Michigan assistant coach and general manager Kyle Church joined the Defend the Block podcast this week to discuss Michigan’s non-conference schedule and share his thoughts on the 2025-26 roster.
Church played an integral role in rebuilding and retooling the Michigan roster in year two, after the Wolverines advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. The new roster features four returners, four transfers, and five freshmen with a mix of All-Americans, high-profile portal stars, sleepers and international prospects.
According to Church, there’s confidence in the roster that was constructed, but an understanding that talent doesn’t skip the team-building process.
“I’ve told almost everybody I’ve talked to, we have a really, really talented team — significantly talented, deep, athletic, tall, physical team before they become a good team,” Church said. “We’re not there yet. I think we could get there. I think we could become a great team, but we have the talent prerequisite you need to become a really good team.
“I think we have a chance to be really, really special. Certainly have a long ways to go, but we’ve given ourselves a chance.”
Church shared his thoughts on all 13 players on the roster and the progress they’ve made this offseason. Here are the key things he had to say about each player on the roster.
Elliot Cadeau:
Elliot’s passing ability and his speed are the first two things that really are going to pop for our fans. His ability to get where he wants to go with his speed is pretty tremendous. Then once he gets there, his vision, his ability to spray the ball over the court, to throw lobs, to find shooters, is really, really special. Those are his gifts as a basketball player, and why he was considered one of the top point guards in the country coming out of high school and one of the top point guards in the portal this go around.
I’ve been really impressed with his shot. You know that a lot has been made of his jump shot, but he shot the ball, especially on catch-and-shoot threes, very well this summer. I think his rim decision-making has made a big jump as far as when to go and finish, when to kick it out. You know, what’s the right shot type based on what the defense presents at the rim. He has made a jump, and then I think defensively, he can use his speed to his advantage. He can be a real pest, both guarding the ball and off the ball, and so we couldn’t be more excited to have him here, and we think the fans are going to love watching him play.
Nimari Burnett:
As a staff, we’ve been extremely, extremely pleased with those four (returning) guys. Development all across the board. Nimari spent a ton of time working on his body, really strengthening his legs, really working on his game this summer, and he had a fantastic summer. He was as good as anybody on our team. Shot the ball at an extremely high level, which we knew he could, but his conditioning, the strength he’s added, is noticeable, and I think should lead to a monster (sixth) year.”
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