The Wolverine

November 2021

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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2021-22 BASKETBALL PREVIEW NOVEMBER 2021 THE WOLVERINE 45 1. Freshman forward Caleb Houstan Houstan arrived in Ann Arbor as a potential lottery pick before he even laced up his sneakers for practice or a game — ESPN's Jonathan Givony listed him as the No. 6 overall prospect for the 2022 NBA Draft in mid- October. He is an expected one-and-done prospect by most analysts. 2. Freshman forward Moussa Diabate Diabate's raw potential is going to make him a tantalizing prospect for NBA scouts, but his status will be determined by how quickly he is able to put his game together and showcase his abilities. He is another potential lottery talent and has been likened to Atlanta Hawks forward Clint Capela, the NBA's leading rebounder in 2021, due to his length and explosiveness. 1. Michigan (23-5 overall, 14-3 in Big Ten last season) The defending Big Ten champs are not satisfied and will look to defend their crown while also pushing the program forward. This is a national championship contender. 2. Purdue (18-10, 13-6) Forward Trevion Williams was a first-team All-Big Ten performer last season, but the combination of guard Jaden Ivey and center Zach Edey — a pair of Big Ten All-Freshman Team members in 2020-21 — with a cast of solid contributors make this a potent team capable of winning a conference title. 3. Illinois (24-7, 16-4) The Illini lost their leader in guard Ayo Dosunmu (NBA), but center Kofi Cockburn returns, while guards and former top-100 recruits Andre Curbelo and Trent Frazier project to step into bigger roles. They have the talent to win the Big Ten still. 4. Ohio State (21-10, 12-8) OSU has its work cut out for it after losing veteran guards CJ Walker and Duane Wash- ington Jr., who combined for 25.9 points per game last season. The Buckeyes will lean on EJ Liddell (16.2 points per game last year) a pair of transfer guards in Jamari Wheeler (Penn State) and Cedric Russell (Louisiana) plus a deep supporting cast to try and keep pace in the Big Ten. 5. Michigan State (15-13, 9-11) The Spartans are typically at their best when people are not expecting much from them. They have the goods to finish in the top half of the conference and earn an NCAA Tournament berth. 6. Maryland (17-14, 9-11) The Terrapins managed to squeeze into the NCAA Tourna- ment last year, but lost Aaron Wiggins (NBA) and Daryl Morsell (transfer). Guard Eric Ayala, who led the team with 15.1 points per outing last winter, projects to lead a group that bolstered its roster with transfers. 7. Rutgers (16-12, 10-10) Guard Geo Baker and forward Ron Harper Jr. are one of the best senior tandems in the conference (25.3 points per game combined) and lead a program that pushed Houston, a Final Four team last season, to its slimmest victory of the NCAA Tournament. 8. Wisconsin (18-13, 10-10) Things got toxic in Madison last season when a group that was projected to compete for a Big Ten title sputtered. Peren- nial heel Brad Davison, who has averaged 10.6 points a game over his first four years, returned and will be counted on for one last ride to see if the Badgers have any magic left to conjure up under Greg Gard. 9. Indiana (12-15, 7-12) The Hoosiers are hoping that they can tap into what Michigan did with Juwan Howard by grabbing a distin- guished alumnus out of the NBA ranks in Mike Woodson. We will have to wait and see if it pays similar dividends. 10. Iowa (22-9, 14-6) Luka Garza graduated, while CJ Fred- erick, Joe Wieskamp and Jack Nunge are gone, too. Iowa has to find a way to replace 1,584 points from last year. This might be the team with the most question marks in the conference. 11. Nebraska (7-20, 3-16) The Cornhuskers signed their first- ever five-star basketball recruit in guard Bryce McGowens and have some other solid pieces on the roster. They might not be as easy an out as they have been recently. 12. Northwestern (9-15, 6-13) They have enough talent to keep themselves out of last place in the conference but must find a way to compete and limit losses to ensure head coach Chris Collins' future. 13. Penn State (11-14, 7-12) The Nittany Lions lost both starting guards after last season, which makes life a lot more difficult for first-year head coach Micah Shrewsberry. Penn State's new leader spent time as an assistant at Purdue and worked under Brad Stevens with the Boston Celtics. 14. Minnesota (14-15, 6-14) The Golden Gophers have their work cut out for them under first-year head coach Ben Johnson. Top scorer Marcus Carr and nine other Gophers transferred out of the program following Richard Pitino's firing. Illinois center Kofi Cockburn was a consensus sec- ond-team All-American last year after he was the NCAA's only player to average 15 or more points and at least nine rebounds while shooting 60 per- cent or better from the floor. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN BIG TEN PRESEASON POWER RANKINGS MICHIGAN'S TOP NBA PROSPECTS 3. Sophomore center Hunter Dickinson Dickinson tested the NBA waters after last season, but the league wants to see him take his game farther away from the basket. Most expect him to be a second-round talent whenever he enters the league. 4. Senior guard DeVante' Jones Jones and Dickinson camped together for a few teams during the 2021 NBA Draft process. While he's under- sized, his wingspan, scoring ability and defensive prow- ess could put him on draft radar screens if he performs in the Big Ten. Givony ranked him No. 64 on his top-100 prospects list for the 2022 draft this fall.

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