The Michigan Insider

The first Michigan Spring Game under Kyle Whittingham ended with a 7-6 win for the Maize team over the Blue team. Sam Webb and Josh Newkirk of The Michigan Insider provided a postgame analysis from the Big House. They began by reviewing Bryce Underwood’s performance; the sophomore quarterback completed 3 of 9 passes for 22 yards during the first-quarter thud period. Although his showing was mixed, Coach Whittingham noted it did not reflect Underwood’s progress throughout the spring. The discussion then shifted to freshman quarterback Tommy Carr, who impressed with his decision-making and improvisational skills, leading the team in rushing. Five-star freshman running back Savion Hiter also stood out for his power, footwork, and speed. Jordan Marshall demonstrated strong vision and burst, prompting a discussion of expectations for the 2026 running game. The defensive line performed well, with young players such as Benny Patterson, Lugard Edokpayi, Bobby Kanka, and Deyvid Palepale making notable contributions. While the defense is currently ahead of the offense, Whittingham explained that this is typical when implementing a new offensive system, as he experienced at Utah. The breakdown concluded by emphasizing the Wolverines’ strong buy-in and significant strength gains, which have contributed to the coaching staff’s confidence heading into the fall. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s edition of The Michigan Recruiting Insider, Sam Webb, Steve Lorenz, and Brice Marich discussed the recent commitment of Salt Lake City (West) dual-threat quarterback Kamden Laopati. Lopati, a former Illinois commit, chose Michigan over Notre Dame and several other programs. The team analyzed his fit within Michigan's offensive strategy and noted the possibility of Michigan taking two quarterbacks in this class, with Las Vegas (Nev.) Arbor View’s Thaddeus Thatcher as a strong candidate. The discussion then shifted to receiver recruiting, highlighting Thatcher's Arbor View teammate, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound pass catcher, who has become a top option following a strong visit. The crew also previewed upcoming visits from several top targets, including Top 247 running back Ty Keys from Poplarville (Miss.), edge prospect Marcus Fakatou from Chatsworth (Calif.) Sierra Canyon, and cornerback Joshua Dobson from Cornelius (N.C.). Additionally, they provided an in-depth analysis of the visit implications for Buford (Ga.) linebacker Ethan Hauser, who is scheduled to visit Ann Arbor for the second time in two weeks. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michigan secured its second basketball national championship with a 69-63 victory over Connecticut at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Sam Webb and Josh Newkirk of The Michigan Insider recapped the Wolverines' season-capping performance, highlighting Elliot Cadeau's leadership, Yaxel Lendeborg's resilience, Trey McKenny's decisive shot, and the cohesive team assembled by Dusty May, which once again demonstrated its ability to win in different ways. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the latest episode of The Michigan Basketball Insider, Sam Webb and Tim McCormick preview the national championship game between Michigan and Connecticut. Tim begins by highlighting Michigan’s dominant interior defense and improved three-point shooting in its win over Arizona. He praises Aday Mara for significantly raising his draft stock, potentially into the lottery, and credits Elliot Cadeau’s defense as a key factor in the victory. Tim also notes Trey McKenney’s shooting has put the freshman on NBA draft boards. The discussion then shifts to the upcoming matchup with UConn, focusing on Danny Hurley's tactical strengths, Tarris Reed’s development, and Alex Karaban’s versatility. They address Yaxel Lendeborg’s knee and ankle injuries, and discuss strategies to protect him defensively, as well as the possible impact of Solo Ball’s foot injury for UConn. Although both expect a tougher contest than against Arizona, they predict a close Michigan victory. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the latest episode of Steady Droppin Dimes, Sam Webb and Daniel Horton provide a preview of the national championship game between Michigan and Connecticut. The episode opens with a recap of UCONN’s Final Four win over Illinois, highlighting the Huskies’ defensive strength and the Illini’s struggles. The discussion then shifts to Michigan's decisive victory over Arizona, focusing on Michigan's defense, Aday Mara’s two-way impact, Elliot Cadeau’s leadership, and Trey McKenney’s scoring off the bench. The hosts also address Yaxel Lendeborg’s knee and ankle injuries, with Daniel outlining the expected treatment plan and its potential effect on his performance. Key matchups and each team’s strengths and weaknesses are analyzed. Daniel, who previously predicted Michigan’s double-digit win over Arizona, now forecasts a 7-10 point victory for the Wolverines. If you have ground transportation needs, ride as the Michigan Football and basketball teams do, then ride with Golden Limo. Whether riding in southeast Michigan, anywhere in the country, or even abroad, with their fleet of luxury SUVs, sprinters, and charter buses, Golden can get you there! Book your reservation today at www.goldenlimo.com, or call their team at 734-668-8282. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michigan defeated Arizona 91-73, led by Aday Mara's dominant performance, who posted 26 points and nine rebounds. After the game, The Michigan Insider's Sam Webb and Josh Newkirk dissected the beatdown, emphasizing Michigan's dominance both inside and outside the arc, without Yaxel Lendeborg for much of the game due to injury. Its shooting prowess proved a major separator, as the Wolverines hit 12 threes to Arizona's six. Furthermore, Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney served as the perimeter engines, with Cadeau recording 10 assists and McKenney scoring 16 points off the bench on 6/9 shooting and 4/6 from three. Despite Lendeborg's injury, Michigan is now favored to win the national championship against UConn. However, we detail why the Huskies, known for their strong defense and balanced scoring, are likely to be a more formidable foe than Arizona proved to be. