The wait for the Dusty May era is over. Michigan basketball tips off the 2024-25 season tonight at home against Cleveland State.
The Vikings are ranked 183 in the preseason Kenpom rankings. Michigan basketball is ranked 36th. The Wolverines are projected to make the NCAA tournament but with a new team, a new roster, and a new head coach, it's hard to know what to expect.
We have seen this team play a couple of exhibition games but the games start counting tonight and here are three thoughts on the 2024-25 Michigan basketball team, as well as one prediction.
How will Dusty May make the pieces fit?
On paper, Michigan basketball looks like an NCAA tournament team. It has two talented bigs, a proven scorer in Roddy Gayle, who averaged 13 points a game despite shooting the ball poorly last season, as well as Rubin Jones, Tre Donaldson and others.
You have plenty of guys who have played in the NCAA tournament. Four of the five starters transferred from NCAA tournament teams last season. You also have Sam Walters coming off the bench.
That matters and the only thing that matters is that May seems to understand how to build a team. He recruited players who will complement each other. Just about everyone on this roster can shoot. There are plenty who can handle the ball, and there are also a lot of versatile defensive pieces.
Still, it will be interesting to see how all of the pieces gel, but I expect this team to be light years ahead of the past two Michigan basketball teams from day one.