The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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40 THE WOLVERINE ❱ NOVEMBER 2025 2025-26 BASKETBALL PREVIEW BREAKOUT PLAYER Graduate forward Yaxel Lendeborg U-M's most celebrated addition yet in the trans- fer era is a big one — the top-ranked portal player and a potential National Player of the Year can- didate. The Wolverines were able to hold off his desire to play in the NBA for one more go-round at the college level on a potential title contender. He should fill a similar role to last year's breakout star Danny Wolf, who was a first-round pick of the Brooklyn Nets this past spring. MOST IMPROVED RETURNEE Sophomore guard LJ Cason Cason was a late addition to last year's recruiting class and had many impressive moments during his freshman season, but he had plenty of improve- ments to make. By all accounts, he has a chance to be one of the team's breakout players and per- haps more of an on-ball role due to U-M's roster construction. If he can cut it on the defensive end of the floor, it would not be surprising to see him make a much bigger impact. UNSUNG HERO Graduate guard Nimari Burnett Once upon a time, the sixth-year guard entered the Michigan program with questions about his offensive game and a long history of injury-ham- pered seasons. Since then, he has started all 69 games for U-M on both ends of the spectrum, both in an 8-win season in 2023-24 and last year's run to the NCAA Sweet 16. SURPRISE IMPACT Freshman guard/forward Winters Grady Most of the preseason hype has gone toward freshman guard Trey McKenney, and rightfully so. But Grady, the No. 59 overall recruit in the country, looks like he can add some immediate value as a quick-release shooter off the bench. The Wolver- ines lacked consistent shot-making off the bench last year, and Grady could provide that from the jump as a first-year contributor. THREE TOUGHEST NONCONFERENCE CHALLENGES 1. Vs. Duke (Washington, D.C.), Feb. 21 Two historic college basketball programs will meet late in the season for a nonconference clash a few weeks before the end of the regular season with storylines aplenty. Both Duke and Michigan are expected to be in the mix for the national title again this year, and it could potentially be a preview for the NCAA Tournament that tips off a month after the game. 2. Players Era Championship (Las Vegas), Nov. 24-27 The 18-team tournament features 27 games over three days at MGM Garden Arena and Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas. U-M's first two oppo- nents have been revealed with a tilt against San Diego State on Nov. 24 and a Sweet 16 rematch with Auburn on Nov. 25. Seeding for the cham- pionship and third-place games will be based on records, point differential, points scored and points allowed. The event features over $20 million in ancillary NIL opportunities. 3. Vs. Wake Forest (Detroit), Nov. 11 The Demon Deacons make a return trip from a semi-home-and-home series from last season, when Wake Forest won a 72-70 showdown in Greensboro, N.C. This year's game will take place at Little Caesars Arena, home of the Detroit Pis- tons. LIKELY STARTERS POINT GUARD: Junior Elliot Cadeau (9.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 6.2 apg, 44.5 FG% at North Carolina) SHOOTING GUARD: Graduate Nimari Burnett (9.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.5 apg, 47.6 FG%) SMALL FORWARD: Senior Roddy Gayle Jr. (9.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.2 apg, 43.1 FG%) POWER FORWARD: Graduate Yaxel Lend- eborg (17.7 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 4.2 apg, 52.2 FG% at UAB) CENTER: Sophomore Morez Johnson Jr. (7.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 0.3 apg, 64.2 FG% at Illinois) LJ Cason averaged 4.3 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 11.8 minutes per game coming off the bench as a true freshman last season. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL BASKETBALL QUICK QUICK GUIDE GUIDE BY ANTHONY BROOME