The Michigan basketball season has come and gone, two members of the 2018-19 team have confirmed they will enter the NBA Draft, another seems almost certain to do so, and the off-season recruiting cycle is well underway. That does not mean we can't look back and reminisce about the season that was. With an additional eye towards the future, let's take a look back at every player from Michigan's roster last season.
STARTERS:
Zavier Simpson:
Simpson led the team and deservedly took home the Team MVP award at the postseason award banquet. When Michigan's offense was clicking, it was usually because Simpson was the man leading it. Likewise, he set the tone on defense and shut down plenty of opposing point guards. Named a finalist for national defensive player of the year, the fact that he has another season to improve as both a defender and player means good things are likely to come for the senior point guard. Simpson became the top assister in Big Ten Tournament history, snagged a triple-double against Ohio State, and even had four games of three or more threes. That included a five-for-ten night at home against Northwestern that almost single-handedly would force teams to at least consider Simpson as a threat from deep when left wide-open. The sky hook was unstoppable, the three-point shot improved a touch, and the defense will always be there. If the offense can be improved upon, Simpson immediately becomes one of the most dangerous players on not just Michigan's roster, but the entire Big Ten.
Next season this is, once again, Simpson's team. The difference is, however, that he is going to be the guy as a senior. Sure, Jon Teske will also be a senior, and Simpson was already team captain last season, but this is the time for Simpson to make a big offensive jump while continuing to impact the game for others. BartTorvik is projecting 13.7 points per game next season from the point guard along with 5.6 assists. If that is to happen then it is highly likely that Simpson sees a jump to about 33-35% from three, which is going to be hugely important to a Michigan team that needs shooting. This is a Michigan team with question marks, but returning a senior point guard is a massive plus in favor of the Wolverines.
Jordan Poole:
The provider of the biggest shot of Michigan's season in 2017-18, the freshman bench piece blossomed into a key starter, but perhaps underwhelmed some who thought he would be an immediate fifteen-point-a-game, 42% three point shooter. Through 2018, he shot 50% even on 5.2 threes per game. In 2019, Poole dropped to 30.4% on 5.6 attempts. The magnifying glass was put on him after a two-for-eight game at home against Michigan State as well as his two-for-nine follow-up against the Spartans in the Big Ten Tournament final was a let down as well. Of course, Poole had some great performances as well. Four made threes against Florida in the NCAA Tournament was a massive high point of the season, as was 22 points and five threes in Minnesota. When Poole was hitting shots, Michigan was unstoppable. Poole hit four threes or more in seven games and Michigan won all seven. On the other hand, Poole took eight threes in ten games. Michigan went 6-4 in those, the four losses saw Poole go three-for-nine (at Iowa), two-for-nine (vs. Michigan State), two-for-eight (Michigan State), and one-for-eight (at Penn State). That stat is the perfect microcosm of Jordan Poole's effects on Michigan this past season -- massively important, but inconsistent as well.
I really like Poole as an NBA prospect. I have seen some negativity based on the inconsistency, but I really rate Poole's shooting stroke, play-making ability, and the youth that is on his side. The question remains if a team will use a pick on him in the first round, but I would be surprised if Poole goes undrafted. The potential really is tantalizing and with the ball dominance of Zavier Simpson, there are some things like the pick-and-roll play that were perhaps under-emphasized within the Michigan offense that NBA scouts and GMs will dream about at a higher level. His absence leaves Michigan with a whole at the shooting guard position that seems possible to be filled by Eli Brooks, meaning size is being lost, as is shooting, but additional defense will be gained with that. A big shot taker, and often times maker, he will be missed before his upperclassmen seasons.
Charles Matthews:
The lone 'senior' on the team, Matthews provided great defense along with a spark in several games where one was desperately needed. Matthews saw drops in nearly every major statistical category -- barring a nice jump from 55.8% to 64.5% from the free throw line -- and failed to really hone in from three. That said, the ability to take over a game never removed itself from Matthews. 16-1 when Matthews shot 40% or better, just a few of the instances of Matthews taking a game over included a double-double against Montana in the NCAA Tournament with 22 points and ten rebounds, 25 points on 77% shooting from the field against George Washington, and nearly willing Michigan back into the game at Penn State with three threes and 24 points on eight-for-eleven shooting. His defense on the wing made him perhaps a close second when it comes to Team MVP voting (which is tough, in itself, to say, given the importance of so many players on this Michigan team).
After a 'senior' year that really reinforced what fans (and likely scouts) knew about Matthews, being a year older does not help his draft stock. There is, however, a position; and that's that teams will know exactly what they are getting with Matthews. A lock-down defender with plus athleticism, Matthews is a great option for a team looking for a strong defensive force late in the draft. Still only set to be 22 by the start of the NBA season, Matthews is not that old at all, and I think his skill set will allow him to translate into a career that could see him have a great deal of success whether that's in the NBA, Europe, or the G-League. Zak Irvin has made a career in the G-League out of taking twos and playing smart ball. Matthews can certainly apply those skills in the lower rank of American pro basketball if he gets a two-way deal straight out of the draft. Additionally, Derrick Walton and Duncan Robinson have shown that you can make an NBA roster even if you go undrafted as a 'senior.' I am looking forward to seeing where Matthews lands.
Ignas Brazdeikis:
Still undecided on returning to Michigan, though the language of his initial declaration implies not, Brazdeikis showed enough as a freshman to potentially become John Beilein's first ever one-and-done NBA prospect at Michigan. Brazdeikis finished the year with the most attempts from the field (407) while shooting 50% from two and 39.2% from three. During the season Brazdeikis became one of the most reliable pieces of the team in terms of taking, and getting, shots. He averaged 14.3 points per game, top on the team, and had some spurts over the season with even better stats. Over a six game span ranging between November and December, he shot 45.5% from three with 19.3 points per game while scoring at least twenty points in four of those six games. Despite fouling out in East Lansing against Michigan State, he finished with twenty points in 22 minutes and was a perfect three-for-three from three. Against Texas Tech, thanks to his ability to get to the rim, he was one of few Wolverines to find the bottom of the net with consistency as he finished with seventeen points. He ended the year with ten games of twenty-plus points and seventeen games of seventeen or more. Brazdeikis had a handful of tougher games, notably he went one-for-fourteen with two points and six rebounds in the two games he played Wisconsin, but especially as a freshman, he full range of skills was prevalent.
If he returns, Brazdeikis is immediately a top option on offense for Michigan. His return means Michigan has four locked in starters and the shooting guard spot is the only one up for grabs. That said, Brazdeikis seems to be the highest-projected draft pick of any of the three potential draftees. He is older for a freshman, but he is a knock-down catch-and-shoot shooters and has been able to get to the rim and finish strong. These are all bright signs for a player with just one season at the collegiate level. Of course, teams will want Brazdeikis to shoot off the dribble more and likely add to his arsenal, plus his passing could certainly leave teams wanting. As a first-round pick, though, his potential makes for an interesting player. I look for him to almost certainly leave for the NBA Draft and is almost guaranteed to get drafted somewhere. A big combine can see him firmly in the first round.
Jon Teske:
Affectionately known as 'Big Jon' or 'Big Sleep' to Michigan fans and his teammates, the improvement of Jon Teske was a massive story during the whole season. One of the Big Ten's premier center defenders, Teske swatted 75 shots over the season and accumulated 26 steals. On the offensive end, Teske averaged 9.5 points to go with seven rebounds per game (two of those per game being offensive). The key development as a whole, though, was Teske's outside shooting. Teske shot right around 30% on the season over 77 attempts and he was encouraged to shoot whenever open. He finished the season with three games of three made threes, including during his career-high 22 point night against Nebraska. With eight double-doubles as well, Teske made his presence known night-in and night-out. In games where Teske hit a three, Michigan was 14-1, only losing in Wisconsin when Teske made a pair of threes. His jump in production was massive and the hope is that as a center and with a fully college ready back-up in Colin Castleton, he can continue to grow in aggressiveness on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court.
