Michigan Basketball: Projected depth chart and rotation for 2023-24 season
Small forward
Starter – Nimari Burnett: 5.6 ppg / 14.7 mpg
This will be the 6 foot 4 forward’s third team in three years. The No. 27 ranked freshman in 2020 will be spending his junior season in Ann Arber after starting his career at Texas Tech before playing in Alabama last season. Burnett started just nine games with the Crimson Tide while spending his time behind Brandon Miller. Coming off the bench for the Crimson Tide did not prove to be a detriment for Burnett as four of his five double-digit scoring games were ones in which he did not start.
Interestingly enough however, his season-high 18-point performance versus Jacksonville State was a game in which he started and played a season-high 23 minutes. As a starter for Coach Howard, the career 42 percent shooter from inside the arc will continue to be able to receive the ball from the perimeter swing passes in the weak side corner, and attack the basket as his man recovers. If his defender is unable to close out and decides to defend the drive, Burnett is capable of connecting on a spot-up three-pointer. The five from deep he connected on versus Jacksonville State was instrumental in his season-high point total.
Look for Burnett to have a breakout season, it will not be enough to make the Maize Rage forget about Jett Howard, but he will be important for the Wolverines.
Off the bench – Jace Howard: 1.2 ppg / 7 mpg
With Kobe Bufkin, Jett Howard, and Joey Baker no longer wearing Michigan Blue, 6 foot 7 junior Jace Howard will be joining fellow small forward Nimari Burnett in the ‘keep the three position in tact’ club. Howard did not start any games last season, and his high was 18 minutes in a 22-point loss to Penn State. Despite not being a top 100-ranked freshman like his brother Jett, Jace’s role and minutes will increase this season.
At 6 foot 8 and 225 pounds, the junior has the confidence in his ball handling to aggressively take smaller defenders to the basket. However, it is going to be the things that do not show up in the box score that will make Howard so valuable. He always has is motor going by keeping rebounds alive or diving on the floor for loose balls. He is the prototypical “coachs’ son” who earns his playing time with effort, and that will be the story of Jace Howard coming off the bench regularly this season.
Limited minutes – Youssef Khayat and Harrison Hochberg
Youssef Khayat appeared in just nine games last season but started the Wolverines’ season finale which was an NIT loss to Vanderbilt. In his first season in a Wolverines’ uniform the 6 foot 9 Lebanon native attempted just twelve field goals in total, yet connected on four of nine from beyond the arc. From his time playing in France for Limoges it is apparent that his ability to stretch the floor will be his best asset as Coach Howard can utilize him in specific specialized situations.
Harrison Hochberg is a 6 foot 7 freshman forward whose contribution on the practice floor will exceed anything expected from him on the game floor. The preferred walk-on was the best player on his Cushing Academy High School team and a very good player in the league. With time he is able to hit open three-pointers and is not afraid to get physical to earn every second of playing time. Two things that will be much more difficult in the Big Ten.