Michigan Basketball: 3 Reasons to look forward to postseason

Isaiah Livers must be on the court

As his name was announced on Saturday, Isaiah Livers slapped the floor, sprang from his chair, and dashed past his teammates to the roars of a crowd that was so loud that windows nearly began to break. Without measuring it, I’d say the decibel count was somewhere north of a car horn and somewhere south of a jet engine.

To say there was excitement is as equally an understatement as saying Livers is a good basketball player.

When Isaiah is healthy, and on the court, opposing defenses make a concerted effort to prevent him from getting an open shot – especially an open three. The concentration on one of the starters leads to open looks for guys like Eli Brooks, Zavier Simpson, and Franz Wagner, and ultimately, more points for UM.

Livers is the catalyst for a successful season, and there is no arguing that his presence is more important than any other one man.

With Isaiah healthy and able to compete, this is a revitalized team that has proven – ask Gonzaga – that they can compete and beat the best of the best. Without him, they’re bottom five of the conference bad.

If Saturday is any indication of what’s to come, Michigan basketball is in great shape. Livers was unrestricted, and even though he went 2-5 from beyond the arc, his 64 percent true shooting was better than any other starter.

The Wolverines have a lot to look forward to should Livers stay healthy.