Projected to be the highest scorer on the team next season (Torvik has him at fourteen points per game next season) it is going to be vital that Teske takes one final big leap in terms of play as a senior. Already having done so by expanding his range, if he can continue to improve beyond the arc, then he is going to be a force to be reckoned with. As one of two returning starters, the fact that Michigan can return their pick-and-roll connection means that the 2019-20 will have at least one thing set in stone heading into the season. Quick enough to hang with the more mobile Big Ten bigs, but a menace down low, Teske's time is now.
KEY RESERVES:
Isaiah Livers:
At times, it felt like Michigan was a six-man rotation during the season. That sixth man was Isaiah Livers. Only starting three games as a result of Charles Matthews' injury late in the season, Livers came off the bench to serve as Michigan's 'microwave' just as Duncan Robinson did in his place last season. Livers shot a team-high 42.6% from three on 122 attempts and was reliable all season. He had fourteen multi-three games and Michigan was 12-2 in those, both losses coming to Michigan State. Michigan was also 18-1 in games where he scored eight-or-more points, that lone loss coming in the Big Ten Tournament Final against Michigan State. His career-high performance against Minnesota saw him shoot four-for-six from three with 21 points, and he also had a twelve-point, ten-rebound double-double against Nebraska. He missed two games in the season, but aside from those he was an ever-present part of the rotation. On a Michigan team that struggled from three more so than most other John Beilein teams, Livers offered a stable figure from long range for this team.
Looking ahead to next season, it is almost a certainty that Livers is not only going to start, but become the number three 'guy' on the team, and perhaps the number one scorer. The pick-and-roll game between Zavier Simpson and Jon Teske is going to be essential to this team, but on a club losing at least two, probably three, starters, all three being the only double-digit point-per-game producers on the team, that void will need to be filled. The focus on the summer will need to be creating his own shot. Livers was a bit loose in situations where he had to handle the ball in the lane last season, but so, too, was Charles Matthews. That is my expectation for Livers: to be like Charles Matthews with a better outside jumper. He will be tasked with locking down the top opposing wing and creating his own shot, but will also need to shoot from deep between 150-200 times next season. A lot of Michigan's 2019-20 season rides on Livers performing, but I believe him to be up to the task.
Eli Brooks:
Brooks is the only bench player that appeared in all 37 games for the Wolverines. Brooks won the starting point guard spot last season, but that seems like ages ago. Last season saw upticks in percentages out of the guard (41% to 46% from two, 24.4% to 29.2% from three) and saw him take nearly double the twos, but there were also massive dry spells during the season. After a pretty solid 2018 portion of the season (4.3 PPG, 60% from two, 34.5% from three) Brooks would then lack in shots taken and, by way of that, points scored. It would take until the season finale against Michigan State on the road for Brooks to get his first multi-field goal game of 2019. From that point on, though, Brooks had a marked improvement as he went back to averaging okay numbers for a bench guard (3.6 PPG, 54.5% from two, 36.4% from three). As his confidence seemed to return towards the end of the season, his production ultimately increased, as did his tenacity on defense.
The end of the season showed me some really positive signs from Brooks ahead of an important junior season. I saw some write Brooks off heavily in the middle of the season, and yes he was really struggling, but form comes and goes. Brooks has a nice shooting stroke and has developed leaps and bounds on the defensive end. He became a defensive improvement over Jordan Poole by the end of the season and was comfortably a ten-fifteen minute performer by the NCAA Tournament because of those defensive contributions. There is a great chance that Brooks starts 2019 as the starting shooting guard. For him to produce at the two, three things need to happen. First, that defense has to remain. Brooks and Zavier Simpson as a two-guard backcourt is undersized, but lethal on defense. Simpson has proven able to handle bigger guards, Brooks simply needs to clean up his assignment. Second, Brooks' three-point shot needs to take a jump closer to 35%. Michigan desperately needs shooting and whoever shoots the best is likely going to see the most playtime. Finally, Brooks needs to provide a secondary option against pressure -- be it a proper press or token pressure. If he can really do all these things, I have optimism that he will be a comfortable starter by the start of the season.
