The Michigan Wolverines’ basketball program is on an upward trajectory after last season’s Sweet 16 run, achieved through a patchwork collection of players acquired during the offseason through the transfer portal.
This year’s team includes players from the portal and holdovers alike, who are expected to bind together to form one of the Big Ten’s top teams along with fellow contenders Purdue and Michigan State among others.
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On Monday, the Michigan basketball program shared a video of Coach May giving an impassioned speech to his players while Wolverines guard Nimari Burnett made a prediction on what fans should expect from this season.
Michigan head coach Dusty May cheers on after a play against Auburn during the second half of the Sweet 16 round of NCAA tournament at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga. on Friday, March 28, 2025. © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
May Puts Wolverines’ Season in Perspective
The Michigan Wolverines’ second-year head coach addressed his team in a message posted to its official X account.
He conjured up images of hard working family members in the Wolverines’ basketball family as he implored his team to not take their opportunity to get paid playing the game they love for granted.
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“Culture is what people do everyday, right? It is the only thing that’s important. And this program coming in ready to work and improve is paramount,” May said.
“I’m more pleased with guys coming out that door ready to work excited to be in the gym, because from, because where I come from and the people with my last name didn’t have an opportunity to do this fellas, they didn’t,” he added.
“And I know a lot of you guys, your families are doing hard (expletive) today, driving 18-wheelers, working construction, taking care of other people.
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“That’s what people of my last name are all doing too, they’re working in coal mines and doing electrical work,” May added in a speech viewed over 14,000 times on X.
Burnett also spoke about the Wolverines’ goal of hanging a banner at Crisler Arena in downtown Ann Arbor.
The Wolverines got as much out of their 2024-25 team as humanly possible according to most observers, a testament to May’s coaching abilities.
This upcoming season will show whether May has what it takes to raise the Wolverines’ level to a Final Four type of team.
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Michigan’s Early 2025-26 Outlook
Michigan’s 2025-26 team will include former UAB star Yaxel Lendeborg, the nation’s number one transfer portal addition and a high ceiling NBA prospect who starred at this year’s draft combine.
May has surrounded Lendeborg with top talents including pass-first former North Carolina point guard Elliot Cadeau and promising big men Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr.
Freshman shooting guard Trey McKenney has garnered hype as a potential first year difference maker while fellow freshman forward Winters Grady has shown talents in preseason practices as an inside-out forward with a smooth all-around game.
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May and his team know the opportunities they have in front of them. Michigan’s 2025-26 group is loaded and now the real hard work begins on the practice court with hopes of whipping up a recipe for success this season.
Related: 3 of Dusty May’s Michigan Wolverines Named Among Top Transfers for 2025-26 Season
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Sep 29, 2025, where it first appeared in the College section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
