Michigan Basketball: Updated starting lineup projection for Wolverines

Starting center: Hunter Dickinson

The battle for the starting center job is going to be intense and it will pit highly-touted freshman Hunter Dickinson against senior Austin Davis, who came on strong last year in his first season under Howard.

Davis is the veteran and his low-post game is legit. He shot 69 percent from the field, averaging 4.9 points and 2.5 rebounds in just 10 minutes of action. Those are really impressive numbers and Davis will continue to produce like that next season — coming off the bench.

The fifth-year big man should actually get more minutes, maybe in the 15-20 range. It all depends on how long he can play and keep his effectiveness. He’s a solid interior defender too, which will help in the Big Ten, but his ball-screen defense is an issue and that could lead to Johns even seeing time at the five, just like in the past two seasons.

Dickinson isn’t a great defender either. But he’s a dominant presence down low. He can score, pass and is developing as a shooter. He’s probably the best big Michigan basketball has had since Mitch McGary and that’s why you will see him in the starting lineup from day one.