Michigan basketball just gave us a glimpse of what’s coming, and it’s a Moustapha Thiam show. The junior center absolutely went off for 19 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in Michigan’s 98-93 exhibition win over Oregon State on Friday, October 16. If this is “early,” then the rest of the league needs to start paying attention, like, yesterday.
Thiam’s Unstoppable Start Is No Accident
We knew Thiam was a big deal, right? He came to Michigan seen as one of the country’s top available portal centers, and he’s not just living up to the hype, he’s smashing it. That 19-point, 10-rebound, five-assist line isn’t just good, it’s straight-up dominant for an exhibition game. He’s showing exactly why Coach Mike Boynton Jr. brought him in to lead the defending NCAA champions. The man is a force, plain and simple.
Flashy Plays and Effort That Tell the Story
Forget the stat line for a sec, because how Thiam got there was just as impressive. We saw him unleash an insane three-possession stretch early in the game. First, an and-1 on a hook shot, then a monster defensive swat at the rim, and then, boom, a 3-pointer from the right wing on the very next possession. That’s *everything* right there! He wasn’t done, though. Thiam dished a slick behind-the-back pass to Trey McKenney for an easy layup, then dribbled between his legs before pulling up from the right wing for another three. To top it off, he threw a perfect lob to J.P. Estrella for an easy bucket. This guy is not just a scorer or a rebounder, he’s an all-around playmaker, and he’s going to be a nightmare for opposing teams.
This might have been an exhibition, but it set the tone. If this is what we’re getting from Thiam this early, Michigan basketball is looking *spicy* for their defending champion season under Coach Boynton Jr. Get ready, college hoops. The Wolverines are coming.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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