1. Michigan (1-seed)
Nimari Burnett (Senior – Guard)
A rare piece remaining in Ann Arbor from Juwan Howard’s time running the show, Burnett remains a major part of Michigan basketball in his third season in this backcourt. The senior hasn’t been on the court as much as in recent years but is still averaging 8.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game while making nearly 40% of his 3-pointers. Burnett has always been a talented shooter and ball handler and brings stability and veteran experience into the backcourt, with a pair of double-digit scoring outputs in the NCAA Tournament already.
Elliot Cadeau (Junior – Guard)
Cadeau was a major addition out of the transfer portal for the Wolverines and he’s lived up to the hype while running the point. He’s putting up 10.1 points and 5.7 assists for Michigan after two nice years at North Carolina. With all of the talent on this team, Cadeau’s role is even more important and it doesn’t hurt that he’s also making nearly 38% of his 3-pointers. He’s responsible for 17 assists across these first two Tourney games and is that first moving piece in the mighty puzzle that is Michigan basketball right now.
Morez Johnson Jr. (Sophomore – Forward)
Last season at Illinois, Johnson was a Top 25 prospect who just didn’t have the clearest path onto the court, with a few names ahead of him in the Illini frontcourt. Since transferring to Michigan it’s been a different story with 13.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game as a full-time starter. Johnson leads the Big Ten in field goal percentage and was perfect from the floor in a 21-point, 10-rebound effort against Howard in the first round of the Big Dance. He’s a significant force in this frontcourt and a reliable bucket around the rim.
Yaxel Lendeborg (Senior – Forward)
The previous two seasons saw Lendeborg put up video game numbers at UAB while winning AAC Defensive Player of the Year both seasons. One of the top names in the transfer portal, he’s been just as significant with the Wolverines and was named both Big Ten Player of the Year and a First Team All-American. Lendeborg averages 14.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, steps out to hit 36% of his 3-pointers, remains very effective as a defender, and has been a total win for Dusty May and this coaching staff all year long, notably dropping 25 points on Saint Louis on Saturday.
Aday Mara (Junior – Center)
No team is shying away from adding a 7-3 center with real talent and Mara has truly come into his potential with the Wolverines. The UCLA transfer has assumed a major role in his first year in Ann Arbor, averaging 12.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game, with that final figure among the national leaders. Mara is the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, has made 67% of his field goal attempts, and plays a major role on both ends. Mara is a lockdown rim protector and has also made at least seven field goals in 7 of Michigan’s last 8 games, scoring 35 total points in the NCAA Tournament already.