With the most gifted transfer on board and a roster constructed for multiple championships, Dusty May has Michigan basketball primed to win quite often in 2026. Here are three thoughts on how Michigan has responded to winning a Big Ten tournament championship and advancing to a Sweet 16 appearance this offseason.
1. Landing Yaxel Lendeborg is the equivalent of a five star commitment
Dusty May has his thoroughbred for the presumptive 2026 postseason run. Pairing him with Trey McKenney is going to be a nightmare for defenders and a dream come true for Michiganders. Lendeborg should already be considered as a lottery pick in the 2026 draft, assuming he accomplishes the lofty goals that he has set for himself and the program in his solo year in Ann Arbor.
The Lendeborg decision is almost as big as the Bryce Underwood flip. The Lendeborg news is still fresh, but has commanded hundreds of thousands of views on his account, while Underwood's has come close to surpassing the one million view mark.
2. Lendeborg and McKenney bring the most hype to the program since the 2021 preseason
When Juwan Howard landed Moussa Diabate and Caleb Houstan, the expectations were championships or bust. With Lendeborg and McKenney in the fold, people are already making the same comparisons, and for good reasons. Michigan clearly exceeded expectations in its first year under May and can exceed them again with a national championship.
Losing Diabate and Houstan was the beginning of the downfall for coach Howard, but things are trending in the other direction for coach May. There's no debate that Dusty will have Michigan basketball in the top 10 just like Juwan did four years ago, but with different results.
3. Michigan's NIL is as competitive as anyone's in the country
With the transfers and the returns to the program, Michigan basketball has mastered the NIL game. This should also guarantee future success with the portal and recruiting. Without the money, Michigan probably doesn't obtain the services of Lendeborg and a few other sharpshooters. A championship invitation is knocking on the doorstep of the Crisler Center, and Michigan is eager to accept the assignment.