B1G Basketball Preview 2026: Michigan Wolverines

Last Season

The first year of Dusty May was great. He imported Danny Wolf and Vlad Goldin as a modern day Twin Towers, and they caused teams fits all season. They were in the mix for the conference but a three game losing streak to end the regular season killed that. Even so, they won the BTT and then made the Sweet Sixteen, where they were dispatched by Auburn South. Dusty May, perhaps not a flash in the pan. Maybe the Buckeyes should have hired him.

Defectors

• The NBA came calling for Danny Wolf, who was drafted 27th overall to the Nets. Fellow twin tower Vlad Goldin wasn't drafted but is on contract with the Heat
• The portal claimed prizes in Tre Donaldson (Miami), Sam Walters (SMU), Justin Pippen (Cal), and sadly for name fans, Phat Phat Brooks (Central Michigan)
• Rubin Jones ran out of eligibility, as did the last member of the Howard dynasty, Jace Howard

Starters

• PG Elliot Cadeau, 6'1'' Junior: Cadeau is a former five star recruit who comes over from North Carolina. He loves to pass the ball, and his assist rate was just under 40% last season, good for 13th in the country. He also had a habit of passing the ball to the wrong team, as he averaged over three turnovers a game.
• SG Nimari Burnett, 6'5'' Senior: Burnett returns for his senior year at Michigan and is a mostly known quantity. He plays defense and shoots threes. Anyone doubling the big guys underneath the basket better keep track of him.
• SF Roddy Gayle, 6'5'' Senior: The former OSU guard is a senior who can still slash to the basket. However, his shooting cratered last season and dropped to 23% from three. That gets close to teams deciding not to guard him if he's too far from the basket. He shot 43% as a freshman, so it's not crazy to suggest his ability to shoot straight may be the difference between Good Michigan and Great Michigan.
• PF Yaxel Lendeborg, 6'9'' Senior: Yaxel comes via the portal from UAB and he was a big fish. He was the number one rated transfer on 247 and flirted with going pro before ultimately deciding to come back to college. For the learning! He was sensational at UAB and led them in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. All of the predictions of Michigan greatness this season revolve around him. No pressure.
• C Aday Mara, 7'2''Junior: Some B1G Crime landed Mara from UCLA. I've always been interested in him - he was a former five star recruit who Mick Cronin seemed not terribly interested in. But he did play really well at times, especially defensively. With Mara, Lendeborg, and Morez Johnson, Michigan will be able to trot out some lineups that will be impossible to score against.

Bench

• C Morez Johnson, 6'9'' Sophomore: More B1G crime, as Johnson comes over from Croatia Illinois. He can rebound, he can blocks shots, and he can dunk. He led them in scoring against Oakland and actually started as Lendeborg was struggling with an injured hand. Should play a ton of minutes either way.
• SF Will Tschetter, 6'8'' Senior: Tschetter looks to get a lot of minutes this year, too, as his great shooting will be needed and his lack of athleticism will be covered by the defensive stoppers under the basket. He might start if Roddy Gayle continues to construct houses with his shooting.
• SG L.J. Cason, 6'2'' Sophomore: Cason didn't play a ton last year and didn't do much when he did play, but he's the only guard in reserve who isn't a freshman.
• Five fabulous freshmen to mention. The most likely to play a lot is top guard Trey McKinney, a top 25 prospect who scored 21 against Oakland. A couple forwards in four star Winters Grady and three star Ricky Liburd. They also have a Euroball center in Malick Kordel out of Germany. Finally, Kiwi Oscar Goodman redshirted last year.

Outlook

MaximumSam: It would be very difficult for this team to stink, absent a rash of injuries. They are getting mentioned as possible national champions, and Torvik ranks them third behind Houston and Duke. None of that is crazy - though I think they need either Roddy Gayle to remember how to shoot or one of the freshmen to be a legit player, as otherwise they are a bit thin in the backcourt.

But the frontcourt, whew! Going to be a tall order to do much against them on the interior. Mara can patrol the basket and Lendeborg and Johnson can really move. The defense should be tough, and they scored 121 against Oakland, who doesn't even play that fast. If the offense is that good, watch out.

BoilerUp89: The front court is deep and super talented. Calling them the best front court in the country isn't an overstatement. Can the guard play live up to them? To be determined but that's what determines Michigan's ceiling. Gayle and Cadeau are the guys to watch.