Michigan Basketball: Meet the Wolverines without Isaiah Livers

Juwan Howard is doing what he can with the absence of Isaiah Livers, but Michigan basketball can’t sustain much longer.

Michigan basketball has been missing a key piece to the 2019-20 season as the dynamic scorer Isaiah Livers is out with a groin injury that initially listed him as being out indefinitely, but he has since been upgraded to day-to-day.

Regardless of his injury status, Isaiah’s absence has had a profound effect, especially on the offensive side of the ball, as witnessed in the 87-69 trouncing at the hands of the Spartans on Sunday.

UM managed to connect on five three-pointers on 23 attempts (22%) which could be considered an improvement from the contest with Louisville where the Wolverines hit three times from three on 19 attempts (16%) in a game that Livers was on the court for 38 minutes, although, it’s a stretch.

In the two games prior to Michigan basketball marched into East Lansing, the offense struggles were also apparent. Livers’ injury was sustained in the first three minutes of the match against Presbyterian, and while Juwan’s men put up 86 on the Blue Hose with marginal success from outside, the next cupcake opponent held the Wolverines to 38% from three.

Identity

As the season was progressing, the identity of the offense was becoming clear. Run the ball through Livers and Teske for points. Jon Teske would dominate the paint, and when the shot didn’t present itself, or when the defense collapsed, Isaiah was ready to knock down a shot from beyond the arc.

And as opposing defenses began to adjust, open shots presented themselves to Eli Brooks, Franz Wagner, and David DeJulius, who, at the time, didn’t have the added pressure of trying to become the go-to guy for the offense.

It hasn’t just been about the three-point shooting ability that’s missed when Livers is on the court. At 6-foot-7, you have a shot-blocker, a rebounder, and – with the added muscle this offseason – a guy that can use brute force to impose his will on smaller opponents.

His swagger, accuracy, and many other talents have been instrumental in early victories this season, including the 21 points Isaiah dropped on the current No. 1 team in the nation, and the 22 points he produced in the battle with Creighton.

Without him, the Wolverines appear catatonic, at times, on offense and displaced on defense.  Isaiah averaged 34 minutes on the court that is currently being dispursed to the next men up in DDJ, Brooks, and Brandon Johns Jr, all of which are not getting anywhere close to the offensive production needed to win big games.

“Next man up,” Howard said. “We have a group and a team, and more importantly have a group of guys on that roster that knows our sets, and I feel very comfortable with who’s closing the game. And I’m also confident that when the ball is in certain guys’ hands, they’re going to make the right decision with it.”

There is no next man or men up when your offense is locked, and the key is sitting on the bench unable to enter the game. Michigan is in the beginning stages of Big Ten matchups handicapped by a lingering groin injury to it’s best man. There is no identity without him, and there won’t be many victories, either.