The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1547256
40 THE WOLVERINE ❱ NOVEMBER 2026 2026-27 BASKETBALL PREVIEW BREAKOUT PLAYER SENIOR GUARD ELLIOT CADEAU Cadeau is hardly a breakout name given his per- formance down the stretch, winning the Most Outstanding Player award at last year's Final Four. Now, the defending national champs will lean on him to be their de facto quarterback as the team takes on more of a guard-centric look. Cadeau has played in 114 consecutive games, has not missed a game in his college career and started all 40 con- tests last season for the Maize and Blue. MOST IMPROVED RETURNEE SOPHOMORE GUARD TREY MCKENNEY The All-Big Ten Freshman selection was a key performer off the bench last season for the Wol- verines but will move into the starting lineup and joined Cadeau on the 2026-27 Preseason All-Big Ten team. McKenney hit the shot that essentially clinched U-M its first national title since 1989 last April, which could serve as a springboard into a true breakout season with several accolades to follow. UNSUNG HERO GRADUATE FORWARD JALEN REED Reed came over from LSU this offseason after sustaining back-to-back season-ending injuries the last two years, most recently an Achilles injury last November. He has played only 14 games over the last two seasons, but Reed is ahead of schedule and could be a valuable big in the rotation behind JP Estrella and Moustapha Thiam. Michigan can af- ford to ramp him up and started that process dur- ing the exhibition season in October. Reed is one of those players who could be a valuable veteran presence off the bench. SURPRISE IMPACT SOPHOMORE GUARD RICKY LIBURD Liburd did not appear in game action last sea- son and is coming off a hip injury this offsea- son but is expected to crack the rotation and play a big role on this year's team. He was a late bloomer coming out of high school, but his de- velopment year seems to have set him up for a leap as an athletic, versatile defender with range on his jump shot. THREE TOUGHEST NONCONFERENCE CHALLENGES 1. vs. UConn (Boston, Mass.), Nov. 6 The highlight of this year's nonconference slate comes in the second game of the season when U-M heads to Boston for a national championship rematch with the Huskies. The Wolverines took down UConn 69-63 on April 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Head coach Dan Hurley's program is 11th in the preseason KenPom rankings. 2. vs. Louisville (Detroit), Dec. 5 The Cardinals and Wolverines will face off at Little Caesars Arena after both teams made big splashes in the transfer portal this offseason. Lou- isville landed former Oregon star Jackson Shelstad and former Kansas center Flory Bidunga as the faces of its overhaul. Louisville holds a 4-1 all-time advantage in the series with Michigan. 3. Players Era Festival (Las Vegas, Nev.), Nov. 24-28 U-M dominated the Players Era event last year, winning the crown as a statement of its national championship chops. This year, the Wolverines open play against Creighton on Nov. 24 with the winner playing either TCU or Miami (Fla.) on Thanksgiving Day. U-M is guaranteed to play three games but could play a maximum of four in the event. Senior guard Elliot Cadeau was the Most Outstanding Player at the 2026 Final Four and will be counted on to perform again in 2026-27. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL BASKETBALL QUICK QUICK GUIDE GUIDE BY ANTHONY BROOME