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Michigan basketball: 2017-18 preview for the Wolverines

By Tristan Freeman

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 19: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines reacts in the second half against the Louisville Cardinals during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 19, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 19: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines reacts in the second half against the Louisville Cardinals during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 19, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 19: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines reacts in the second half against the Louisville Cardinals during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 19, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 19: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines reacts in the second half against the Louisville Cardinals during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 19, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Michigan basketball is typically an elite offensive team, but they lost a lot of talent from last season. How does this season project for the Wolverines?

Led by head coach Jon Beilein, the Michigan Wolverines were one of the best shooting teams in the country last season. They finished in the top-10 in both makes and attempts from 3-point range. Their defense, on the other hand, had leaks, which led to their middle of the pack finish in the Big Ten.

The team’s season nearly ended with a near-death experience as the team was leaving for the conference tournament. The plane malfunctioned on the runway at the airport, and the team was unable to leave. Thankfully, everyone was okay and Michigan just made it in time to start the conference tournament.

In another example of why we love sports, Michigan went in as the No. 8 seed and ran through the competition to capture their first tournament title in two decades. That momentum carried through to the NCAA Tournament to a shootout win against Oklahoma State. They followed that up by pulling off the massive upset against Louisville in round two. The season ended in heartbreaking fashion in the Sweet 16 to eventual Final Four participant Oregon.

The Wolverines lost a lot from last year’s roster, including a pair of guards in Zak Irvin and Derrick Walton. Uber-athletic DJ Wilson cashed his impressive individual run to leave school early. Backup big Mark Donnal also left for Virginia Tech.

Now while that may seem like a lot, Michigan has a couple of big-time transfers coming in to replace them, including one who once played for John Calipari.

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