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Michigan Basketball: 3 reasons why Wolverines will make 2020 NCAA Tournament

By Adam Childs

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 28: The Michigan Wolverines huddle prior to the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament West Regional game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Honda Center on March 28, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 28: The Michigan Wolverines huddle prior to the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament West Regional game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Honda Center on March 28, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – APRIL 08: Former Michigan Wolverines player Juwan Howard greets Michigan fans in the stands against the Louisville Cardinals during the 2013 NCAA Men’s Final Four Championship at the Georgia Dome on April 8, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – APRIL 08: Former Michigan Wolverines player Juwan Howard greets Michigan fans in the stands against the Louisville Cardinals during the 2013 NCAA Men’s Final Four Championship at the Georgia Dome on April 8, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Michigan Basketball went through a lot of changes over the summer but still return some experienced players. We take a look at three reasons why they will still make the NCAA tournament this year.

Michigan Basketball had a pretty good season last year. They set a school record starting off with 17 straight wins to start the season. They finished in second in the Big Ten regular-season and came up just short of winning their third straight Big Ten tournament championship. They made the Sweet 16 again before running into the buzzsaw of Texas Tech.

They did all of this without a true Senior on the team. They did expect to lose Charles Matthews but still looked like a top-five team coming back.

Wolverine fans were very hopeful for what looked like another great year, but then Jordan Poole declared for the draft and not long after so did Big Ten freshman of the year Ignas Brazdeikis did also. There was a hope that maybe they would come back but those were put to bed pretty quick when they both said they were staying in.

While that hurt, the biggest bombshell was about to drop. In one of the biggest surprises in the college basketball off-season, John Beilein decided to leave Michigan to become the head coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He had flirted with the Pistons year ago, but no one actually thought he would actually leave. Widely considered one of the best college basketball coaches in the country, Beilein had built Michigan into a national power. His loss is bigger than any player leaving and continuing what he built will be tough.

Former “Fab Five” star Juwan Howard will try and keep it going, but questions remain if he is ready. He has never been a head coach before but has gotten great recommendations as a great assistant. Can he turn that into being a great head coach is to be seen, but the Wolverines did not lose any credibility.

Howard will have his hands full, but at least he returns some very good players that have plenty of experience. Will it be enough to make the tournament? We believe so and we give you three reasons why.

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