The Michigan Wolverines had a season for the ages in 2025-26, winning the Big Ten regular-season championship, winning a program-record 37 games, and winning their first national championship since 1989. Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. have respective decisions to make regarding their future, but regardless of what they do, Dusty May and the Wolverines sit in a great spot to make some noise next season as well.<\/p>\n
Over the past week, national media outlets have published their way-too-early rankings for next season, and they are very high on the Wolverines heading into the offseason. Here is where Michigan sits in some of the way-too-early college basketball rankings for 2026-27:<\/p>\n
Gary Parrish, CBS Sports<\/a>: No. 1<\/p>\n What they said: \u201cThis ranking is based on the Wolverines returning four of the top six scorers \u2014 specifically Morez Johnson Jr., Elliot Cadeau, Trey McKenney and L.J. Cason \u2014 from a team that finished 37-3 and won the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by five-star prospect Brandon McCoy Jr. and four-star prospects Lincoln Cosby, Quinn Costello and Joseph Hartman.\u201d<\/p>\n Editor\u2019s note: Parrish is clearly unaware that Cason will miss all of next season as he recovers from his torn ACL, while Johnson may not come back.<\/p>\n Jeff Borzello, ESPN<\/a>: No. 1<\/p>\n What they said: \u201cThe reigning national champions have a legitimate chance to go back-to-back depending on the NBA draft decisions of frontcourt stalwarts Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. Entering the NCAA tournament, both players were projected in the late first round. After high-level performances in the tournament, though, both could justifiably leave. Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney are expected to return, though, while incoming five-star recruit Brandon McCoy should join them on the perimeter.\u201c<\/p>\n Projected starting lineup<\/p>\n Elliot Cadeau (10.1 PPG) Jason Owens, Yahoo Sports<\/a>: No. 1<\/p>\n What they said: \u201cAll things are coming up Michigan. Yaxel Lendeborg is gone and Morez Johnson Jr. could follow him to the NBA Draft. But the Wolverines have the potential to return several rotation players, including starting point guard and NCAA tournament MOP Elliot Cadeau, who projects as the senior leader on next season\u2019s team. Add in a top recruiting class featuring 5-star guard Brandon McCoy and Dusty May\u2019s track record of portal success, and Michigan could be in prime position to compete for another title.\u201d<\/p>\n James Fletcher III, On3<\/a>: No. 1<\/p>\n What they said: \u201cMichigan looks likely to stay near the top of college basketball next season, with key pieces currently projected to return at guard and center. There is plenty to fill out in the rotation, but a strong recruiting class has given them a platform to build in the transfer portal.\u201d<\/p>\n Kevin Sweeney, Sports Illustrated<\/a>: No. 1<\/p>\n What they said: \u201cMichigan\u2019s program is in amazing shape as long as Dusty May stays the head coach in Ann Arbor. It will be a tall order for the Wolverines to keep potential first-rounders Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara, but even keeping one would make the Wolverines a serious title threat on paper. Even if not, the Wolverines can then allocate resources accordingly around a pair of backcourt stars in Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney along with elite freshman guard Brandon McCoy. The proof of concept of turning Danny Wolf and now Mara and Johnson into NBA prospects out of the portal should help make Michigan an extremely attractive sell to this year\u2019s class of transfers.\u201d<\/p>\n CJ Moore, The Athletic<\/a>: No. 2<\/p>\n What they said: \u201cThe Wolverines\u2019 ability to repeat could depend on what happens with Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. Both could leave for the NBA. If one of the two returns \u2014 and I\u2019m betting on Mara \u2014 then the Wolverines will be a title favorite again, especially if coach Dusty May can find another elite big in the portal.<\/p>\n \u201cBrandon McCoy Jr. has slid in recruiting rankings over the last year but at one point he was considered one of the best talents in this class. If May can get that out of him, it raises Michigan\u2019s ceiling. But a backcourt of Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney gives this team a pretty high floor, assuming a solid frontcourt comes together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brandon McCoy (No. 18 in SC Next 100)
Trey McKenney (9.5 PPG)
Morez Johnson Jr. (13.4 PPG)
Aday Mara (12.0 PPG)<\/p>\n