Throughout the College basketball season, Michigan basketball has shown dominance. They ended the regular season with an overall of 20-4 with only three losses in arguably the best conference this year. They ran into a bit of speed bump halfway through the season having to go on pause due to COVID protocol. However, they finished up the season at fourth in the nation on the AP Men’s basketball poll and earned a one seed in the national tournament. Initially they looked poised for a deep tournament run with the possibility of a national championship appearance. Unfortunately, one of their star players, forward Isaiah Livers, is now out due to a stress fracture in his right foot. Livers, who not only averaged above 40% from behind the three point line, is also a senior and contributes irreplaceable veteran leadership on the court that the Wolverines will certainly struggle without. This is certainly a heartbreaking injury for Livers who has played four years for Michigan and has started every game he has played in since the start of his junior year.
All hope is not lost for the Wolverines however. Senior transfer Chaundee Brown who previously played three years at Wake Forest has shown flashes of excellence on both ends of the court this season. Brown, who typically would come off the bench for the maize and blue, has the opportunity to potentially start if the coaching staff decides to play a version of small ball in the tournament. Chaundee has been shooting just under 40% from three but has been known to get hot from downtown when his team needs him most.
The Wolverines also have a star Freshman of the year candidate in their 7 foot 1 inch center Hunter Dickinson. After showing some potential in Michigan’s first few games of the season, coach Juwan Howard put Dickinson into the starting line up where he has now averaged 14.2 ppg, 7 rpg, and just under 1.5 bpg. He plays with intensity and fire that is contagious within his team when he is on the court. At 255 pounds, he is a bruiser down low and can take advantage of mismatches on offense while also stopping the opposing teams big men on the other end. His inexperience in the national tournament may prove to get the better of him, but thanks to a one seed he has the opportunity to gain some confidence through the first two rounds.
With Livers out the road for Michigan to make it deep into the month of March is going to be much harder, however they are not out and have the potential to still make a final four run if they learn how to play well with this modified lineup.