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ROSEMONT, Ill. — After reaching the peak with a national championship, the Michigan men’s basketball team knew what loomed ahead: An off-season defined by change, one that saw the Wolverines’ entire starting front court and head coach depart for the NBA.
But there were a few familiar faces that arrived for Michigan at Big Ten Media Day: sophomore guard Trey McKenney and senior guard Elliot Cadeau. In light of all the moving pieces, the backcourt will bring a championship pedigree to this year’s Wolverines.
“(Cadeau) and (McKenney) are going to be the leaders of this group,” Michigan coach Mike Boynton Jr. said Thursday at Big Ten Media Day. “I haven’t sensed one time there’s a hangover over arrogance.”
While the Wolverines have high hopes for their newest batch of frontcourt transfers, the loss of three NBA lottery selections will place an increased burden on the guards to step up and replace that production. Cadeau and McKenney already showcased the ability to shoulder the offensive load for games at a time. And with the added weight of being named to the preseason All Big-Ten team, a leap in production is not just within the realm of possibility — it’s anticipated.
McKenney could see the biggest scoring increase as a result of numerous departures on the team. He showed a glimpse of his tantalizing scoring potential in two games during Michigan’s Europe tour, averaging 20 points on 54% from the field. With his 22.1 minutes per game from last season destined to expand, he appears primed for a breakout campaign.
“(McKenney) was a diamond in the rough last year,” Cadeau said. “If you look at his numbers, he was one of the most efficient players in the country.”
Meanwhile, the Wolverines hope that another year of experience for Cadeau will allow him to keep excelling as a floor general similar to a season ago. The departure of former forward Yaxel Lendeborg means that Cadeau’s conductivity could bear fruit for Michigan as he transitions into a more ball-dominant player. With this backcourt duo’s combination of pedigree and potential, there is promise that a second year together could see Cadeau’s pass-first mentality mesh seamlessly with McKenney’s scoring prowess. If that’s the case, they can be the backcourt that Boynton envisions.
Then there’s the wild card — fifth-year guard Roddy Gayle Jr. Gayle is just coming off a ruling that allows him to return to the Wolverines while his case is in process. For as long as that decision holds, his defensive versatility combined with his three-point shooting ability will offer a different flavor to Michigan’s currently assembled backcourt. But above all else, it will offer the continuity that the Wolverines lack elsewhere.
“Me, (McKenney) and (Gayle) have the blueprint on what it takes to win a national championship, and that’s our end goal,” Cadeau said. “We know that if our team isn’t at the standard, then we can try to fix it.”
With the blueprint in hand, the onus is on a returning backcourt to lead the way.
Malick Kordel jumps to dunk the basketball.
Malick Kordel jumps to dunk the basketball.
Winters Grady swipes the basketball from an opposing player.
Winters Grady swipes the basketball from an opposing player.
Michigan Men's Basketball team huddles on the court.
Michigan Men's Basketball team huddles on the court.