Michigan basketball gets reality check in exhibition loss vs Houston

Michigan's basketball team faced a reality check in their exhibition loss to Houston, falling 83-66 at Van Andel Arena on Sunday, Oct. 25. The Wolverines, who had planned to increase their three-point attempts, struggled with accuracy, making only five of 20 before halftime. Despite a slight improvement after the break, they still managed only nine successful three-pointers out of 33 attempts for the game.

Trey McKenney and Quinn Costello were among the key contributors with two and two three-point field goals, respectively. However, the bench players aside from Oscar Goodman, who had a better shooting night, contributed little to the team's efforts. Rebounding also proved to be a challenge for Michigan, as they were outrebounded by Houston 42-31.

This was the second consecutive game in which Michigan suffered in this aspect, which could prove detrimental when shots aren't falling as they did last year. The Cougars' dominance on the offensive boards didn't translate into much second-chance scoring for Michigan, partly due to two key players' frequent fouls. Additionally, the Wolverines faced significant foul trouble early in the game, with five players picking up multiple fouls by halftime.

This resulted in a depleted bench, with key players like Trey McKenney, L.J. Cason, and Gayle unable to see much playtime. The team's inability to maintain consistency in their shooting and rebounding efforts ultimately led to their defeat against Houston.