Michigan Basketball: Franz Wagner will have ‘big piece of the pie’
Jon Rothstein from CBS Sports took a visit to Ann Arbor and provided some interesting insights into Michigan Basketball.
Michigan Basketball is a blank canvas awaiting the brush of first-time head coach Juwan Howard. As we prepare for the painting to (hopefully) be unveiled at Big Ten Media Day’s next week, CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein visited Ann Arbor and supplied exciting insights into the state of Wolverine hoops.
Via social media, Rothstein shared the information about the team with one notable Tweet stating, “Palpable Buzz in Ann Arbor surrounding Michigan freshman Franz Wagner. Staff raves about his IQ and overall feel. Will have a big piece of the pie in 19-20.”
Palpable Buzz in Ann Arbor surrounding Michigan freshman Franz Wagner. Staff raves about his IQ and overall feel. Will have a big piece of the pie in 19-20.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) September 25, 2019
Franz Wagner is, of course, the younger brother of former Michigan star Moritz Wagner, both native to Germany, and both decided Michigan basketball was in their future.
Franz, however, was the more heralded pro basketball player out of Germany with a 9416 composite score from 247Sports, Moritz received a 9273. Nationally, the brothers are ranked at nearly the same spot with Franz coming in at 114 and his older brother arriving at 119.
What else you got?
Jon also shared what he believes will be the starting five in November: Zavier Simpson, Eli Brooks, Wagner, Isaiah Livers, and Jon Teske.
Early prediction on Michigan's starting five: Zavier Simpson, Eli Brooks, Franz Wagner, Isaiah Livers, Jon Teske.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) September 25, 2019
Simpson and Teske are definite starters, but the real question was who was going to step in at shooting guard?
According to Jon, Juwan is going small.
Zavier is listed 6-foot and Brooks stands at 6-foot-1.
That’s right where the height disadvantage stops. Franz is going to be one of the taller 3 guards in the Big Ten at 6-foot-8, and we all know how big Teske and Livers are.
Elite glue guy
Outside of the lineups and the shiny younger Wagner, Rothstein believes Simpson is going to be the catalyst for success during the 2019-20 season.
There's not many players in college basketball more valuable to their own team as Zavier Simpson is to Michigan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) September 25, 2019
Do everything PG is a combined 63-15 over the past two years as a starter.
Elite Glue Guy.
"There’s not many players in college basketball more valuable to their own team as Zavier Simpson is to Michigan. Do everything PG is a combined 63-15 over the past two years as a starter. Elite Glue Guy."
Jon went as far as saying Zavier is an “Elite Glue Guy” much like Michigan State’s Cassius Winston.
Matt’s musings
While Jon’s starting five prediction makes some sense, Howard will have to go bigger at the shooting guard position occasionally. For example, the Spartan’s starting shooting guard is likely Joshua Langford, who stands at 6-foot-5-inches, and with that disparity, the Wolverines will be at a considerable disadvantage.
Most teams in the Big Ten will have much larger starting 2 guards which may cause Franz to move over next to Simpson and force Brandon Johns Jr into the game to fill in at 3.
Either way, the addition of Franz Wagner has elevated this Michigan basketball team and, by all accounts, he will have an immediate impact for the 2019-20 season.