Michigan basketball: Depth chart update without Nojel Eastern

Center

He didn’t leave; he’s finishing out his career as a Wolverine. Is that a sign?

Starter: Austin Davis

Backup: Hunter Dickinson

Austin Davis might, and that’s a big might, start at center for the 2020-21 Michigan Wolverines basketball team. It will be largely dependant on Hunter Dickinson. Considering the fact that Davis required offseason shoulder surgery for an injury that required him to wear a sleeve during 2019, and yet he was still a dependable backup, should be enough evidence that he’s ready to step up in his final crusade.

If Dickinson lives up to the hype, it’s highly likely he still splits time with Davis until later on in the season when the game slows down for the incoming freshman. Regardless of talent, Dickinson is a massive body at 7-foot-2, and even if he regresses from his high school days, he can at least stand under the basket and rebound.

The most fitting scenario here is Hunter slowly but surely progresses as Michigan’s next award-winning big man. After a few games of Big Country, Dickinson emerges as the starter.

Matt’s Musings

Day after day, NCAA basketball players remove their name from consideration for the draft, and it’s never Michigan’s 2019 leading scorer and three-point specialist, Isaiah Livers.

That doesn’t mean he’s not coming back; it just means he’s taking his time with his decision.

Without him, there is very little depth which doesn’t bode well when considering the postseason and the occasional undisciplined showing with several players fouling out.