Michigan Basketball: Breaking down battle for starting center

There are two centers listed on the roster for Michigan basketball’s 2020-21 season. Which one of them starts? Who will ride the bench? Let’s break it down.

Austin Davis drifted off during John Beilein’s reign at the Michigan basketball coach. When we saw Davis on the floor as a redshirt sophomore, it was strictly during garbage time. He was no longer relevant to the mission of the Wolverines.

Mostly, his lack of speed and slow reaction time were listed as the reasons for his absence. He couldn’t get out to the perimeter to guard the new-age centers, and he was presented as old-school and out-dated. Big men without the ability to knock down the occasional three weren’t needed in today’s game.

The mold of a future NBA center is Kevin Durant on offense – a giant that can cross over and score on all three levels – and Kawhi Leonard on defense – a nimble defender that can get out to the perimeter.

Austin Davis is no Kevin Durant or Kawhi Leonard, and yet in any job in life, you have to play to your strengths and mitigate your weaknesses. And if there is anyone in this world that can coach an old-school center and make him effective, it’s Juwan Howard, who’s as old-school as they come.

During his 19-year career, Juwan attempted a total of 50 three-point shots and drained six of them.

Under the tutelage of coach Howard, Davis flourished, finally, and is back for one more season, this time without an established man ahead of him. Will he get the start? Or will it be the incoming freshman?

The breakdown.