College basketball is just on the horizon, and with two exhibition games in the books, the Michigan men’s basketball team is ready to play games that count on its record.
There’s a whole lot to like about
this team, from the transfers and the key returning players, to the freshmen and the depth, defense, and size on this roster. There are plenty of options for the starting lineup, as the Wolverines have several versatile players who can guard multiple positions.
One week before the regular season officially starts, let’s predict Michigan’s starting lineup and the rotation.
Starting lineup prediction
- G Elliot Cadeau
- G Nimari Burnett
- G/F Roddy Gayle Jr.
- F Yaxel Lendeborg
- C Aday Mara
Not a single player in this group started their college career in Ann Arbor — welcome to college athletics in 2025.
Lendeborg being a starter was the easiest prediction on this list. He is the best player on this roster, and he’s so versatile on both ends of the floor. I like pairing him alongside a rim protector and underrated passer in fellow transfer Aday Mara.
Cadeau is a pass-first, traditional point guard who can find both Lendeborg and Mara on lobs. He’s got the most collegiate reps at point guard of anyone on the roster, and he’s started in both of Michigan’s exhibition games. He feels like a lock to start.
I like rounding out the starting lineup with two players who have a good grasp of Dusty May’s offense in Burnett and Gayle, two wings who play at their best when they don’t need to be primary playmakers. They could thrive in transition, with Burnett knocking down deep threes and Gayle getting into the lane and showing off his crafty finishing prowess.
This lineup has a good mix of size, scoring and defense, and every player has plenty of experience. This was the starting lineup in the overtime exhibition win against St. John’s, and I don’t see any reason to deviate from that.
First guys off the bench
- F/C Morez Johnson Jr.
- G L.J. Cason
- F Will Tschetter
All three of these guys are talented enough to start on the majority of Big Ten teams, which showcases the depth this group truly has.
I think the player in this group most likely to earn a few spot starts is Johnson. He took over in the overtime period of that St. John’s exhibition, is the best rebounder on the team, and can play the 4 or the 5. His playing time goes up significantly with injuries or foul trouble.
I could see Johnson often sharing the floor with Cason and Tschetter. Cason is a great microwave scorer who could get some reps at point guard, while Tschetter is a chameleon who could be a big wing at the 3 or play the small ball 5.
If the starters get off to a slow start, I could see these three checking in right after the first media timeout of the game. They’re all good enough to swing the momentum of a game on their own.
Instant impact freshmen
- G Trey McKenney
- G Winters Grady
These are the two whose playing time could vary the most, based on game script and how quickly they adjust to the speed of college basketball.
McKenney, who lost 18 pounds in the offseason, dominated at the high school level as a score-first point guard. He could get minutes as the backup point guard and can earn more minutes if he gets into a rhythm offensively. If he struggles early on, Michigan has the depth to cover up his minutes.
Grady could earn some playing time because of his three-point prowess. If Michigan is in an offensive rut, Grady could come in and launch from deep to try to kickstart the offense. He needs to get better defensively, but he’s a good enough scorer to thrive in 3-4 minute bursts.
The learning curve from high school to college is steep, especially for guards. There could be some games where each guy plays less than 10 minutes, and Michigan rolls with an eight-man rotation of the players listed before them. If they settle in offensively, they both could slowly but surely see their playing time increase.
Question marks, depth pieces
- C Malick Kordel
- G/F Oscar Goodman
- G/F Ricky Liburd
These three are talented players in their own right, but I don’t think they will play meaningful minutes in the majority of games this year.
Liburd told the media he may be redshirting this season, which would make sense considering how much wing depth is on this roster. He’s got a ways to go on both ends of the floor, so a development year could be good for him.
Kordel is an underrated redshirt candidate as well, but Michigan may need him if the Wolverines are in foul trouble or the injury bug hits. He played a decent amount in the Cincinnati exhibition, and he’s got the size and strength you want for a big man. He’s a little raw after getting into the sport later than most prospects, but he’s a good lob threat and rim protector who could play a key role against certain supersized teams.
Goodman is a quality defender and good athlete, but it’s unclear what his role is offensively. He could earn minutes at the wing if Burnett or Gayle get into foul trouble, but he’ll need to guard well off the ball as well.
Would you change anything about this projection? What lineup are you most looking forward to seeing? Let us know in the comments.
