Michigan Basketball: Why Wolverines will be better than Michigan State in 2020-21

Perimeter Shooting and Defense

Growing year by year both at the collegiate and professional level, players with an ability to lock down opposing players while also threatening from deep continue to acquire appreciation, now even becoming a necessity for teams looking to really take their teams to the next level. Arguably no player exemplifies this identity better than Brooks, who remains the likely candidate to serve as Michigan’s starting point guard for next year.

Other than the now departed Winston, no player apart this rivalry hit more three-pointers than Brooks last season, as he knocked down 52 shots from beyond the arc. One the other end though, Brooks also came away with 25 steals last year, a total larger than any other player planning to return for Michigan State next year by a wide margin. Altogether, this proves Brooks already attains the skills to necessary to help his team win by maintaining this identity heavily appreciated by basketball modernists.

But Brooks only stands as one piece to this puzzle. Stealing the ball at an even more effective rate last year stood Franz Wagner, another likely starter who also excelled defensively down low, barely trailing his now NBA-bound teammate Teske with 5.6 RPG. Also like Brooks, Wagner wields a solid three-point jump shot, shooting 31.1% from the field last year.

Equipped with these two “3 and D” guys, the Wolverines establish yet another edge that their opponents unmistakably lack. Only Henry Aaron ranks within the top 50 in total steals/rebounds and three-pointers made amongst returning Big Ten players for the Spartans, unlike Michigan with both Wagner and Brooks, who’s totals also exceed Aaron’s by substantial measures once directly comparing them.

More properly set up to lock things down defensively and reign fire from three-point land, this factor deserves some extra consideration especially once comparing these teams during any potential head to head matchups.