Michigan Basketball: 5 major 2022 offseason storylines for Wolverines

2. Will Moussa Diabate and/or Caleb Houstan return?

Two other players face “should I stay or should I go” decisions for the Wolverines – the polarizing duo of freshmen Moussa Diabate and Caleb Houstan.

Both entered Michigan with massive expectations, receiving McDonald’s All-American honors and consensus 5-star rankings.  Both showed flashes of stardom, but as a whole, they left fans wanting more due to inconsistency and lack of production.

Houstan had the more successful individual year, starting every game for the Wolverines, playing 32 minutes per game, and leading the team in three-pointers made on the season (60).  He shot the ball poorly away from home and didn’t show any ability to finish at the rim or put the ball on the floor.  He was essentially a good-not-great catch and shoot wing, but the NBA Draft is still in play for him due to his ranking out of high school and the promise that he just didn’t shoot the ball as well as he can this season.

Diabate forced his way into the starting lineup six games into the season, but it wasn’t solely due to his own impressive play.  Incumbent starter Brandon Johns was a shell of himself and continued to be for the remainder of the season.  About once a game, Diabate would come out of nowhere for a tomahawk dunk or a massive block and you can see the obvious NBA potential.  But he struggled to translate that potential into consistent production at the college level, and Juwan Howard never really solved the best use for him (is he a four, is he a five?)

The fit with both next to Dickinson is a bit uncomfortable – you could argue that Houstan would be better served as a stretch four and Diabate may be more productive as a full-time center, but both players will have NBA decisions to make.  I would be surprised if either went undrafted, although both are far from their ceilings as prospects right now.  Houstan still has lottery pick upside, but he would likely be safely selected in the second round.  Diabate could work his way into the first round with a better season, and may be 50/50 to get taken at all.

Michigan would take both back in a heartbeat, although it might make more sense on paper for just one to return if Hunter Dickinson opts for one more season in Ann Arbor.  Together, they would instantly raise expectations yet again for the Wolverines.  They were the largest reason why last year’s team had Top 10 projections.

For Michigan to ever live up to those championship standards, Houstan and Diabate will both need to play like the future pros they have shown periodic flashes for longer stretches of the season.