2018-2019 Basketball Roster Outlook

With a fabulous 2017-2018 basketball season wrapped up for the Wolverines after a loss to Villanova in the NCAA Championship game, John Belein will turn his focus to what's ahead for his program. Of course, in the next couple months he will try to catch up on some recruiting for the 2019 cycle while the returning players hit the weights and focus on the classroom. This is all a certainty. What is uncertain yet is the future of Charles Mathews. Mo' Wagner has chosen to enter the NBA draft, and I for one cannot blame him. He proved to be a deadly weapon for the Wolverines through the Big Ten tournament (again) and all the way through the NCAA tournament. He was the Wolverines best player in the final. Mathews had a couple phenomenal tournament runs as well, and he will strongly consider entering the NBA draft. Wagner is a versatile scorer who can hustle on defense and Mathews is just a tremendous defender with the necessary athleticism to become a versatile player in the NBA. If either guy comes back it's just a bonus for the program. So, for this exercise, I am going to presume that both will be gone.

So who's left? Surprisingly, even with Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year recipient Duncan Robinson also gone, the Wolverines still look like they could run a solid two-deep at four of the five positions on the court. Starters Zavier Simpson (PG) and Isaiah Livers (F) return, as well as top backups Jordan Poole (SG) and Jon Teske (C). The latter of the two had some breakout moments throughout March Madness so ascension into starting positions seems likely. Top incoming recruits Brandon Johns (F) and Ignas Brazdeikis (F) both could earn a lot of minutes early on and help fill out the depth chart at the three and four spots. Eli Brooks (PG) and Austin Davis (F) will attempt to earn more minutes off the bench, and I believe they will. All these kids have potential as role players on this team.

(projected min/gm for starters)

Point Guard (PG) 

Zavier Simpson(32 min/gm)
Eli Brooks
David DeJulius*


Shooting Guard 

Jordan Poole( 32 min/gm)
Adrien Nunez*


Guard/Forward 

Charles Mathews (32 min/gm)
Ignas Brazdeikis*
Naji Ozeir


Forward 

Isaiah Livers(30 min/gm)
Brandon Johns*
C.J. Baird


Center/Forward

Jon Teske(20 min/gm)
Austin Davis
Colin Castleton*


Assessment: There is a lot to like about the outlook for next year's roster, especially if Charles Mathews comes back. Wagner is out though, sadly. There are some things to be concerned about too, but overall the roster has a lot of potential. Any way you dice it, the talent is there to make another run at a conference title. Zavier Simpson is a great on-ball defender at the point and he has the quickness to get to the basket. If he improves his free throw percentage he could be the best in the Big Ten. Jordan Poole had great freshman season and introduced himself to the nation with a game-winning three-point shot to get the team into the Sweet 16 for the second year in a row. Look for him to accept a role in the spotlight as a team leader on and off the court this season. Isiah Livers is a do-it-all kinda guy who contributes all over the court. He too has the athletic ability to be more of a scoring threat, so look for him to double his minutes and triple his stats. Jon Teske only averaged 12 minutes per game behind Mo' Wagner, but he displayed an ability to utilize his 7'1" frame to his advantage on rebounds and shot-blocking. His presence will continue to help this team operate on a high level on the defensive end of the floor, though I still don't see him getting 30 min/gm. Austin Davis will be looking to earn some minutes on the floor this year and hopefully provide some offense that otherwise would've been provided by Wagner. It could turn out to be a decent rotation at Center/Forward with incoming freshman Colin Casleton, who had offers from the likes of Florida, Xavier, Florida State, and Purdue, also ready to get some minutes off the bench. Both Brandon Johns and Ignas Brazdeikis are considered Top 100 prospects so a lot is expected of them this year too. My money is on Johns to be a starter if Mathews leaves, though Brazdeikis could be a Sixth Man of the Year candidate as a freshman if he finds his niche in the system. Eli Brooks should also be a solid backup to help get rest to both Simpson and Poole, but freshman David DeJulius could compete for minutes too, and do not be surprised if he leapfrogs Brooks on the depth chart. Though, Brooks has a definite advantage with a year in the program under his belt.

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