NCAA Basketball: Ranking the teams in 2023 Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament

NCAA Basketball: Ranking the 8 teams in 2023 Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 08: Justin Moore #5 of the Villanova Wildcats during the first half against the Georgetown Hoyas in the first round of the Big East Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 08, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

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NCAA Basketball Michigan Wolverines guard Dug McDaniel Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Michigan Wolverines

2022-23 season record: 18-16 (11-9 Big Ten)

It’s hard to see a program that had a worst first month of the NCAA Basketball offseason than Michigan. They lost two of their key backcourt players (Jett Howard and Kobe Bufin), who ended up as 1st round NBA Draft picks. Making matters much worse, star big man Hunter Dickinson transferred out to Kansas.

For those that were following the offseason moves, the Wolverines were struggling to get some pieces of their own out of the transfer portal. The good news is that after a long recruitment, they were able to land Olivier Nkamhoua, a two-way starting forward from Tennessee. Another frontcourt pickup was Tray Jackson, a spacing big man transfer from Seton Hall.

The backcourt is where the questions lie. Dug McDaniel had a good freshman campaign and is a sophomore breakout candidate to watch. And Alabama transfer and former five-star prospect Nimari Burnett is a projected starter as well. But outside of Jaelin Llewellyn, who struggled in eight games before suffering a season-ending injury last season, there’s really no depth on the outside.

After missing the NCAA Tournament, it’s hard to say that Michigan got much better. But they have to chance to fly under the radar entering the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament and make some noise here.

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