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the latest episode of Steady Droppin Dimes, Sam Webb and Daniel Horton preview Michigan’s upcoming matchup with Arizona. Daniel predicts Michigan will win by double digits, pointing out their strong execution and physical play. He also notes that Arizona’s offense can be predictable, which gives Michigan a chance to take advantage on defense. Sam and Daniel agree that Elliot Cadeau’s defense will be key, and they see Trey McKenney as a potential difference-maker on offense. Horton believes Michigan’s talent and execution could take them all the way to a national championship. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the latest episode of The Michigan Basketball Insider, Sam Webb and Tim McCormick discuss Michigan's journey to the Final Four, highlighting the team's dominant victory over Tennessee, and looking ahead to Saturday night’s matchup with Arizona. Tim praises Yaxel Lendeborg’s development into a versatile, clutch player, comparing him to past greats, and labeling him “the best two-way player in Michigan basketball history.” The conversation then turns to the matchup with the Wildcats, where they emphasize the importance of Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr avoiding early fouls to remain effective inside. Tim predicts a Michigan win, citing the team's physical dominance, transition game, superior three-point shooting, and notes the roles of Nimari Burnett and Roddy Gayle as potential deciding factors in the outcome. The episode concludes with a look at the other side of the Final Four bracket and a discussion about the best matchup for Michigan. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Zach Shaw and Steve Lorenz check in on the Michigan football team after a handful of spring practices, assessing where the Wolverines stand in key areas such as position battles, breakout players and more. They open with a look at the general first impressions — both in press conferences and behind the scenes — about spring practices under the Wolverines’ new coaching regime. They discuss the organization and experience being higher than in past years, as well as the blend of coaches and players. They next look at key position battles they’re watching closely this spring, on both offense and defense. They continue with a look at potential breakout players with the most to gain this spring. They close with a look at special teams, strength and conditioning and other storylines they’re looking at entering the second half of spring practices. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Following Michigan's decisive 95-62 victory over Tennessee to reach the Final Four, The Michigan Insider's Josh Newkirk and Samuel Webb broke down the Wolverines' dominant performance. They highlighted Michigan's strong defense, which limited the Volunteers to 24% shooting in the first half and fueled a 21-0 run. They also discussed Yaxel Lendeborg's impressive play, advocating for his recognition as the NCAA tournament's top player and countering Wally Sczerbiak's claim that Lendeborg is merely a good player on a great team. The conversation then turned to Elliot Cadeau's readiness to compete against elite point guards, as well as notable bench contributions from Trey McKenney and Rody Gayle. The episode continued with a preview of Michigan's Final Four matchup, considered by some to be the game of the year. It concluded with insights into the keys to victory and another conversation about Dusty May's coaching prowess and the importance of retaining him at Michigan. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a special Sunday morning episode of Steady Droppin Dimes, Sam Webb and Daniel Horton preview Michigan's Elite Eight matchup against Tennessee. The conversation begins by recapping the Wolverines' Sweet 16 win over Alabama and their ability to adapt to different styles of play. They highlighted Michigan's second-half defensive dominance and Yaxel Lendeborg's continued assertiveness offensively. The discussion then turns to Tennessee, where the Vols' size and offensive rebounding prowess are profiled. Specific attention is given to the Vols' primary offensive weapons, point guard Ja'kobi Gillespie, and star freshman forward Nate Ament. Michigan's bench, led by Roddy Gayle Jr. and Trey McKenney, is cited as a key advantage in Daniel's prediction of a double-digit victory. If you have ground transportation needs, ride as the Michigan Football and basketball teams do, then ride with Golden Limo. Whether riding in southeast Michigan, anywhere the country, or even abroad, with their fleet of Luxury SUV's, sprinters, and charter buses, Golden can get you there! Book your reservation today at www.goldenlimo.com, or call their team at 734-668-8282. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michigan won its Sweet 16 matchup against Alabama 90-77 on Friday night, advancing to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight. The Michigan Insider's Sam Webb, Josh Newkirk, and Alejandro Zuniga provided a live breakdown of the game from Chicago. They highlighted Yaxel Lendeborg's consistent offensive aggression and the Wolverines' dominant second-half defense, which held Alabama to just 28 points after the Crimson Tide had scored 49 in the first half. Key defensive adjustments, such as more physical play against ball screens and improved communication on switches, played a significant role in the turnaround. The bench contributions from Trey McKenney and Roddy Gayle were also profiled. The postgame discussion concluded with a look at potential improvements as the Wolverines prepare for their Elite Eight matchup against Tennessee. The postgame discussion concluded with a look at likely improvements heading into the Wolverines Elite Eight matchup with Tennessee. