Michigan Basketball: 5 keys to a deep run in Big Ten tournament

Franz will need his “A” game

It took Franz Wagner some time to get going at the start of his Michigan career and that was mostly him getting healthy from a wrist injury, but once he got comfortable, he became one of the Wolverines’ best players.

As of late, Wagner has been on a tear. He averages more than 11 points per game and while his season shooting percentage is 31-percent from deep, he’s proven to be deadly from beyond the arc too.

11 times this season, Wagner has hit two or more 3-pointers and he has also scored 11 points or more in his last seven games. The German national has also been more productive rebounding the ball and his defense has continued to improve too.

The bottom line is that Wagner could be Michigan’s best all-around player. He and Isaiah Livers are similar and in that same boat. So if the Wolverines are going to win and pull some upsets, they will need the Wagner that scored 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds at Purdue.

The freshman has had five games with at least 18 points this year and if Michigan is going to make the Big Ten title game for a fourth straight year, he will need to add 2-3 more to that list.