Michigan Basketball: Wolverines to face stiff competition in Big Ten

Isaiah Livers isn’t the only one to return to the Big Ten. Several opponents received good news, threatening the potential success of Michigan basketball’s 2020 season.

Isaiah Livers stepped up for Michigan basketball during the 2019-20 season. He became the player the Wolverines needed him to be, he just isn’t good enough yet to hear his name called during the NBA draft.

Isaiah – along with several other top basketball players from around the Big Ten – decided to return to school for another season with the hopes of raising draft stock.

It wasn’t an easy decision, surely, there are so many factors that lead to choosing between jumping in the NBA pool of candidates made up of the best college players in the country all competing for one of sixty spots or returning to school.

A majority of the publications left Isaiah’s name off their draft boards, helping Livers with his conundrum and his choice to return to Michigan basketball.

Most of the key players around the Big Ten are also sticking around, outside of two rival stars. Here’s the breakdown of the conference:

Illinois

The Fighting Illini won the lottery. Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn led the team in scoring and either could have been drafted and yet they’re coming back to dominate the B1G.

It also helps Illinois picked up a mighty talented set of guards in their top tier recruiting class.

Michigan State

Tom Izzo wasn’t as lucky as he lost one of the best forwards in Spartans history when Xavier Tillman declared for the NBA draft.

Aaron Henry will return, however, and although Cassius Winston has exhausted his eligibility, Rocket Watts will step into the role as an effective replacement.

Iowa

I’ll never fully understand Luka Garza’s decision. I’m in the camp that he was slighted for National Player of the Year, so maybe he has some unhinged emotional attachment to the trophy.

Whatever it is, the Hawkeyes found out they will have the best offense in town and if they improve ever so slightly on defense, they can dominate the conference.

Minnesota

The Gophers won and lost.

Daniel Oturu, who averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds a game, is no longer on Rick Pitino’s roster.

Coach Pitino still has his second-leading scorer in Marcus Carr, although, mediocre recruiting won’t help this team improve upon their middle of the road record from 2019.

Matt’s musings

Michigan basketball’s issues are more subtle: Will grad transfer Mike Smith be able to take over as floor general? Will Chaundee Brown be granted a waiver? And can Hunter Dickinson perform at the next level?

If the answer to all of these questions is yes, then the teams listed above don’t appear as daunting. UM will be tested, but Juwan Howard has the No. 1 recruiting class and a pair of transfers that can raise Michigan to new heights.