Michigan Basketball: 3 Wolverines who need to step after 5-star misses

Franz

One thing Michigan basketball fans have learned the last two days is never to assume anything. I am not going to assume that Franz Wagner is coming back next season. He could test the NBA waters, however, he seems content in Ann Arbor.

Wagner was solid during his first season with the Wolverines, scoring over 11 points per game and making 31 percent of his 3-point shots. He was hurt early in the year and that took some time for him to get over.

This season, if fully healthy, I’d expect Wagner to take a huge step forward, especially now that Todd and Christopher won’t be in the starting five.  Wagner, along with Isaiah Livers, if he returns, will be a key part of the offense.

Wagner is going to get a bunch of shots and he will need to expand his game. He can’t just be a 3-point shooter. He has to show more of an ability to attack the basket and without having to worry about lower usage levels, it’s easy to expect Wagner to score about 15 points a game in 2020-21.

Most expect him to leave for the NBA after this season, but first, he needs to put together a season worthy of a first-round pick and I believe he’ll do that.