Michigan Basketball: Wolverines’ projected 2020-21 starting lineup

Todd as the five in a true position-less lineup

When you are putting together a starting lineup, you have to think about how those five guys will play and matchup on both ends of the floor.

That’s where you run into some issues with Michigan basketball, because while there are some solid candidates that could play that traditional center role such as Dickinson, Davis and Brandon Johns, even Colin Castleton, five-star recruit Isaiah Todd is 6-foot-10 and talented enough on both ends to be the starting five. Basically, he’s just too good to leave on the bench.

Now, just because he’s the five, doesn’t mean he will be used like a five. He’s a more natural power forward but he will get plenty of chances to face up and also score in the post. And just imagine the scoring ability of a lineup with Brooks, Christopher, Wagner, Livers and Todd. He’s also a really good shot blocker and his length will help him be effective as a defender.

Dickinson, Johns, Davis, Jackson, Williams and DeJulius should all have roles too, along with Cole Bajema, as long as he doesn’t transfer. With all those pieces, Howard will have to work hard early in the season to define a rotation that works, plus once the team gets into Big Ten play, the bigger bodies of Davis, Dickinson and Johns will be needed more frequently.

But starting out, Michigan basketball should force teams to adapt to their style of play and the lineup of Brooks, Christopher, Wagner, Livers and Todd would do that most effectively.