel like you guys got to see a lot of flashes of who we can be, how we can move the ball, how talented we are, how much space we can create on the floor. And so I'm really proud of my team for tonight.
Brian Boesch • 14:03
And lastly, what is it like when you get a chance to go out there with guys like Elliot and Trey? They set you up and vice versa.
Jalen Reed • 14:09
It's an amazing feeling because you know, teams, teams are always under pressure. You really can't help off EC and then you're always under pressure because Tray can go get a buggy from anywhere on the floor. So to play with guys like that honestly is. Is an honor and I'm super excited to to finish out the season with these guys.
Brian Boesch • 14:23
Great to see out there, Jalen.
Jalen Reed • 14:24
Thanks.
Brian Boesch • 14:25
Let's finish it up with Moustapha Thiam.
Brian Boesch • 14:27
Just to start defensively, what do you think this team did well on the defensive side of the floor?
Moustapha Thiam • 14:32
I think we communicated very well coming out of the first half. We were a little sloppy on defense. We're letting a little bit of stuff go, but as the game goes on, I think we pick up our intensity on defense and just talk more.
Brian Boesch • 14:44
Your relationship on the court with JP. It seems like you guys have a
Brian Boesch • 14:48
really unique ability to affect games.
Brian Boesch • 14:50
How have you learned to play with him at the same time?
Moustapha Thiam • 14:53
I mean, we only been here for I would say six months, seven months. And we practice enough, me and him and you know, we high level at least. So if you practice for like six months, of course we're going to know how to play each other. But he's just a great player to play, to play with and we have a great combination and I think we're going to be good.
Brian Boesch • 15:11
Pretty cool start. Tap one. Elliot finds you. Elliot loves to have the lob threats. Cool to see that. How did it play out? Was that to the script as expected as it went on the court?
Moustapha Thiam • 15:21
Yeah. I mean, before the game started, of course, you just draw it. And then he said onside tip and Elliot say, if you open for like a second, I'm gonna throw it. I'm like, okay, I'm gonna catch it. And then I was. And then I was open and he throw it. So I think it was a great pass.
Brian Boesch • 15:35
A couple of freshmen certainly stood out. Joseph Hartman, Quinn Costello. What'd you see from those two young fellas?
Moustapha Thiam • 15:40
Oh, yeah, I'm really proud of the freshmen because, you know, being in college for the first time and being around like old people is not easy. But I think they working really hard and I think they're going to be really good for us.
Brian Boesch • 15:50
Lastly, finally getting a chance to see another team play in front of fans. It's a long way to go even though the regular season starts. But how valuable was this experience for you in this team?
Moustapha Thiam • 15:59
It was great. We were tired to play each other every day in practice, so we just was ready to get out there and play somebody else. I think it's a great experience. Experience, especially these three games I think is gonna make us figure out what's our identity and then I think we're
Brian Boesch • 16:13
gonna be good fun to watch you. Thanks, Moustapha.
Moustapha Thiam • 16:14
Thank you, man, very much.
Brian Boesch • 16:15
We'll get into our highlight recaps as we get back into the flow of the regular season because right now it's just about building blocks. And you heard from some of those players, some positives, some things to work on, but most certainly a good first step and the first step of many for Michigan men's basketball. All right, that'll do it for me. Brian Boesch, for all those who made it possible, for all those who joined the show. Thanks for listening. We appreciate you being here. And we'll be back Tuesday. Fun conversations. Ahead, we'll have KT Harrell, new Michigan assistant coach. He was an elevation on the staff after being the director of basketball operations over the last couple of seasons. And then excited to share a women's basketball interview with Te'Yala Delfosse, her first time on the podcast. And boy, what a tremendous role she played last year.
Brian Boesch • 17:01
The upside sky high for Te'Yala coming up in twenty six, twenty seven. All right, for everybody. I'm Brian. Thanks for listening. And go Blue.
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Jeff Laurence • 17:09
Thanks for listening to today's edition of Defend the Block, part of our Michigan Athletics Podcast network, M GO Blue Podcasts. The preceding has been a Learfield presentation of the Michigan Sports Network.
