It has only been a week since Michigan's Sweet 16 run fizzled out. A lot has changed during that span. Tre Donaldson is the most paralyzing loss, but Elliot Cadeau is no slouch as his replacement. With about three scholarships left to utilize, Michigan basketball head coach Dusty May is carefully structuring his roster to compete for more championships in 2026. So far, May has found at least three starters to replenish the roster and is hunting for more.
The portal will remain active for another two and half weeks. The deadline to declare for the NBA is at the end of April. The combine will separate the men from the boys and clarity about the roster should be known by then. The coaches are also testing the waters on some incoming freshman who have reopened their recruitment because of all the coaching changes.
Point-Elliot Cadeau and Phat Phat Brooks
Cadeau is the unchallenged starter at the point. Brooks better be ready to contribute for about 10 minutes a night or more. Another freshman or transfer would round this group out just right. Word has been circulating that Princeton guard Xaivian Lee may be a name to watch. However, he has a do-not-contact tag designated to his transfer status. The last couple of times Michigan basketball went the Ivy League route, it worked out pretty well for them.
Combo Guards/Small Forwards-LJ Cason, Roddy Gayle Jr., Trey McKenney, Winters Grady, Oscar Goodman
LJ Cason can handle the basketball when Cadeau is catching a breather. I would assume that McKenney will be taught to do the same since he has the most to gain while in college. Gayle can be a starter if coach May doesn't expect Nimari Burnett back or go shopping for another wing in the portal.
Burnett would give Michigan basketball a fourth rotational option at this position to put in the lineup. Otherwise, it will be between Cason, McKenney, and Gayle vying for two starting slots. Having Goodman around for a redshirt year during this run might just turn out to be a blessing in disguise 365 days from now. Grady put on a promising performance for himself on ESPN this week. With all the seniority ahead of him, it seems like a stretch that he'll be in the mix, but I wouldn't rule it out either.
Missing Rubin Jones on the defensive end will be something that Michigan may not figure out until late in the season like they did this time around. This core looks finalized, minus Burnett, but don't hold me to that. Anything can change in an instant in today's college environment.
Bigs-Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson, Will Tschetter
Lendeborg and Johnson are the starters unless Lendeborg has a cup of coffee with the Wolverines and bolts for the NBA. Tschetter can be the sixth man kind of like he was this year. Beyond those three, Michigan has to find a true inside presence like Vlad Goldin was. Johnson is more of a power forward prototype.
as it stands, fully expecting
— Davis Moseley (@DavisMoseley) April 5, 2025
Cadeau at PG
Yaxel at PF
Morez at C
you need shooting and perimeter defense and I’m just not sure there is a better fit in the country than Nimari Burnett.
Rumors are swirling that May could strike a deal with UCLA seven footer Aday Mara, but nothing is confirmed. He could start or pave the way for Johnson to man the middle. Either way, they would likely split time, and the Wolverines are missing a rim and paint protector at the moment. I wouldn't be too worried because May constructed a Final Four team with unknowns that have now become household names.
As much as we all want Danny Wolf to return for his player of the year run, the stars don't seem to be aligning that way, especially with the Wolverines flirting with Mara. With or without Wolf, this is already a tournament team, and they might even be a higher seed than they were stuck with in 2025. As it currently stands, Michigan basketball is probably one or two players away from being considered a serious threat to win it all next April.