Michigan basketball has experienced success without the talented German Franz Wagner, but how long can it continue to win without him?
Hope was abundant for the future of Michigan basketball when Franz Wagner made the decision to forgo his professional career overseas to pursue the collegiate experience. That hope, however, was crushed on October 21st, the day it was announced Wagner would be out for four to six weeks with a wrist injury.
Four weeks later, there’s no timetable for a return and it’s frustrating everyone, especially Franz.
“This process has been a frustrating process for him, because any player would be frustrated, upset to see his teammates out there competing in practice, in games, and unfortunately you can not to join them,” head coach Juwan Howard said. “But throughout the process, he’s been working extremely hard on his conditioning. Doing as much as he can do, what’s allowed for him to do.”
Franz Wagner is not dressed for tonight's game but he's not wearing a splint.
— Andrew Kahn (@AndrewKahn) November 22, 2019
In his stead, Adrien Nunez has been forced into the starting role, but the sophomore is performing as though he requires another year of development based on his poor shooting and occasional defensive missteps.
Rough seas lie ahead
On Wednesday Michigan will open against Iowa State in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis. It’s a loaded field that also includes North Carolina, Gonzaga, Oregon, Seton Hall and Alabama and it doesn’t seem likely Wagner will make the trip.
Then, the following Tuesday, the possibly Wagner-less Wolverines meet the No. 2 team in the land in what will be by far the biggest test of this team and Juwan Howard’s coaching skills. Lousiville, much like UM, has played an extremely easy schedule to date but there’s a reason why they hold such a high ranking: they have seven top 100 rated basketball stars including two in the top 50.
Michigan, on the other hand, doesn’t have a single man rostered that finished in the top 50 in high school.
It hasn’t mattered for Michigan as Isaiah Livers, Jon Teske, Eli Brooks, and Zavier Simpson have dominated opponents with some occasional bench points from Simpson’s replacement, David DeJulius, but it will soon.
How long can this team continue without Wagner?
Not long. As I mentioned, Franz will likely be out for some time which includes the toughest stretch of games (so far) this week. Michigan might be able to hang 111 on Houston Baptist, but without Wagner, it’s not going to happen against ranked teams.
UM will face Iowa State in the second of three games at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas. Then it could face either Alabama or North Carolina in the next round but it’s guaranteed three games.
Franz is reported to have traveled with the team, although he is obviously not expected to play, which is dishearting considering the Wolverines could meet any combination of UNC, Gonzaga, Alabama, Seton Hall, South Miss, or Oregon for the final game.
The only good news to come out of the Michigan basketball camp is that Howard is confident in the medical staff.
“(Trainer) Alex (Wong) and our medical staff is doing a great job of helping Franz get through this process,” Howard said.
Hopefully, the staff can speed up the process and get the German phenom ready to go for the Big Ten opener on December 6 when Iowa comes to town.