In Year of the Freshmen, Final Four favorite Michigan has one, too
In Year of the Freshmen, Final Four favorite Michigan has one, too
Nancy Armour, USA TODAY Fri, March 13, 2026 at 9:16 PM UTC
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CHICAGO – There was just one place Michigan freshman Trey McKenney came up short in his postseason debut.
Good thing for the Wolverines, it wasn’t on the floor.
“He listens to the same kind of music I do, all the old-school stuff. I was actually quizzing him earlier,” Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan’s Big Ten Player of the Year, said.
“He failed,” Lendeborg said, laughing. “`If You Think You’re Lonely Now,’ by Bobby Womack. He got that wrong.”
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Michigan can live with that after McKenney nailed the performance that mattered.
The freshman had 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting along with four rebounds, a block and a steal as Michigan held off Ohio State 71-67 on Friday, March 13, in the Wolverines’ first game at the Big Ten tournament.
The Wolverines will play Wisconsin in the semifinals on Saturday, March 14, giving them the chance to avenge their only conference loss this season.
“It's amazing to see his journey,” Lendeborg said. “A lot of guys hit freshman walls. I don't think he hit one at all. He's going to continue to thrive and it's great to see.”
Michigan is going to need it.
The Wolverines are a heavy favorite to make the Final Four, maybe win the school’s second national title, because of Lendeborg, who is an all-around wrecking ball, and Aday Mara, the Big Ten's defensive player of the year.
But losing backup point guard LJ Cason to a torn ACL late last month was a blow.
“No one's going to replace LJ. He's a different bird, man. He can get to where he wants to. He's strong enough,” Michigan coach Dusty May said Friday. “So everyone else just has to be a little bit better in their version of their best version.”
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McKenney and Roddy Gayle Jr., in particular.
A McDonald’s All American and Michigan’s Mr. Basketball, McKenney arrived at Michigan as one of the most heralded players in the NCAA’s best freshman class in decades. In his first game with the Wolverines, McKenney dropped 21 points and went 6-of-8 from 3-point range.
But while McKenney has been steady all season, he’s no longer in the conversation of freshman phenoms. He’s not even the best freshman in the Big Ten, that honor going to Illinois’ Keaton Wagler.
Cason’s injury gives McKenney a chance to put himself back in the spotlight.
With Lendeborg having an off night offensively — he finished with six points on 1-of-4 shooting — and Mara trying to shake free of Ohio State’s defense, McKenney carried the load for Michigan in the first half. He was the only Wolverine in double figures, with 10 points.
His only basket in the second half was a driving layup with a little over 12 minutes to go, but it came as Ohio State was rallying and before Mara found his groove. Mara would finish with 17 points to lead the Wolverines.
“I don't think there's really any pressure,” McKenney said, “it's just a different level of basketball.”
Sure. But the postseason has spun more than one talented freshman sideways, no matter how many state titles or AAU showcases they have on their resumes.
McKenney, though, didn’t seem flustered in the least. In addition to his shooting precision, he finished without a turnover despite playing 27 minutes, one off his season high.
“Ultimately, just play winning basketball,” McKenney said. “I think you don't make it more than what it really is.”
There aren’t going to be many games when Lendeborg doesn’t stuff the stat sheet for Michigan. He’s scored in double figures in all but seven of Michigan’s 32 games, and has had only one other game in which he took four shots or fewer.
But if he, or any of the other Wolverines, have off nights, it’s nice to know McKenney is ready to pick up the slack.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michigan freshman Trey McKenney reminds everyone he's got game, too
Source: “AOL Sports”
