Ann Arbor barely had time to celebrate its 2024-25 turnaround before the next big question hit: Is Michigan basketball already good enough to chase down Purdue? Head coach Dusty May, who is fresh off a transfer portal binge that restocked every position, thinks so.
So does CBS analyst Jon Rothstein, who says the Wolverines now look like the Boilermakers’ main threat in the Big Ten. After watching Michigan jump from a 3–17 league mark to 14–6, fans want to know whether May’s new roster can keep that climb going.
Why Should Dusty May, Michigan’s Transfer Portal Surge Scare Purdue?
Michigan basketball might have just flipped the Big Ten script. With HC Dusty May pulling off a masterclass in the transfer portal, the Wolverines are now being hailed by college basketball analyst Jon Rothstein as the top challenger to Purdue’s dominance in the conference.
After improving their conference record from 3–17 to 14–6, the program is positioned to disrupt the league’s pecking order, and Purdue should take notice of the new faces coming to Ann Arbor.
Since the 48-year-old coach took over, Michigan basketball has experienced one of the most dramatic turnarounds in college hoops history. A team that finished just 8–24 the year before ended the 2024-25 season at 27–10 with a Big Ten Tournament title. It was the first time a team went from last place to conference champion in a single NCAA season.
With that context, Rothstein believes Michigan could be Purdue’s biggest threat in a league the Boilermakers usually control.
“Now, the top challenger to Purdue in the Big Ten next year is going to come out of Ann Arbor, and that is Dusty May and the Michigan Wolverines,” Rothstein said on CBS Sports College Basketball. “Because right now, Michigan clearly looks like the top challenger to Purdue in the Big Ten.”
Rothstein points to Michigan’s mix of returning contributors and high-impact transfers. Returners like Roddy Gayle and Nimari Burnett bring continuity, while North Carolina point guard Elliot Cadeau fills a glaring need. “That solidifies the point guard spot for Michigan,” Rothstein added.
With Yaxel Lendeborg committing to Michigan, Dusty May now has 3 of the top 6 players in the portal at https://t.co/cegyfz8ykZ on his roster next year.
This may go down as the best portal class of all time. pic.twitter.com/XGTjiisGuv
— Evan Miyakawa (@EvanMiya) April 5, 2025
Meanwhile, the frontcourt looks even deeper. May added Jakel Lendor from UAB, Aday Mara from UCLA, and Morez Johnson from Illinois. Paired with returning forward Will Tschetter, Michigan may have one of the country’s most crowded frontcourt rotations.
“I think you can make the case that the frontcourt rotation for Michigan… is as deep and as formidable as any frontcourt there is in college basketball this season,” he said.
RELATED: Morez Johnson Names His Best Position Under Dusty May After Michigan Commitment
That talent influx has already moved the Big Ten balance. Purdue, which finished first in both the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons, slid to sixth last year while Michigan climbed.
The Boilermakers are expected to bounce back, but whether they can keep the Wolverines at arm’s length is the real question. With May steering a fully revamped roster, the Big Ten title race suddenly feels open for debate.
