Michigan basketball nearing end of summer workouts: 'Our guys have shown a really great work capacity'

Michigan Wolverines basketball is nearing the end of its summer workout cycle, with anticipation building toward preseason practices in September and the start of the 2025-26 campaign in November.

Head coach Dusty May said in an interview with MGoBlueTV’s Ed Kengerski that he’s been pleased with the work ethic of his group.

“Our guys have showed a really great work capacity,” the second-year head coach said. “They’ve been in the gym a lot, they seem to enjoy working, and working together. Just a group that gives us a lot of possibilities on both sides of the ball.”

Michigan has five returning scholarship players, four incoming transfers and four freshmen — an ideal blend for today’s college basketball — and senior guard Roddy Gayle Jr. mentioned that he’s been impressed with that he’s seen so far.

“You see the vision in which Coach Dusty put together this team, with the ability to playmake at each and every level and being able to knock shots down and create shots for themselves as well as others,” Gayle said.

Hard to believe summer is already winding down. But it’s been a season full of productivity, inspiration, and excitement. Want proof? Just check out MSTV’s @EdUofM report to see what’s been happening.#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/ZxMeQrD4XI

— Michigan Men's Basketball (@umichbball) July 30, 2025

Positional size has stood out. Michigan has a 7-foot-3 center in junior Aday Mara and three other forwards who will be in the rotation — sophomore Morez Johnson Jr. (6-foot-9), graduate Yaxel Lendeborg (6-foot-9) and redshirt junior forward Will Tschetter (6-foot-8). The Wolverines also have another seven-footer — freshman center Malick Kordel (7-2).

“It’s been very exciting at times just to look out and see how small we can make the floor look,” May said.

Michigan won’t be the same team as it was last season, when it won 27 games, finished 10th in the Associated Press poll, took home the Big Ten Tournament title and made a run to the Sweet 16. Adjustments are taking place as they build all over again.

“That’s kinda the beauty of it, just feeling uncomfortable, especially in these summers, and being able to break out of your shell and build a relationship with somebody — not even on the court, but off the court, as well,” Gayle said.

“There are things that you have to learn very, very fast with as much turnover as there is in college basketball nowadays with new systems, new player identity and with different and new players on the team,” graduate guard Nimari Burnett added.

Michigan’s returning players understand the expectations for May and the staff, but they’re also allowing the newcomers to put their own stamp on the program.

“Communicate to the new guys that this is what we expect,” Burnett said of how to get everyone on the same page. “At the same time, new guys have been through it in collegiate basketball. There are high-major programs that teach similar values as we do here at Michigan.”

The freshman class is a high-level group — and some of them are ready right out of the box. Guard Trey McKenney and guard/forward Winters Grady are expected to push for playing time right away.

“I’ve never seen freshmen be able to endure the physicality and intensity of practices and lifts … they’ve handled it exceptionally well,” Gayle said. “They’re even able to pick up on Dusty’s offensive and defensive schemes pretty quickly.”

Junior point guard Elliot Cadeau, who transferred to Michigan from North Carolina, has seen an unselfish team in the early going, and believes that trait can carry them a long way this coming season.

“I just think playing as a team,” Cadeau said of the key to making all the new pieces work. “I think we’ve got all the talent, and no player has an ego on the team. I think that will work perfectly for us and bring us all together.”

No egos, but high-achieving individuals with great aspirations — personal and otherwise.

“Their personal goals and selfish ambitions are important to us, as well,” Michigan’s head coach said. “They’re individuals, they’re humans — and they want to play this game for a long time, and you can’t play in college for a long, long time. We try to make sure that what we do is going to prepare them for whatever their next step is after this, and it’ll allow them to have a lot of fun and great success while they’re here, as well.”