ADDITIONAL RESERVES:
Brandon Johns:
Brandon Johns was an interesting case throughout the season. Looked at more generally as a power forward, Johns was almost exclusively a center for the most part of the season. His breakout came early in the season, at home against Indiana where, with Isaiah Livers out due to injury, he scored eight points and snagged eight rebounds in thirteen minutes. He would displace Austin Davis as back-up center, but when push came to shove it was Isaiah Livers who saw the better part of back-up minutes at the five while Colin Castleton eventually got those minutes later in the season. With Castleton properly emerging as a key piece to the bench, I would expect that we see Johns as sort of a sixth/seventh man at forward similar to Livers was this season. He will be able to get into a position where he is more comfortable and play with personnel that complements his strengths. He should also get an opportunity to shoot a bit more from three, and/or showcase his rather impressive athleticism. Looking at the composition of the roster, if it was just the eleven scholarship players currently on the roster with no other additions, Johns is likely a day one starter. However, with the spring period offering options for Michigan, Johns will get the opportunity to showcase his skills off the bench as a sophomore.
David DeJulius:
A Detroit native, point guards out of Detroit have had a nice history here at Michigan. The hope is that the man known colloquially as DDJ will continue that legacy. In the first half of the season, he had minimal attempts to perform on the court with Zavier Simpson and Eli Brooks holding down the point guard positions. As Big Ten play began, however, DeJulius earned himself more-and-more run at the helm of the offense. A season-high sixteen minutes came in the final regular season game against Nebraska and a couple notable highlights included a strong lay-up finish against Maryland and a drawn charge at home against Matt McQuaid of Michigan State. Defense was the specialty for the freshman and even against some high-level opponents like Anthony Cowan, he held his own. Where improvements need to come during the summer is on the offensive end. DeJulius went just one-for-fifteen from three during the season and five-for-fifteen from two. On the high school level, he has shown some strong offensive performances and growing pains are to be expected. He is almost certainly going to take a big jump in minutes as a sophomore and with Brooks likely to play a good amount of shooting guard.
Austin Davis:
Starting the year as the back-up center, the soon-to-be redshirt junior was ultimately passed-up entirely in the rotation by the two bigger freshmen. Davis had four games of two-or-made made field goals, including at Wisconsin where he scored four points in eight minutes, but the other three came against Norfolk State, Western Michigan, and a career-best three-for-four, six-point, three rebound, ten minute outing against Chattanooga. The positive attributes are there, as John Beilein has attested to before. Davis has shown off some nice post moves and rebounds fairly well. The problems come on the defensive end where he lacks in foot speed to keep up with the more nimble centers of the Big Ten. He offers depth to the side at a position where a team can always use it, but the expectation of much more than that seems a bit lofty for the time being.
Colin Castleton:
Before Michigan's trip to Iowa on the first of February, Castleton had played just sixteen minutes total. He had topped four minutes once (against Chattanooga). His four minutes against Iowa, needed when Jon Teske picked up two first-half fouls and a revolving door of centers were being employed, flashed something from the freshman. He wouldn't get another chance until a trip to Minnesota, but the home finale against Nebraska was a coming-out party. In just nine minutes Castleton finished with eleven points and three rebounds and received a couple of standing ovations. He would not equal that five-for-seven night, but he remained a bench option and played ten minutes in East Lansing as well. Castleton was tabbed as a player with plenty of potential for Michigan in the years to come, and the flashes of this potential is enough to excite Michigan fans, surely. He will not be expected to contribute heavily next season with Jon Teske as a senior, but ten minutes per game as a back-up center and another year of learning presents a great opportunity to keep his feet wet in the college game.
Adrien Nunez:
Nunez did not play a big role within the Wolverines lineup this season, but that was to be expected more-or-less. Thought of as a possible redshirt candidate, Nunez did see action throughout the season, but his season-high was a mere six minutes early in the season against George Washington. Any game he saw action in more than two minutes came in November and once a rotation became finalized he saw minimal time. The hope for his sophomore season is that he can really have a couple breakout moments and get to show off his shooting stroke that Michigan recruited him for. He will be looking at a battle for minutes at the two with the possibility of a grad transfer or 2019 recruit, a bigger line-up if a player like Franz Wagner or Justin Pierce is brought in, or a smaller one if neither comes in and Eli Brooks shores up the two. Still, the future is there for Nunez to make a difference.
