NCAA Basketball: 2021-22 previews for all 7 state of Michigan programs

Michigan

Best Player:  Hunter Dickinson

Key Returning Players: Eli Brooks and Brandon Johns Jr.

Incoming Transfer Player: DeVante Jones (Coastal Carolina)

Top Freshmen: Caleb Houstan and Moussa Diabate

Key Losses: Isaiah Livers and Franz Wagner

Head Coach: Juwan Howard (3rd Season)

Full Team Preview: Wolverines

Michigan State

Best Player: Max Christie

Key Returning Players: Joey Hauser, Malik Hall, Gabe Brown, and Marcus Bingham Jr.

Incoming Transfer Player: Tyson Walker

Top Freshmen: Christie and Jaden Akins

Key Loss: Aaron Henry

Head Coach: Tom Izzo (26th season)

Full Team Preview: Spartans

Michigan enters this season as a highly ranked team and they deserve and have earned the respect to be ranked so high entering this season. They would be a top-three ranked team but they did lose a good group of players to the NBA and or graduation. The Wolverines lost Livers, Wagner, Mike Smith, and Chaundee Brown who were all key players in Michigan capturing the Big Ten regular-season title. However, Michigan brought back maybe the most valuable player and they also welcome a very highly ranked recruiting class to Ann Arbor.

The Wolverines welcome back two of their best big men in Dickinson and Johns. Dickinson was Michigan’s leading scorer, rebounder, and shot-blocker last season. Johns improved throughout the season and looks to expand his role this year. The Wolverines welcomes in the number two nationally ranked recruiting class that includes two five-star recruits and three four-star recruits. Howard and his coaching staff have his team as the favorites in the Big Ten to win the regular-season title for the second year in a row.

Michigan State had a rough season last year finishing in 9-11 in Big Ten conference play. The Spartans look for a better outcome than being tied for 8th place in the Big Ten and losing in a first four-game in the NCAA tournament like they did last season. Izzo and his staff have veteran leadership in Brown, Hall, Hauser, and Bingham and they have new players looking to star and contribute in Christie and Walker.

The Spartans will miss their top two leading scorers in Henry and Langford from last season but they hope that with fans in the stands cheering them on loudly and with a potential impact freshman in Christie, a promising elite point guard in Walker, and if Hauser and Brown can step up their offensive production this season, the Spartans may exceed expectations.

It looks like Michigan State has a more difficult non-conference schedule than Michigan but the Wolverines look to have more potential of achieving success on the court this season and higher expectations. The College basketball season is a long season and time will tell how the seven division one basketball teams will do this season. It will be fun to watch to see what teams meet, exceed, or fail to achieve preseason expectations.