---
title: "Boynton Era Begins as No. 16 Michigan Opens Title Defense"
url: https://www.herelansing.com/2026/10/27/michigan-basketball-boynton-title-defense-oakland-opener/
date: 2026-10-27T08:52:32-04:00
modified: 2026-10-27T08:52:32-04:00
author: "HERE City State Desk"
categories: ["Sports"]
site: "HERE Lansing"
attribution: "HERE Lansing"
---

# Boynton Era Begins as No. 16 Michigan Opens Title Defense

> ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The banner is new and so is the man in charge. No. 16 Michigan begins defending its national championship on Nov. 2 at home against in-state opponent Oakland, and Mike Boynton Jr. will be on the sideline in place of the coach who built the title team. Dusty May left after

*Source: [HERE Lansing](https://www.herelansing.com/2026/10/27/michigan-basketball-boynton-title-defense-oakland-opener/) — October 27, 2026 by HERE City State Desk*

*From the HERE City State Desk*

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The banner is new and so is the man in charge. No. 16 Michigan begins defending its national championship on Nov. 2 at home against in-state opponent Oakland, and Mike Boynton Jr. will be on the sideline in place of the coach who built the title team.

Dusty May left after the championship run to coach the Dallas Mavericks. The school first named Boynton interim coach, then gave him a two-year deal. He spent the past two seasons as an assistant on the May staff after seven years running Oklahoma State, where he went 119-109 with one NCAA Tournament bid before being let go following a 12-20 season in 2023-24.

Boynton has described those two years beside May as a kind of sabbatical that sharpened how he runs a program, delegates and keeps an even keel day to day.

The roster turned over too. The Wolverines beat UConn in April for the second national title in program history, then watched three frontcourt pieces go in the first 12 picks of the 2026 NBA Draft: Morez Johnson at No. 9, Yaxel Lendeborg at No. 11 and Aday Mara at No. 12. Johnson and Mara walked away from remaining college eligibility.

The backcourt is the bridge. Guards Roddy Gayle Jr., Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney. all return, with Gayle cleared for a fifth season by a court ruling. New faces up front include center Moustapha Thiam, a Cincinnati transfer, and forward J.P. Estrella, who arrives from Tennessee.

One newcomer will not help this winter. Five-star freshman Brandon McCoy tore an ACL during a European trip and is out for the season.

Oakland, the opener opponent, was tabbed fourth in the Horizon League preseason poll.