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STARTERS:
Zavier Simpson:
Simpson led the team and deservedly took home the Team MVP award at the postseason award banquet. When Michigan's offense was clicking, it was usually because Simpson was the man leading it. Likewise, he set the tone on defense and shut down plenty of opposing point guards. Named a finalist for national defensive player of the year, the fact that he has another season to improve as both a defender and player means good things are likely to come for the senior point guard. Simpson became the top assister in Big Ten Tournament history, snagged a triple-double against Ohio State, and even had four games of three or more threes. That included a five-for-ten night at home against Northwestern that almost single-handedly would force teams to at least consider Simpson as a threat from deep when left wide-open. The sky hook was unstoppable, the three-point shot improved a touch, and the defense will always be there. If the offense can be improved upon, Simpson immediately becomes one of the most dangerous players on not just Michigan's roster, but the entire Big Ten.
Next season this is, once again, Simpson's team. The difference is, however, that he is going to be the guy as a senior. Sure, Jon Teske will also be a senior, and Simpson was already team captain last season, but this is the time for Simpson to make a big offensive jump while continuing to impact the game for others. BartTorvik is projecting 13.7 points per game next season from the point guard along with 5.6 assists. If that is to happen then it is highly likely that Simpson sees a jump to about 33-35% from three, which is going to be hugely important to a Michigan team that needs shooting. This is a Michigan team with question marks, but returning a senior point guard is a massive plus in favor of the Wolverines.
Jordan Poole:
The provider of the biggest shot of Michigan's season in 2017-18, the freshman bench piece blossomed into a key starter, but perhaps underwhelmed some who thought he would be an immediate fifteen-point-a-game, 42% three point shooter. Through 2018, he shot 50% even on 5.2 threes per game. In 2019, Poole dropped to 30.4% on 5.6 attempts. The magnifying glass was put on him after a two-for-eight game at home against Michigan State as well as his two-for-nine follow-up against the Spartans in the Big Ten Tournament final was a let down as well. Of course, Poole had some great performances as well. Four made threes against Florida in the NCAA Tournament was a massive high point of the season, as was 22 points and five threes in Minnesota. When Poole was hitting shots, Michigan was unstoppable. Poole hit four threes or more in seven games and Michigan won all seven. On the other hand, Poole took eight threes in ten games. Michigan went 6-4 in those, the four losses saw Poole go three-for-nine (at Iowa), two-for-nine (vs. Michigan State), two-for-eight (Michigan State), and one-for-eight (at Penn State). That stat is the perfect microcosm of Jordan Poole's effects on Michigan this past season -- massively important, but inconsistent as well.
I really like Poole as an NBA prospect. I have seen some negativity based on the inconsistency, but I really rate Poole's shooting stroke, play-making ability, and the youth that is on his side. The question remains if a team will use a pick on him in the first round, but I would be surprised if Poole goes undrafted. The potential really is tantalizing and with the ball dominance of Zavier Simpson, there are some things like the pick-and-roll play that were perhaps under-emphasized within the Michigan offense that NBA scouts and GMs will dream about at a higher level. His absence leaves Michigan with a whole at the shooting guard position that seems possible to be filled by Eli Brooks, meaning size is being lost, as is shooting, but additional defense will be gained with that. A big shot taker, and often times maker, he will be missed before his upperclassmen seasons.
Charles Matthews:
The lone 'senior' on the team, Matthews provided great defense along with a spark in several games where one was desperately needed. Matthews saw drops in nearly every major statistical category -- barring a nice jump from 55.8% to 64.5% from the free throw line -- and failed to really hone in from three. That said, the ability to take over a game never removed itself from Matthews. 16-1 when Matthews shot 40% or better, just a few of the instances of Matthews taking a game over included a double-double against Montana in the NCAA Tournament with 22 points and ten rebounds, 25 points on 77% shooting from the field against George Washington, and nearly willing Michigan back into the game at Penn State with three threes and 24 points on eight-for-eleven shooting. His defense on the wing made him perhaps a close second when it comes to Team MVP voting (which is tough, in itself, to say, given the importance of so many players on this Michigan team).
