Year two under Dusty May for the Michigan Wolverines has a chance to be very special. May’s Wolverines ended the 2024-25 campaign on a high note, winning the Big Ten Tournament and reaching the Sweet 16. Sure, their frontcourt duo of Danny Wolf and Vlad Goldin is gone. The Wolverines have more than made up for it with their transfer portal additions. This time around, they might have a shot to climb to the top of the Big Ten overall. Let’s take a closer look at what can be expected of Michigan basketball in 2025-26.
Michigan Basketball 2025-26 Preview: Wolverines Ready to Roll
Retooled Roster
Every season is going to have changes, and that’s no different for the Wolverines. Gone are Wolf and Goldin. But they also lost Tre Donaldson to the portal, after his role diminished significantly during the final few games last season. Michigan had to better itself at the point guard spot, and they seem to be very confident they did that with the addition of North Carolina transfer Elliot Cadeau. L.J. Cason will also help maintain that role after a promising freshman campaign. Nimari Burnett and Roddy Gayle Jr. also return in the backcourt for the Wolverines.
It appears Coach May has built a solid foundation with players who can deliver in clutch moments. The Wolverines had to find some answers for their frontcourt, and they more than did so. They landed three very impactful transfers in the post. It’s headlined by Yaxel Lendeborg (UAB), who was a predicted fringe first round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft before electing to stay in college. Lendeborg has a real chance to become a star in the Big Ten. Add in Morez Johnson Jr. (Illinois) and Aday Mara (UCLA), and the Wolverines have stacked the deck in their post for the 2025-26 season. Having a graduate player in Will Tschetter still in Ann Arbor doesn’t hurt the team either.
The freshman class for the Wolverines is nothing to frown at, either. It’s headlined by Flint, Michigan’s Trey McKenney. McKenney was a Top 25 player in the class and has the potential to be on the floor quickly for the Wolverines. He’s joined by Ricky Luburd, Winters Grady, and a 7-foot-2 center from Germany, Malick Kordel.
It cannot be forgotten that New Zealand’s Oscar Goodman will be looking to make an impact after landing with Michigan midway through the season in 2024-25.
Rest of the Roster: Howard Eisley Jr., Charlie May, Harrison Hochberg
Hard to believe summer is already winding down. But it’s been a season full of productivity, inspiration, and excitement. Want proof? Just check out MSTV’s @EdUofM report to see what’s been happening.#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/ZxMeQrD4XI
— Michigan Men’s Basketball (@umichbball) July 30, 2025
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Schedule Outlook
Michigan basketball is out to prove they are among the best in the Big Ten. Coach May’s team will have plenty of opportunities to do so. Michigan has some huge games on its non-conference schedule, with plenty of chances to prove what it’s got. They have a huge clash with ACC foe Wake Forest at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit in early November.
They will take the party on the road to TCU during that week as well, before partaking in the Players’ Era Championship in Las Vegas. That event begins with a game against San Diego State, before they get a rematch with the Auburn Tigers, the team that knocked the Wolverines out in the 2025 Sweet 16.
SCHEDULE NEWS: The Wolverines open their trip to the 2025 Players Era Championship in Las Vegas with San Diego State (Nov. 24) and follow with an NCAA Sweet 16 rematch against Auburn (Nov. 25); Get all the details below!
Release: https://t.co/pwqM2vTDEb#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/LntfFdYr7B
— Michigan Men’s Basketball (@umichbball) July 1, 2025
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They get one more major test when they face the Duke Blue Devils in the Duel in the District event in the nation’s capital. That game doesn’t come until late February. That is an odd date, especially in the middle of Big Ten play.
Speaking of conference play, Michigan has plenty of opportunities to score some wins. They get Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Rutgers, UCLA, USC, and Wisconsin all at the Crisler this season. The road is going to be where they are tested, with road-only contests at Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Northwestern, Oregon, Purdue, and Washington.
They get home and home games against Penn State, Ohio State, and in-state rival Michigan State.
What to Expect for the Wolverines
Michigan basketball shocked almost everyone by winning the Big Ten Tournament last season. They also finished within the top three in the regular season. They, meanwhile, saw in-state rival MSU score the outright regular season title. With a completely retooled post and plenty of experience, the 2025-26 Michigan basketball team has a real shot to be right at the top of the Big Ten.
It’s hard not to say with confidence, the Wolverines will be among the top five or six teams in the Big Ten this coming season.
Photo credit: © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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