by Al McMordie
Sunday, Nov 02, 2025The NCAA Basketball season tips off tomorrow, and there are no shortage of contenders to cut down the nets at Lucas Oil Stadium in April. Let's take a look at the Associated Press preseason Top 16 and their odds (courtesy of FanDuel) to win the National Championship:
1. Purdue (+950)
2. Houston (+1000)
3. Florida (+1400)
4. Connecticut (+1400)
5. St. John's (+2000)
6. Duke (+1100)
7. Michigan (+2000)
8. BYU (+2000)
9. Kentucky (+1400)
10. Texas Tech (+2000)
11. Louisville (+2000)
12. UCLA (+2500)
13. Arizona (+3500)
14. Arkansas (+2700)
15. Alabama (+3000)
16. Iowa State (+3500)
The top-seeded Purdue Boilermakers would no doubt be the fan favorite if they reached the Final Four, since the event will be held in their home state of Indiana, just 68 miles from campus. But we are going to tab Purdue's Big 10 rival, Michigan, as our choice to win the tournament.
Dusty May was hired in March 2024 by AD Warde Manuel to replace fired head coach, Juwan Howard. The Wolverines stumbled to an 8-24 record in 2023-24, which severely underperformed expectations. May was brought in on the heels of spectacular success at Florida Atlantic, where he guided the small school to a Final Four berth in 2023. In May's first season in Ann Arbor last year, the Wolverines were highly successful, as they were 27-10, won the Big 10 Tournament, and reached the Sweet 16. The goals are much higher this season, as Michigan is ranked #7 in the preseason AP Poll.
The most important addition in the offseason was 6'9" Yaxel Lendeborg, an NBA prospect who arrived in Ann Arbor via the transfer portal. At UAB last season, he averaged 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.8 blocks. He led all of NCAA Basketball with 26 double-doubles, and was the #1 player in the transfer portal. Impressively, he became just the 2nd player in Division 1 history to record over 600 points, 400 rebounds and 150 assists in a single season, joining Larry Bird in that feat.
May has the coaching skillset to integrate transfers and develop team chemistry. Beyond Lendeborg, Michigan brought in an elite playmaking guard in Elliot Cadeau, who averaged 9.4 points (on 44.5% shooting) and 6.2 assists as a starter at North Carolina last season, 6'9" Morez Johnson (Illinois), and 7'3" center, Aday Mara (UCLA). Returning from last year's team are 6'5" guards, Nimari Burnett (40% from deep) and Roddy Gayle, Jr., and 6'8" grad forward, Will Tschetter,. Meanwhile, incoming 6'4" freshman, Trey McKenney (a 5-star recruit), will provide scoring off the bench.
One of the premier match-ups this exhibition season was last week at Madison Square Garden. The Wolverines played preseason #5-ranked St. John's on its home floor, and defeated the Red Storm, 96-94, in overtime. Lendeborg scored 25 points, and pulled down 10 rebounds, and it confirmed that Michigan (and also St. John's) will be a force this upcoming season. What impressed me most was Michigan's depth, energy, and poise -- especially since the game was played in a hostile environment -- all qualities that will serve the Wolves well in a tourney run in March. Offensively, Dusty May's men had good spacing and balanced scoring. Lendeborg was able to score both on the inside and on the perimeter, and will team with Johnson and Mara to give U-M a difficult-to-match-up-with frontcourt.
There are certainly other great teams (e.g., Purdue, Houston, Florida) that have the talent, coaching, and experience to win it all. But I prefer Michigan because of its longer odds. We will take the Wolverines (currently 20-1 at FanDuel) to win the National Championship.
Good luck, as always,
Al McMordie
1. Purdue (+950)
2. Houston (+1000)
3. Florida (+1400)
4. Connecticut (+1400)
5. St. John's (+2000)
6. Duke (+1100)
7. Michigan (+2000)
8. BYU (+2000)
9. Kentucky (+1400)
10. Texas Tech (+2000)
11. Louisville (+2000)
12. UCLA (+2500)
13. Arizona (+3500)
14. Arkansas (+2700)
15. Alabama (+3000)
16. Iowa State (+3500)
The top-seeded Purdue Boilermakers would no doubt be the fan favorite if they reached the Final Four, since the event will be held in their home state of Indiana, just 68 miles from campus. But we are going to tab Purdue's Big 10 rival, Michigan, as our choice to win the tournament.
Dusty May was hired in March 2024 by AD Warde Manuel to replace fired head coach, Juwan Howard. The Wolverines stumbled to an 8-24 record in 2023-24, which severely underperformed expectations. May was brought in on the heels of spectacular success at Florida Atlantic, where he guided the small school to a Final Four berth in 2023. In May's first season in Ann Arbor last year, the Wolverines were highly successful, as they were 27-10, won the Big 10 Tournament, and reached the Sweet 16. The goals are much higher this season, as Michigan is ranked #7 in the preseason AP Poll.
The most important addition in the offseason was 6'9" Yaxel Lendeborg, an NBA prospect who arrived in Ann Arbor via the transfer portal. At UAB last season, he averaged 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.8 blocks. He led all of NCAA Basketball with 26 double-doubles, and was the #1 player in the transfer portal. Impressively, he became just the 2nd player in Division 1 history to record over 600 points, 400 rebounds and 150 assists in a single season, joining Larry Bird in that feat.
May has the coaching skillset to integrate transfers and develop team chemistry. Beyond Lendeborg, Michigan brought in an elite playmaking guard in Elliot Cadeau, who averaged 9.4 points (on 44.5% shooting) and 6.2 assists as a starter at North Carolina last season, 6'9" Morez Johnson (Illinois), and 7'3" center, Aday Mara (UCLA). Returning from last year's team are 6'5" guards, Nimari Burnett (40% from deep) and Roddy Gayle, Jr., and 6'8" grad forward, Will Tschetter,. Meanwhile, incoming 6'4" freshman, Trey McKenney (a 5-star recruit), will provide scoring off the bench.
One of the premier match-ups this exhibition season was last week at Madison Square Garden. The Wolverines played preseason #5-ranked St. John's on its home floor, and defeated the Red Storm, 96-94, in overtime. Lendeborg scored 25 points, and pulled down 10 rebounds, and it confirmed that Michigan (and also St. John's) will be a force this upcoming season. What impressed me most was Michigan's depth, energy, and poise -- especially since the game was played in a hostile environment -- all qualities that will serve the Wolves well in a tourney run in March. Offensively, Dusty May's men had good spacing and balanced scoring. Lendeborg was able to score both on the inside and on the perimeter, and will team with Johnson and Mara to give U-M a difficult-to-match-up-with frontcourt.
There are certainly other great teams (e.g., Purdue, Houston, Florida) that have the talent, coaching, and experience to win it all. But I prefer Michigan because of its longer odds. We will take the Wolverines (currently 20-1 at FanDuel) to win the National Championship.
Good luck, as always,
Al McMordie