After a 'senior' year that really reinforced what fans (and likely scouts) knew about Matthews, being a year older does not help his draft stock. There is, however, a position; and that's that teams will know exactly what they are getting with Matthews. A lock-down defender with plus athleticism, Matthews is a great option for a team looking for a strong defensive force late in the draft. Still only set to be 22 by the start of the NBA season, Matthews is not that old at all, and I think his skill set will allow him to translate into a career that could see him have a great deal of success whether that's in the NBA, Europe, or the G-League. Zak Irvin has made a career in the G-League out of taking twos and playing smart ball. Matthews can certainly apply those skills in the lower rank of American pro basketball if he gets a two-way deal straight out of the draft. Additionally, Derrick Walton and Duncan Robinson have shown that you can make an NBA roster even if you go undrafted as a 'senior.' I am looking forward to seeing where Matthews lands.
Ignas Brazdeikis:
Still undecided on returning to Michigan, though the language of his initial declaration implies not, Brazdeikis showed enough as a freshman to potentially become John Beilein's first ever one-and-done NBA prospect at Michigan. Brazdeikis finished the year with the most attempts from the field (407) while shooting 50% from two and 39.2% from three. During the season Brazdeikis became one of the most reliable pieces of the team in terms of taking, and getting, shots. He averaged 14.3 points per game, top on the team, and had some spurts over the season with even better stats. Over a six game span ranging between November and December, he shot 45.5% from three with 19.3 points per game while scoring at least twenty points in four of those six games. Despite fouling out in East Lansing against Michigan State, he finished with twenty points in 22 minutes and was a perfect three-for-three from three. Against Texas Tech, thanks to his ability to get to the rim, he was one of few Wolverines to find the bottom of the net with consistency as he finished with seventeen points. He ended the year with ten games of twenty-plus points and seventeen games of seventeen or more. Brazdeikis had a handful of tougher games, notably he went one-for-fourteen with two points and six rebounds in the two games he played Wisconsin, but especially as a freshman, he full range of skills was prevalent.
If he returns, Brazdeikis is immediately a top option on offense for Michigan. His return means Michigan has four locked in starters and the shooting guard spot is the only one up for grabs. That said, Brazdeikis seems to be the highest-projected draft pick of any of the three potential draftees. He is older for a freshman, but he is a knock-down catch-and-shoot shooters and has been able to get to the rim and finish strong. These are all bright signs for a player with just one season at the collegiate level. Of course, teams will want Brazdeikis to shoot off the dribble more and likely add to his arsenal, plus his passing could certainly leave teams wanting. As a first-round pick, though, his potential makes for an interesting player. I look for him to almost certainly leave for the NBA Draft and is almost guaranteed to get drafted somewhere. A big combine can see him firmly in the first round.
Jon Teske:
Affectionately known as 'Big Jon' or 'Big Sleep' to Michigan fans and his teammates, the improvement of Jon Teske was a massive story during the whole season. One of the Big Ten's premier center defenders, Teske swatted 75 shots over the season and accumulated 26 steals. On the offensive end, Teske averaged 9.5 points to go with seven rebounds per game (two of those per game being offensive). The key development as a whole, though, was Teske's outside shooting. Teske shot right around 30% on the season over 77 attempts and he was encouraged to shoot whenever open. He finished the season with three games of three made threes, including during his career-high 22 point night against Nebraska. With eight double-doubles as well, Teske made his presence known night-in and night-out. In games where Teske hit a three, Michigan was 14-1, only losing in Wisconsin when Teske made a pair of threes. His jump in production was massive and the hope is that as a center and with a fully college ready back-up in Colin Castleton, he can continue to grow in aggressiveness on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court.
Projected to be the highest scorer on the team next season (Torvik has him at fourteen points per game next season) it is going to be vital that Teske takes one final big leap in terms of play as a senior. Already having done so by expanding his range, if he can continue to improve beyond the arc, then he is going to be a force to be reckoned with. As one of two returning starters, the fact that Michigan can return their pick-and-roll connection means that the 2019-20 will have at least one thing set in stone heading into the season. Quick enough to hang with the more mobile Big Ten bigs, but a menace down low, Teske's time is now.
