The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/510942
What They're Saying About Caris LeVert Matt Norlander, CBSSports.com: "Here's an insane reality: It's Frank Kaminsky- like just how valuable LeVert was to his team last season. He led the Wolverines in scoring (14.9), rebounds (4.9), assists (3.7), steals (1.7) and minutes (35.8) through the 18 games he played last season. According to Michigan, only six players could say the same thing of their performance to their teams as of mid- January. "LeVert-less Michigan went 5-9 without its star and missed the NCAA Tourna- ment for the first time since 2010." Jeff Eisenberg, Yahoo Sports: "The return of LeVert strengthens a Big Ten conference that should be among the nation's best next year. "The addition of elite recruit Diamond Stone and the return of Melo Trimble and Jake Layman gives Maryland legitimate Final Four aspirations even if the Terps don't add a transfer this offseason. Michigan State returns some key pieces from a Final Four team and adds high-scoring West Virginia transfer Eron Harris and an elite freshman class. Indiana will be a contender if Yogi Ferrell and James Blackmon return to school, and Wisconsin will probably find a way to finish in the top four because Wisconsin always finds a way to finish in the top four. "Nonetheless, with LeVert headlining the league's deepest perimeter corps, Michigan should be back in the mix after a year's hiatus." Mark Snyder, The Detroit Free Press: "By LeVert choosing the less-traveled route, U-M leaps from the middle of the pack to a Big Ten contender. It will have nine returning rotation players, plus two more who redshirted last year and are expected to be in the mix. "Maryland and Michigan State likely will be picked ahead of the Wolverines regardless. Yet U-M will lose only center Max Bielfeldt from this past season. The young roster struggled after LeVert and Derrick Walton Jr. were lost for the sea- son in January, but began to find a rhythm in the final two weeks." Brendan F. Quinn, Mlive.com: "Recent years have seen a revolving door in- stalled for stars of the Michigan basketball program. The affixed sign above has read: Enter here. Exit early. "Nik Stauskas, Mitch McGary, Glenn Robinson III, Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Darius Morris have all come and gone. "Caris LeVert? "He took a peek outside, but is coming back … "… joining a deep roster featuring Zak Irvin, Derrick Walton Jr., Spike Albrecht, a stable of experienced sophomores and transfer Duncan Robinson. The only player lost off last year's 16-16 squad is senior forward Max Bielfeldt, while incom- ing 6-10 freshman forward Moritz Wagner stands as the lone addition. "That should all add up to a preseason top-25 ranking and loads of expecta- tions in 2015-16."