Michigan Basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Wolverines
By Greg Waddell
As Juwan Howard heads into year three at the helm of Michigan Basketball, pre-season expectations remain high despite losing significant contributors from last year’s Big Ten regular-season champions.
Franz Wagner was selected in the lottery, Isaiah Livers is off to the NBA, and key transfers Mike Smith and Chaundee Brown are chasing down their own professional basketball dreams. That’s a group that combined to play a collective 3,000+ minutes last season for the Wolverines, over 54% of the total team’s minutes played.
Most programs would expect a down year when tasked to replace a group like this. But Howard has managed to win the offseason for the second consecutive year, navigating the transfer portal, the recruiting trail, and his own returning roster all masterfully.
In comes Coastal Carolina transfer Devante Jones, one of the most versatile backcourt players in college basketball. John Beilein stalwarts Eli Brooks and Brandon Johns each return for their 5th and 4th season respectfully as Wolverines. Eli has started 69 career games and Brandon Johns stepped into the starting lineup in last year’s NCAA Tournament en route to an Elite Eight appearance.
Arguably the most important additions heading into this season will be Michigan’s (fabulous?) freshman class. Prior to Emoni Bates’ late Memphis commitment, this Wolverine class was the consensus #1 ranked group in the country. Headlined by projected 2022 lottery pick Caleb Houstan, and McDonald’s All Americans Moussa Diabate, and Kobe Bufkin, this group has the firepower to contribute immediately.
I haven’t even mentioned Michigan’s National Player of the Year candidate yet – Hunter Dickinson. Dickinson exploded onto the college basketball scene early last season, and finished the year as an All-American, averaging 14.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.
There is another level to unlock for the big man, which could include an outside shot, more playmaking opportunities out of the post, and a more heavily utilized right hand. But even if Hunter Dickinson is the exact same player he was last season, he’s a true candidate for Big Ten Player of the Year, and talented enough to lead this team to a Final Four.
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Year one of Howard’s tenure was effectively a John Beilein team with a new coach running the show. In year two there were more new faces (hello Hunter Dickinson), but enough key returnees that it didn’t feel very different. This year will be the first that truly feels like Michigan basketball is entering a new era. Howard has done a great job embracing competition and building a roster that can compete for championships. He won a championship last year, he won the offseason this year, now it’s time to see what he can do next.