The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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48 THE WOLVERINE NOVEMBER 2019 2019-20 BASKETBALL PREVIEW THREE BEST BACKCOURTS ON U-M'S SCHEDULE 1. Michigan State This one is a no-brainer primarily due to the senior duo of Cassius Winston (18.8 points per game last year) and Josh Langford (15.0), though the contributions of sophomore forward Aaron Henry and fifth-year senior guard/forward Kyle Ahrens will be crucial as well. Lindy's named MSU's backcourt as the second best in the na- tion, behind only Florida's. 2. Louisville Fifth-year senior Lamarr Kimble (15.6 points per game in 2018-19) transferred in from Saint Joseph's to serve as the Cardinals' point guard, while incoming five-star freshman forward Sam- uell Williamson is also expected to make an im- pact from day one. UL also welcomes two other four-star freshman guards into their backcourt with Josh Nickelberry and David Johnson. 3. Illinois Guard Ayo Dosunmu's (13.8 points per game last season) decision to return for his sophomore year gives the Illini one of the Big Ten's best one-two punches with him and junior guard Trent Frazier (13.7). Senior guard Andres Feliz and sophomore guard Tevian Jones will also provide quality depth. THREE BEST FRONTCOURTS ON U-M'S SCHEDULE 1. Maryland Lindy's tabbed the Terrapins' frontcourt as the second-best unit in the country, largely due to the presence of sophomore forward Jalen Smith (11.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game last year), who will be the primary big man in Maryland's offense following the early departure of Bruno Fernando for the NBA. The Terps also brought in four four-star frontcourt players in their recruiting class: forward Donta Scott and a trio of centers consisting of Chol Marial, and Makhi and Makhel Mitchell. 2. Louisville Lindy's designated the Cardinals' frontcourt as the fourth best in college basketball, thanks to the returns of fifth-year senior center Steven Enoch (5.2 boards per game last year) and ju- nior forward Malik Williams (6.1 rebounds). Two incoming four-star freshmen in center Aidan Igiehon and forward Jaelyn Withers will also add quality depth. 3. Michigan State The Spartans earn the No. 3 slot on this list due to the presence of junior forward Xavier Till- man, though he is surrounded by quite a bit of uncertainty. Sophomores Marcus Bingham and Thomas Kithier are both bursting with potential, but each only played sparingly last season as freshmen. 1. Michigan State (32-7 overall and 16-4 in the Big Ten last season) The only significant contributors MSU lost from last year's squad were for- wards Nick Ward (12.9 points per game) and Kenny Goins (7.9), and shooting guard Matt McQuaid (9.8). There appears to be a significant gap between Michigan State and the 13 other schools in the Big Ten, and an experienced backcourt made up of seniors Cassius Winston (18.8 points and 7.5 assists per outing last season) and Josh Langford (15.0 points per game in 13 ap- pearances before being lost for the year with injury) is the main reason why. Junior forward Xavier Tillman (7.3 boards per contest in 2018-19), mean- while, appears to be a star in the making in MSU's frontcourt. 2. Maryland (23-11 overall, 13-7 Big Ten) Maryland is a clear No. 2 behind Michigan State in the conference, losing very little from last year's squad that came up just short of reaching the Sweet 16 (lost to LSU by two in the second round of the NCAA Tournament). Center Bruno Fernando is the only contributor who did not return from last season's crew, with sophomore forward Jalen Smith stepping into a more prominent role in the Terrapin frontcourt as a result. Senior do-it-all guard Anthony Cowan returns for one final go-round in College Park, and will be joined in the backcourt by junior guard Darryl Morsell and a trio of talented sophomores who all played significant roles last year in Eric Ayala, Aaron Wiggins and Serrel Smith. 3. Purdue (26-10 overall, 16-4 Big Ten) Despite heavy personnel losses in the forms of elite guard Carsen Edwards (24.3 points per game last season), forward Grady Eifert and guard Ryan Cline, the Boilermakers should once again be near the top of the Big Ten after win- ning a share of the regular-season crown last year. Fifth-year senior guard Jahaad Proctor transferred in from High Point after tallying 19.4 points per game with the Panthers last season, and how well he is able to produce in Edwards' absence will be critical to the team's success. The 2019-20 Boilermakers have several questions to answer heading into the year — primarily how well sophomore guard Eric Hunter and redshirt sophomore forward Aaron Wheeler perform in expanded roles — but head coach Matt Painter's squads have won at least 26 games in each of the last four years and reached the Sweet 16 or further in the last three. 4. Ohio State (20-15 overall, 8-12 Big Ten) Placing Ohio State at No. 4 may seem a bit high when considering it barely squeaked into the NCAA Tournament last year as a No. 11 seed, but the main reason is a freshman class that features three top-60 athletes in point guard D.J. Carton, and power forwards E.J. Liddell and Alonzo Gaffney. Either Carton or redshirt junior C.J. Walker (who transferred in from Florida State) will serve as the Buckeyes' point guard, and will be expected to be an instant upgrade at a position that has fallen on hard times in recent years. Ohio State also returns a solid core made up of sophomore guard Luther Muhammad, senior forward Andre Wesson, junior forward Kyle Young and junior center Kaleb Wesson (14.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per tilt last year), who is one of the top big men in the league. 5. Wisconsin (23-11 overall, 14-6 Big Ten) The Ethan Happ era has finally come to an end in Madison after five years, leaving the roster without an obvious go-to player. The Badgers will likely start five veterans who have plenty of experience, but outside of junior guard Brad Davison and junior forward Nate Reuvers, none of them are expected to be more than role players in 2019-20. Wisconsin will need veterans such as fifth-year senior guard Brevin Pritzl and redshirt junior forward Aleem Ford to take on bigger roles than ever before if the Badgers hope to make a second straight NCAA Tournament. 6. Michigan (30-7 overall, 15-5 Big Ten) The Wolverines are an incredibly difficult team to figure out with first-year head man Juwan Howard taking over for the departed John Beilein, in what will be his first-ever head coaching job. There is plenty of talent on the roster in senior guard Zavier Simpson, senior center Jon Teske and junior forward Isaiah Livers for the Wolverines to make some noise in the Big Ten and per- PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH IN THE BIG TEN