NCAA Basketball: Updated early top-25 rankings for 2021-22 after NBA Draft deadline

The Wolverines already knew that they were going to lose a lot to production and talent since so many were seniors. Only Eli Brooks opted to take a 5th year, meaning that starters Mike Smith, Isaiah Livers, Chaundee Brown, and Austin Davis were gone. Also leaving was sophomore wing/forward Franz Wagner, who always was expected to leave but his projected lottery pick status made it official.

But Michigan still had a pair of pending decisions to deal with, including transfer pickup guard DeVante Jones. He was the Sun Belt Player of the Year at Coastal Carolina and performed well in the scouting combine but ultimately was going to eventually come back and play for a Final Four contender.

The bigger concern ended up being All-American freshman center Hunter Dickinson. There was an expectation that he’d go through the process but it ended up being a nail-biter decision, with the big man waiting until the last couple of days before opting to come back for the sophomore year.

With these two back, along with the No. 1 overall recruiting class, Michigan is in great shape for next season. Top-10 prospect Caleb Houstan was impressive during the FIBA U19 Tournament for Team Canada, while Moussa Diabate, Frankie Collins, and Kobe Bufkin will be impact freshmen as well. The depth, backcourt experience, and a Player of the Year candidate inside gives them next to no real roster weaknesses.