Michigan Basketball: Isaiah Livers return makes Wolverines a Big Ten threat

The Michigan basketball team got some good news on Friday when Isaiah Livers announced he was returning to Michigan.

Isaiah Livers, arguably Michigan’s best player last year, announced on Friday that he was returning to Michigan after putting his name in the early entry list for the NBA draft.

Livers’ return is big for the Wolverines. He was the catalyst to Michigan’s success last year. When he played the Wolverines looked like one of the best teams in the country as they ran through the Battle 4 Atlantis. During that run, the Wolverines rolled over Gonzaga in the championship, which was one of just two losses for the Zags.

The problem for the Wolverines was that Livers hurt his groin and missed 10 games. When he was out the Wolverines just weren’t the same on offense or defense.

Zavier Simpson was the point guard for the Wolverines and ran the offensive effortlessly, but the Wolverines still played much better with Livers in the lineup.

The Wolverines were a wild card team in the Big Ten before he returned, but with Livers coming back for his Senior season they now become a threat in the loaded Big Ten.

If Luka Garza returns for Iowa they will be very good, Wisconsin returns most of their team that won a share of the conference title last year, and Michigan State will be loaded again, especially is Xavier Tillman returns to school.

But the Wolverines beat both Iowa and Michigan State last year. They did lose to Wisconsin in their only game against the Badgers. The Wolverines return a lot of talent from lasts year’s team with Livers coming back and should be right up there with those four teams.

The Wolverines only lost Simpson and Jon Teske, but at the end of the year Teske was really struggling and Austin Davis, who returns, was playing better. Add in that they are bringing in the 12th ranked recruiting class in the country and also they are bringing in transfer Mike Smith from Columbia to help run the point.

They also got a commitment from Chaundee Brown from Wake Forest but it hasn’t been ruled on yet if he will be immediately eligible.

These pieces all had the Wolverines in great shape to be a very good team next year that nobody was talking about. But now with Livers return it makes the Wolverines a big threat.

Livers is a matchup nightmare for any team. He can finish at the rim but was also one of the best deep threats in the conference shotting 40.2% from deep. He is also an elite defender who can guard almost every spot on the court.

The Wolverines were going to be a good team without him, but getting him back is huge. His leadership and scoring ability will only help take some of the pressure of the freshman coming in.

Juwan Howard was already doing a great job reloading the Wolverines, but this could take them to the next level. Michigan is going to be good this year, but nobody is talking about them. And that is exactly where they want to be. They have played better in the last ten years when they were overlooked.