The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/589596
2015-16 BASKETBALL PREVIEW Michigan's Six Most Indispensable Players Michigan could be as many as 11 deep this year, but staying healthy will be a key, even with the added depth. Here are the players the Wolverines can least afford to lose. 1. Caris LeVert — When all else breaks down on offense and the Wolverines need a basket, the senior shooting guard is the guy who can go and get it. The preseason All-Big Ten selection is projected as a first-round pick for a reason, and Michigan would be hurting without his scoring ability. 2. Zak Irvin — Irvin stepped up as more than a shooter by the end of last year out of necessity when both LeVert and point guard Derrick Walton Jr. went down. The junior wing is reportedly ahead of schedule in his recovery from offseason back surgery, and he'll be a key component in the offense this year. He can play three different positions. 3. Derrick Walton — Michi- gan's junior point guard was off to a great start through five games last year before injuring his foot. His num- bers went down as the in- jury got worse, leaving the point guard duties to Spike Albrecht, who was fighting through his own injuries. There's no great option at the point beyond those two. 4. Ricky Doyle — Michigan has a number of big man op- tions behind the 6-9 sopho- more, but none of them are proven. Redshirt sophomore Mark Donnal is bigger, but still has a long way to go to become a reliable first op- tion, and neither redshir t freshman D.J. Wilson nor true freshman Moritz Wagner have the experience — or the bodies — to bang with the Big Ten's big men down low. Junior point guard Derrick Walton will be a key player this season and should be healthy after get- ting hurt just five games into the campaign, although he tried to play through the injury. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL