Michigan Basketball: With Isaiah Livers back, U-M has a solid rotation

Isaiah Livers return strengthens Michigan basketball’s rotation and here’s how it looks heading into the Northwestern game and beyond.

Michigan basketball got its best player back against Michigan State and you could immediately see his impact. Isaiah Livers returned to the starting lineup and he contributed 14 points. His leadership and shot-making ability were sorely missed for the maize and blue.

Livers’ return has usurped Brandon Johns from the starting lineup. Johns started all the games that Isaiah missed with a cranky groin. The confidence that the rising sophomore gained from being in the starting lineup will serve him well the rest of the season.

The starting lineup now looks like this:

G – Zavier Simpson

G – Eli Brooks

F – Isaiah Livers

F – Franz Wagner

C – Jon Teske

It is safe to assume that these guys will play heavy minutes for Juwan Howard the rest of the season, barring injury. This is the group that had the team playing very well at the beginning of the season in the Bahamas. These five logging minutes together could spark another winning streak.

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As mentioned earlier, with Livers return, Brandon Johns has returned to his bench role. Johns along with Davis and Dejulius look to be the main bench pieces for Howard and the Wolverines. All three players have taken a major step forward this season and are playing with confidence.

If Teske gets into early foul trouble, Davis is able to give Michigan basketball quality minutes in his absence. Davis has shown that he can be more than just a body on the floor. He has shown skill around the basket and has the build to bang around with the bigs other teams have.

There are even times that Coach Howard goes to a two big lineup that features Davis and Teske. It isn’t for long stretches but it gives opposing teams one more lineup to game plan for.

When Livers or Wagner needs a breather, Johns is able to come off the bench and provide energy and intensity. He has become a more confident shooter, especially from beyond the arc where he is shooting 37.5 percent.

Dejulius is much like Johns in the fact that he brings energy and scoring when he checks in. That was on display against the Spartans last Saturday. He poured in 10 points in the 17 minutes that he played.

The scoring of the second unit has improved as the season has wore on. Coach Howard has shown no hesitation to go to the bench when the starters come out flat to start the game.

The rotation seems to have rounded into form 23 games into the season. The time is now to make a run before the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Tournament. Michigan basketball has quietly won three of four games and just got their best player back for the stretch run. Watch out.