Michigan Basketball: Predicting the Wolverines 2020-21 starting lineup

Small forward

Starter: Franz Wagner

Backups: Terrance Williams, Jace Howard

In his first nine games, Franz Wagner had three double-digit scoring performances, and in the next nine, he had seven.

And as much as he’s improved throughout the season, the statistics don’t show all of the little things that Wagner adds that mean so much to the success of Michigan Basketball. The on-ball defense, the double teams, picking up pick-and-rolls, and low post denials are all missed by the statistician, mostly because it’s nearly impossible to quantify those. Although, it’s important to remember an Albert Einstein sentiment: “Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.”

Behind Wagner is Terrance Williams, another incoming freshman that’s top 100 nationally. The 6-foot-6 215-pound muscle-bound beast can play both the small and power forward, and he’s an exceptionally gifted hoop star; ranked as the 16th best PF with four-stars and a 9645 composite score.

Juwan’s son Jace Howard could be the third man here, but he’s going to have to compete with Bajema should he stay around. Jace is the lowest-ranked incoming recruit, although he’s been steadily improving.

This is assuming Isaiah Livers departs for the NBA, of course. I’m not going to attempt a depth chart that includes Isaiah as I’m sure that lineup would be too impossibly talented and unfair to the rest of the NCAA, or maybe I will.