KEY RESERVES:
Isaiah Livers:
At times, it felt like Michigan was a six-man rotation during the season. That sixth man was Isaiah Livers. Only starting three games as a result of Charles Matthews' injury late in the season, Livers came off the bench to serve as Michigan's 'microwave' just as Duncan Robinson did in his place last season. Livers shot a team-high 42.6% from three on 122 attempts and was reliable all season. He had fourteen multi-three games and Michigan was 12-2 in those, both losses coming to Michigan State. Michigan was also 18-1 in games where he scored eight-or-more points, that lone loss coming in the Big Ten Tournament Final against Michigan State. His career-high performance against Minnesota saw him shoot four-for-six from three with 21 points, and he also had a twelve-point, ten-rebound double-double against Nebraska. He missed two games in the season, but aside from those he was an ever-present part of the rotation. On a Michigan team that struggled from three more so than most other John Beilein teams, Livers offered a stable figure from long range for this team.
Looking ahead to next season, it is almost a certainty that Livers is not only going to start, but become the number three 'guy' on the team, and perhaps the number one scorer. The pick-and-roll game between Zavier Simpson and Jon Teske is going to be essential to this team, but on a club losing at least two, probably three, starters, all three being the only double-digit point-per-game producers on the team, that void will need to be filled. The focus on the summer will need to be creating his own shot. Livers was a bit loose in situations where he had to handle the ball in the lane last season, but so, too, was Charles Matthews. That is my expectation for Livers: to be like Charles Matthews with a better outside jumper. He will be tasked with locking down the top opposing wing and creating his own shot, but will also need to shoot from deep between 150-200 times next season. A lot of Michigan's 2019-20 season rides on Livers performing, but I believe him to be up to the task.
Eli Brooks:
Brooks is the only bench player that appeared in all 37 games for the Wolverines. Brooks won the starting point guard spot last season, but that seems like ages ago. Last season saw upticks in percentages out of the guard (41% to 46% from two, 24.4% to 29.2% from three) and saw him take nearly double the twos, but there were also massive dry spells during the season. After a pretty solid 2018 portion of the season (4.3 PPG, 60% from two, 34.5% from three) Brooks would then lack in shots taken and, by way of that, points scored. It would take until the season finale against Michigan State on the road for Brooks to get his first multi-field goal game of 2019. From that point on, though, Brooks had a marked improvement as he went back to averaging okay numbers for a bench guard (3.6 PPG, 54.5% from two, 36.4% from three). As his confidence seemed to return towards the end of the season, his production ultimately increased, as did his tenacity on defense.
The end of the season showed me some really positive signs from Brooks ahead of an important junior season. I saw some write Brooks off heavily in the middle of the season, and yes he was really struggling, but form comes and goes. Brooks has a nice shooting stroke and has developed leaps and bounds on the defensive end. He became a defensive improvement over Jordan Poole by the end of the season and was comfortably a ten-fifteen minute performer by the NCAA Tournament because of those defensive contributions. There is a great chance that Brooks starts 2019 as the starting shooting guard. For him to produce at the two, three things need to happen. First, that defense has to remain. Brooks and Zavier Simpson as a two-guard backcourt is undersized, but lethal on defense. Simpson has proven able to handle bigger guards, Brooks simply needs to clean up his assignment. Second, Brooks' three-point shot needs to take a jump closer to 35%. Michigan desperately needs shooting and whoever shoots the best is likely going to see the most playtime. Finally, Brooks needs to provide a secondary option against pressure -- be it a proper press or token pressure. If he can really do all these things, I have optimism that he will be a comfortable starter by the start of the season.
ADDITIONAL RESERVES:
Brandon Johns:
Brandon Johns was an interesting case throughout the season. Looked at more generally as a power forward, Johns was almost exclusively a center for the most part of the season. His breakout came early in the season, at home against Indiana where, with Isaiah Livers out due to injury, he scored eight points and snagged eight rebounds in thirteen minutes. He would displace Austin Davis as back-up center, but when push came to shove it was Isaiah Livers who saw the better part of back-up minutes at the five while Colin Castleton eventually got those minutes later in the season. With Castleton properly emerging as a key piece to the bench, I would expect that we see Johns as sort of a sixth/seventh man at forward similar to Livers was this season. He will be able to get into a position where he is more comfortable and play with personnel that complements his strengths. He should also get an opportunity to shoot a bit more from three, and/or showcase his rather impressive athleticism. Looking at the composition of the roster, if it was just the eleven scholarship players currently on the roster with no other additions, Johns is likely a day one starter. However, with the spring period offering options for Michigan, Johns will get the opportunity to showcase his skills off the bench as a sophomore.
David DeJulius:
A Detroit native, point guards out of Detroit have had a nice history here at Michigan. The hope is that the man known colloquially as DDJ will continue that legacy. In the first half of the season, he had minimal attempts to perform on the court with Zavier Simpson and Eli Brooks holding down the point guard positions. As Big Ten play began, however, DeJulius earned himself more-and-more run at the helm of the offense. A season-high sixteen minutes came in the final regular season game against Nebraska and a couple notable highlights included a strong lay-up finish against Maryland and a drawn charge at home against Matt McQuaid of Michigan State. Defense was the specialty for the freshman and even against some high-level opponents like Anthony Cowan, he held his own. Where improvements need to come during the summer is on the offensive end. DeJulius went just one-for-fifteen from three during the season and five-for-fifteen from two. On the high school level, he has shown some strong offensive performances and growing pains are to be expected. He is almost certainly going to take a big jump in minutes as a sophomore and with Brooks likely to play a good amount of shooting guard.
Austin Davis:
Starting the year as the back-up center, the soon-to-be redshirt junior was ultimately passed-up entirely in the rotation by the two bigger freshmen. Davis had four games of two-or-made made field goals, including at Wisconsin where he scored four points in eight minutes, but the other three came against Norfolk State, Western Michigan, and a career-best three-for-four, six-point, three rebound, ten minute outing against Chattanooga. The positive attributes are there, as John Beilein has attested to before. Davis has shown off some nice post moves and rebounds fairly well. The problems come on the defensive end where he lacks in foot speed to keep up with the more nimble centers of the Big Ten. He offers depth to the side at a position where a team can always use it, but the expectation of much more than that seems a bit lofty for the time being.
Colin Castleton:
Before Michigan's trip to Iowa on the first of February, Castleton had played just sixteen minutes total. He had topped four minutes once (against Chattanooga). His four minutes against Iowa, needed when Jon Teske picked up two first-half fouls and a revolving door of centers were being employed, flashed something from the freshman. He wouldn't get another chance until a trip to Minnesota, but the home finale against Nebraska was a coming-out party. In just nine minutes Castleton finished with eleven points and three rebounds and received a couple of standing ovations. He would not equal that five-for-seven night, but he remained a bench option and played ten minutes in East Lansing as well. Castleton was tabbed as a player with plenty of potential for Michigan in the years to come, and the flashes of this potential is enough to excite Michigan fans, surely. He will not be expected to contribute heavily next season with Jon Teske as a senior, but ten minutes per game as a back-up center and another year of learning presents a great opportunity to keep his feet wet in the college game.
Adrien Nunez:
Nunez did not play a big role within the Wolverines lineup this season, but that was to be expected more-or-less. Thought of as a possible redshirt candidate, Nunez did see action throughout the season, but his season-high was a mere six minutes early in the season against George Washington. Any game he saw action in more than two minutes came in November and once a rotation became finalized he saw minimal time. The hope for his sophomore season is that he can really have a couple breakout moments and get to show off his shooting stroke that Michigan recruited him for. He will be looking at a battle for minutes at the two with the possibility of a grad transfer or 2019 recruit, a bigger line-up if a player like Franz Wagner or Justin Pierce is brought in, or a smaller one if neither comes in and Eli Brooks shores up the two. Still, the future is there for Nunez to make a difference.
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