Michigan

[Eric15]

And they did it the right way, for $ure

But isn't that entirely how it works now?

 

[NineOneSeven]

But isn't that entirely how it works now?

Pretty much. It’s the right wrong way.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

But isn't that entirely how it works now?

It’s as if people don’t think everyone else threw money at their players. Only 1 team won. They hammered everyone. Including teams that had a “higher payroll”

 

[Cusefan0307]

Complain about it all you want, but Mick Cronin didn't think Mara was good enough to play for UCLA yet there were tons of fans who wanted him as our next coach. Absolute insanity he had that player coming off the bench.

North Carolina ran Cadeau out of town.

Yaxel was the number 1 transfer in the country, but they didn't go out and try to out talent people like Duke does. It was an excellent coaching job by May who is probably up there with Hurley as the best coach in the country.

 

[Eric15]

May who is probably up there with Hurley as the best coach in the country.

Off the top of my head, I'm trying to think of anyone who has taken two different teams to the Final Four in one three year span (Florida Atlantic and Michigan) and no one is coming to mind.

 

[Bayside44]

Off the top of my head, I'm trying to think of anyone who has taken two different teams to the Final Four in one three year span (Florida Atlantic and Michigan) and no one is coming to mind.

Roy Williams.

 

[Brooky03]

Off the top of my head, I'm trying to think of anyone who has taken two different teams to the Final Four in one three year span (Florida Atlantic and Michigan) and no one is coming to mind.

I’d imagine the population of coaches who have taken a team to a Final Four and are even coaching a different team 3 years later is rather small.

 

[Blanko97]

Complain about it all you want, but Mick Cronin didn't think Mara was good enough to play for UCLA yet there were tons of fans who wanted him as our next coach. Absolute insanity he had that player coming off the bench.

North Carolina ran Cadeau out of town.

Yaxel was the number 1 transfer in the country, but they didn't go out and try to out talent people like Duke does. It was an excellent coaching job by May who is probably up there with Hurley as the best coach in the country.

There were quite a few people here who were talking bad about Cadeau last offseason.

In fact I’m responding to one right now

 

[Cusefan0307]

There were quite a few people here who were talking bad about Cadeau last offseason.

In fact I’m responding to one right now

I’ve said that myself. That said he would have stunk with Red.

 

[Niastri]

Complain about it all you want, but Mick Cronin didn't think Mara was good enough to play for UCLA yet there were tons of fans who wanted him as our next coach. Absolute insanity he had that player coming off the bench.

North Carolina ran Cadeau out of town.

Yaxel was the number 1 transfer in the country, but they didn't go out and try to out talent people like Duke does. It was an excellent coaching job by May who is probably up there with Hurley as the best coach in the country.

One thing that stood out to me about their roster is that they had three guys in their starting lineup bigger than our starting Center.

My second thought is: How did a guy like Yaxel Lendeborg wind up playing at UAB for two years then become a 1st team all American? It isn't like he was born somewhere distant and never saw a basketball until he was a 6'9 high school kid. He grew up in NJ and played 3 years of junior college ball!

What an amazing story about a bunch of castoffs and underrated kids go on to just dominate everybody.

 

[Newhouser]

One thing that stood out to me about their roster is that they had three guys in their starting lineup bigger than our starting Center.

My second thought is: How did a guy like Yaxel Lendeborg wind up playing at UAB for two years then become a 1st team all American? It isn't like he was born somewhere distant and never saw a basketball until he was a 6'9 high school kid. He grew up in NJ and played 3 years of junior college ball!

What an amazing story about a bunch of castoffs and underrated kids go on to just dominate everybody.

He is over 4 years older than Cooper Flagg. My biggest pet peeve with college sports now is nobody moves on.

 

[Brooky03]

One thing that stood out to me about their roster is that they had three guys in their starting lineup bigger than our starting Center.

My second thought is: How did a guy like Yaxel Lendeborg wind up playing at UAB for two years then become a 1st team all American? It isn't like he was born somewhere distant and never saw a basketball until he was a 6'9 high school kid. He grew up in NJ and played 3 years of junior college ball!

What an amazing story about a bunch of castoffs and underrated kids go on to just dominate everybody.

Seems like he had some off-court focus issues early on. He was academically ineligible to play most of his high school career from what I’m seeing. Not always, but generally, a guy who can’t focus enough to show up and/or get D‘s in school probably doesn’t spend his free time hitting the gym and working on his game, either. Took him a minute to focus and develop his craft.

 

[M2MPrinciples]

And they did it the right way, for $ure

Huh? Here is what each of the UM starters were doing in 2024-25:

Yaxel - Starred but on a UAB team that finished 3rd in the AAC
Cadeau - Averaged single-digits scoring for a disappointing UNC team
Morez Johnson - Averaged 7 and 7 for a meh Illinois team
Mara - Started one game all season for UCLA
Burnett - Solid guard but actually took a step back statistically in 2025-26.

Yes, they had money, but Kentucky had more. The Mets had $300M+ and missed the playoffs. This wasn't like the Dodgers loading up on all-stars.