Anyone who thinks Michigan against UConn was a national title game rematch needs to think again.

No.4 UConn sank six 3-point shots in the first half to snatch a 13-point halftime lead and then held off defending basketball national champion Michigan 85-77 Friday night in Boston’s TD Garden.

Though 16th-ranked Michigan’s backcourt remains stellar with Final Four Most Outstanding Player Elliot Cadeau and sophomore Trey McKenney returning to the lineup, the frontcourt and depth is a far cry from the national championship crew.

“I think our team knows that. I just think they are going to keep hearing it everywhere else that they are the defending national champions,” said Michigan first-year coach Mike Boyton after the game.

“As I have said for two months now, this team isn’t defending a national championship. They are trying to defend their own legacy.”

Michigan (1-1) lost its head coach Dusty May to the NBA Dallas Mavericks along with three Lottery Picks: Morez Johnson (Dallas), Yaxel Lendeborg (Golden State) and Aday Mara (Oklahoma City) to the league.

And thinning out the depth chart, Michigan also lost versatile junior guard LJ Cason, who transferred to Miami. Additionally, Michigan shooting guard Roddy Jr. Gayle returned to the roster after receiving a court preliminary injunction awarding him a fifth year of eligibility. 

After a dismal first half of shooting with Michigan hitting just one of eight 3-point attempts and going 10-of-29 from the field overall, the Wolverines regrouped and outscored the Huskies 47-42 in the second half. Most of the production came from McKenney, who led Michigan with 22 points and four 3-point buckets.

“Actually, we got better as the game went on. They were just a little bit better than we were for most of the game,” Boyton said.

Michigan’s revamped frontcourt did outrebound UConn 35-33, led by J.P. Estrella with nine to go with his 19 points. Transfer center Moustapha Thiam, who was shuffled in and out of the lineup because of a week-long illness grabbed five rebounds but scored just two points.

Gayle provided much of Michigan’s hustle points, finishing with 18 points while going 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.

“I thought our rebounding in particular was much improved,” Boyton said. “I thought our ability to withstand our defensive focus even when we were not scoring, we maintained that a lot better.”  

Michigan dropped its final preseason matchup to No.10 Houston 83-66 on Oct. 25, and Boyton believes his team has come a long way in just a short time. The Wolverines were outrebounded by Houston 42-30 with a healthier Thiam in the lineup. 

“I think today was a great step forward. We played in a game similar to this level of competition about 10 days ago against Houston in Grand Rapids. And we were significantly better tonight against similar competition in my opinion. Others may disagree,” he said.

Michigan hosts Marquette Wednesday at 7 p.m. on FS1.