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michigan secured a 95-72 victory over Saint Louis in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16. Big Ten Player of the Year Yaxel Lendeborg led the team with 25 points, while Aday Mara made a substantial impact by recording 16 points, five rebounds, five assists, and four of the Wolverines' nine blocks. Elliot Cadeau contributed 12 points, eight assists, and only two turnovers. Michigan's transition offense proved decisive, as evidenced by 20 team assists, and the defense was particularly effective against Billikens' standout Robbie Avila, who was limited to nine points on 3-for-13 shooting. Sam Webb, Josh Newkirk, and Alejandro Zungia (reporting live from Buffalo), emphasized Michigan's cohesiveness and athleticism, highlighting key momentum plays such as Lendeborg's transition dunk in the second half and the reverse alley-oop from Lendeborg to Mara in the first half. Michigan will face either Alabama or Texas Tech in the Sweet 16, with both potential opponents possibly missing key players due to injury or suspension. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the latest episode of The Michigan Basketball Insider, Sam Webb and Tim McCormick review Michigan's 101-80 NCAA Tournament victory over Howard and preview the Wolverines’ upcoming game against Saint Louis. They commend Morez Johnson and Aday Mara for their strong performances and discuss Dusty May’s effective in-game adjustments, such as implementing full-court pressure in the second half. The hosts also address Yaxel Lendeborg’s limited shot attempts and consider strategies to encourage greater offensive aggression. The episode concludes with an analysis of the Saint Louis Billikens, insights from Tim’s experience broadcasting their games, a discussion of tournament upsets, and a mention of Tim’s Go Blue Hoops podcast. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sam Webb, Josh Newkirk, and Alejandro Zuniga analyze Michigan's 101-80 victory over Howard, highlighting standout performances by Morez Johnson Jr., who shot 8-for-8, and Aday Mara. They also commend Roddy Gayle for contributing 14 points off the bench. Michigan's offense, which scored 1.39 points per possession in the first half, improved in the second half, with a focus on interior scoring. The discussion addresses Yaxel Lendeborg's recent low usage, potential causes, his health, and strategies the coaching staff may use to encourage greater offensive aggression. They note Trey McKenney's developing midrange skills and conclude by emphasizing the importance of matching the opponent's intensity throughout the next tournament matchup. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Zach Shaw and Alejandro Zuniga recap the Michigan men’s basketball team’s 2-1 showing in the Big Ten Tournament, and look ahead to the Wolverines’ draw in the NCAA Tournament. They open by looking at what they learned about Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament in Chicago. They discuss the Wolverines’ offensive struggles, particularly since LJ Cason went down with a torn ACL, as well as Michigan’s ability to win two games with its defense in the tournament. They also look at what went wrong against Purdue in the championship game, and whether that is cause for concern in the NCAA Tournament. In the second half of the episode, they look at the Wolverines’ NCAA Tournament draw. They discuss the Midwest Regional, the potential opening-weekend matchups in Buffalo, and whether or not they think Michigan will make the Final Four. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Zach Shaw and Steve Lorenz break down the biggest storylines they’re watching ahead of Michigan football beginning spring practices Tuesday. They open with a look at the offense, discussing the revamped wide receiver room, the high-potential offensive line, potential star freshman Savion Hiter, the development of rising sophomore Bryce Underwood and more. In the second half of the episode, they discuss the biggest question marks on Michigan’s defense, how some of the new transfers fit in, what a new defensive scheme might mean for roles on defense, the Wolverines’ effort to improve special teams and a new strength and conditioning coach. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Follow Inside College Basketball Now on Apple or Spotify Jon Rothstein breaks down his bracket. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Zach Shaw and Alejandro Zuniga break down the Michigan men's basketball team's record-setting regular season, which included a program record for wins, a Big Ten record for conference wins and the best road record in the Wolverines' history. They also look ahead to the postseason for Michigan. They open with a reflection on Michigan's 29-2 start, as they discuss the most impressive parts of the Wolverines' season so far. They then pick out games that were particularly emblematic of Michigan's dominance, and look at which players exceeded expectations the most. In the second half of the episode, they turn their attention to Michigan's postseason, discussing the biggest reasons the Wolverines can make a run, and the biggest potential hurdles Michigan must avoid. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michigan punctuated its Big Ten regular season championship with a 90-80 win over no. 8 Michigan State, finishing with a 19-1 conference record. Sam Webb and Josh Newkirk of The Michigan Insider analyzed the victory, highlighting Yaxel Lendeborg's 27-point performance, which may have solidified his case for conference player of the year. They also addressed the latest groin kick by Spartan point guard Jeremy Fears and Tom Izzo's apparent approval of it. The discussion shifted back to Michigan, highlighting significant contributions from its bench, with Roddy Gayle Jr. and Trey McKenney adding 15 and 12 points, respectively. The conversation emphasized the team's unselfish play and strong defense, noting the importance of maintaining these qualities in the Big Ten Tournament and beyond. They also identified a need for greater consistency from Elliot Cadeau and Aday Mara to complete a run to a national championship. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices