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Jeff Borzello
Multiple Authors
Mark Few stood at the podium in the MGM Grand Garden Arena press room in Las Vegas in late November, seemingly looking for solutions.
With 6-foot-9 Graham Ike and 6-10 Braden Huff leading Gonzaga’s frontcourt, Few had grown accustomed to overpowering teams with their height. They showcased this in a 10-point win against Alabama’s fast-paced offense and a 39-point victory over Maryland at the Players Era Festival — then reality hit. Michigan decisively defeated the team that leads the nation in points in the paint, capturing the Feast Week tournament title by 40.
“We’re a team that typically scores well inside … Yet we couldn’t generate any scoring there at all that night,” Few reflected on the most significant loss since he began coaching in 1999. “That’s something that just doesn’t usually happen to us.”
Gonzaga was the last of three consecutive opponents that Michigan had dominated, outscoring them by 110 points combined, a sign of what was to follow for the now No. 1-ranked team in the nation. Very few rivals have been able to decipher Dusty May and the Wolverines since then. Their only defeat was by merely three points, just four of their 25 victories were by a single possession, and their 10 wins by 30 or more points lead Division I. It’s clear they’re well on their way to securing the fourth NCAA tournament 1-seed in program history.
The cornerstone of their success is a uniquely talented frontcourt. They start three transfers over 6-foot-9 — Yaxel Lendeborg (UAB), Morez Johnson Jr. (Illinois), and Aday Mara (UCLA) — all of whom predominantly played center at their previous schools. This isn’t the first time May has successfully embraced size and unconventional lineups; his earlier pairing of 7-footers Danny Wolf and Vladislav Goldin led them to a Big Ten tournament title and a Sweet 16 appearance last year. but, this year’s frontcourt is larger, more skilled, and appears destined to contend for a national title — emboldening them to adopt the mantra of “best team ever assembled.”
“We chant it before every game when we step onto the court,” Johnson stated. “Everyone genuinely believes that. We believe we can win a national championship.”
When May requested defensive coordinator Mike Boynton to review film of Wolf, the newly appointed assistant coach was perplexed.
“My immediate question was, ‘Is Vlad not coming with you?'” Boynton recounted.
Goldin was set to follow May from Florida Atlantic to Michigan, but the new Wolverines coach envisioned pairing him with another 7-footer.
“Watching Danny, I could see his offensive capabilities. But would he truly guard Braden Smith and switch on ball screens? Could he switch onto Dylan Harper?” wondered Boynton. “Are we really intending to fall flat while featuring two 7-footers?”
Initially, even Wolf struggled to see May’s vision. The Yale transfer had not observed how the former Owls coach successfully matched Goldin with a backup big during Florida Atlantic’s Cinderella journey to the 2023 Final Four. Giancarlo Rosado hadn’t started alongside Goldin in the manner May envisioned for Wolf, but May had the footage to illustrate how a twin big lineup would function. They analyzed high-low plays and pick-and-roll situations involving Rosado.
Wolf was onboard. He became the pivotal offensive player, posing challenges for opponents with his ability to run pick-and-rolls as he developed into a first-round NBA draft choice.
The triumphs Wolf and Goldin achieved as a duo didn’t surprise May. His interest in leveraging size as a defensive asset began when he was an assistant under Mike White at Florida, where the Gators featured two 6-foot-8 forwards and 6-foot-11 John Egbunu at center during the 2016-17 season, achieving 27 wins and reaching the Elite Eight as a 4-seed.
“We might not have overwhelmed opponents defensively [at Florida], but we were large and well-positioned. We ranked top five in the nation in defensive efficiency,” May stated. “From then on, I recognized that size contributes greatly to defensive effectiveness.”
With Wolf advancing to the next level and Goldin out of eligibility, Michigan required a frontcourt overhaul, prompting swift action from the coaching staff. Within a fortnight last April, Lendeborg, Johnson, and Mara each committed to the Wolverines.
May was well-acquainted with all three, particularly Lendeborg. The former UAB transfer recorded 17 points and 21 rebounds in an overtime victory against May’s Florida Atlantic squad, one of two encounters between the teams during the 2023-24 season.
“He had a knack for the ball. He was competitive. He took it personally,” May remarked about Lendeborg.
A fractured wrist had sidelined Johnson during his former Illinois team’s sole matchup against Michigan last season, but his physicality and athleticism had already captured May’s attention. even if Mara played only nine minutes against the Wolverines when he was with the Bruins, his potential and shot-blocking stood out to May.
“We aimed to double down,” remarked Boynton, the defensive coordinator. “But all three needed to be agile and capable passers.”
Lendeborg’s commitment truly elevated Michigan into a potential national champion, but his participation wasn’t a certainty. He had also entered the NBA draft, receiving first-round evaluations that increased his stock after attending the combine. May patiently awaited nearly two months until Lendeborg withdrew from the process.
Even with Lendeborg officially committed, it didn’t appear to be a championship-caliber combination initially. Lendeborg’s draft process and Johnson representing the USA at the FIBA U-19 World Cup in Switzerland meant the trio of bigs didn’t spend much time on campus during the offseason. Adding in preseason injuries to Johnson and Mara, May noted they couldn’t really work together as a unit until a week before the season began.
They encountered early struggles. Michigan narrowly escaped against Wake Forest and TCU in the season’s opening weeks, with Lendeborg averaging just 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in his first two games — starkly contrasting his prior season at UAB, where he averaged 17.7 points and 11.4 rebounds.
“It was quite challenging. I had to find a way to be more effective on the perimeter,” Lendeborg explained to ESPN. “It helped that Morez and Aday were forces down low … but it took me about six games to understand my role in the offense without clogging things up.”
Lendeborg’s insight was accurate — three of Michigan’s five poorest offensive performances transpired in its first four games. It wasn’t until the Players Era that the Wolverines truly began to resonate, becoming the first team in AP poll history to achieve consecutive 30-point victories against ranked opponents.
An astonishing Feast Week display occurred that hadn’t been seen in college basketball for ages, if ever. North Carolina transfer Elliot Cadeau made notable progress as a shooter and decision-maker, while Nimari Burnett and Roddy Gayle Jr. excelled on the wings, resulting in Michigan’s bench appearing among the deepest in the nation. Yet, the main highlight of the week was still the effectiveness of their frontcourt.
“We’re the best frontcourt in the nation, and we’re going to prove it,” Lendeborg declared to TNT after their 102-72 triumph over Auburn.
Michigan certainly doesn’t play like a squad with three traditional centers in their lineup.
The Wolverines operate with the pace of a smaller team, racing up the floor, disseminating the ball, and shooting 3-pointers at a rate rarely seen from a squad of their size. They rank among the top five nationally in offensive efficiency, play at one of the fastest tempos (13th), possess the third-highest assist rates in the country, and shoot over 36% from beyond the arc. The usual spacing and foot speed problems associated with larger lineups are not an issue in Ann Arbor.
“We emphasize pace and tempo daily as part of our regimen. It’s non-negotiable,” May declared. “If you commit to running, you’ll force other teams to adapt to your style.”
While Michigan doesn’t force turnovers like teams such as Iowa State and Houston, they rank in the top 60 for fast-break points per game. In a sense, their size plays a pivotal role in enabling them to transition quickly.
“If you fall behind, whether due to a missed shot or turnover, good luck,” Matt Painter remarked after Purdue’s defeat against Michigan. “I’d rather teach third graders. Because you’re committing fouls. If you’re trailing and they have an advantage, you’re in trouble.”
The versatility of having numerous players capable of scoring down low or stepping out to shoot (like Lendeborg) or serve as facilitators (like Mara) — paired with the shooting prowess of Cadeau, Burnett, Gayle, and Trey McKenney — renders Michigan’s offense exceedingly effective.
“Yaxel’s ability to stretch the floor is an immense advantage,” one Big Ten coach commented. “[Aday] can score effectively in the post, but he is also an exceptional passer, creating difficult dilemmas. Do we defend him straight-up, or do we attempt to double? And at 7-3, he can pass over anyone. Morez is an NBA talent, and he’s among the top bigs in the nation.”
Boynton maintained that forcing opponents to adjust to Michigan’s personnel instead of the other way around gives Michigan a significant advantage in controlling the game.
“If they choose to double Morez or Aday in the post, we thrive on playing ‘advantage basketball,'” Boynton stated. “If not, they better possess remarkable depth, as most teams lack sufficient players to defend them in a one-on-one context.”
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Morez Johnson Jr. denies Northwestern Wildcats with stuff
Morez Johnson Jr. soars for the block
Michigan, however, excels on the defensive side of the court. The Wolverines rank No. 1 nationwide in adjusted defensive efficiency, No. 2 in field goal percentage defense, No. 2 in 2-point defense, and No. 4 in block rate.
Similar to how he didn’t significantly alter his defensive strategy for the Wolf-Goldin pairing, May maintains his switching man-to-man defense despite having three bigs.
“They possess three defensive 5s,” Painter noted. “The disparity isn’t in their strategy; it’s in their work ethic, length, and athleticism. Yet the versatility matters — Mara can guard a 5, causing significant issues. But you can expose him, just as opponents could exploit Zach [Edey]. but, [Lendeborg and Johnson] are game-changers defensively.”
Several opposing coaches have indicated that Johnson is the linchpin of Michigan’s defense, a sentiment echoed by the Wolverines’ coaching staff.
“Morez is the heart and soul of our team,” Boynton asserted. “He’s the key difference between this year and last.”
besides, Michigan’s frontcourt isn’t its only asset.
The Wolverines have attained their first No. 1 ranking in the AP poll since the 2012-13 season, attributable to their breadth, experience, and balance. Cadeau has transformed into one of the most dependable point guards in the nation following a couple of inconsistent seasons at Chapel Hill; McKenney has emerged as a notable offensive threat in recent weeks; Burnett and Gayle both possess Sweet 16 starting experience; and players like L.J. Cason and Will Tschetter contribute significantly off the bench.
As a collective, they have embraced the mantra of being the “best team ever assembled.”
“This started after the Players Era tournament in Vegas,” Lendeborg explained. “[Cadeau] initiated it before the Gonzaga game. Right before we took to the court, he stated, ‘We’re the best team ever assembled’ … And then we won by 40.”
To uphold that standard, Michigan must contend with the nation’s top player when they face No. 3 Duke and Cameron Boozer in Washington D.C. on Saturday (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) followed by the best offense in the country at No. 10 Illinois the following Friday.
As comprehensive as the Wolverines appear, their differentiator in the concluding stretch — and in the NCAA tournament — will undeniably be their frontcourt.
“We all united to chase a national championship; it’s been our main objective since the beginning. Coach maintains that we have the team to realize it,” Lendeborg concluded. “I truly believe we have a genuine shot at achieving those goals.”
