How Dusty May and Michigan turned a team of transfers into a national champion

Key Points:

• Yaxel Lendeborg chose to transfer to Michigan over entering the 2025 NBA draft, attracted by the program's promise to develop him into a pro prospect and a seven-figure NIL offer, ultimately playing a key role in Michigan's national championship win.
• Michigan's 37-3 season culminated in a 69-63 victory over UConn, marking the Big Ten's first men's basketball title since 2000, with Lendeborg contributing 13 points despite a knee injury.
• Head coach Dusty May built the championship team largely through transfers, embracing a philosophy that players thrive in the right situation, and fostering a system based on trust, freedom, and team chemistry rather than rigid assignments.
• The NCAA's 2025 blanket waiver and NIL opportunities enabled Michigan to construct a starting lineup of all transfers, many of whom significantly improved their NBA draft prospects after joining the program.
• Off-court bonding activities like team dinners and casual games helped build strong relationships among the players, translating into on-court chemistry that was critical to their success, with the team rejecting the notion that they were merely a "rent-a-player" group.