Michigan Basketball: Predicting UM’s starting five for 2020-21 season

Starter: Hunter Dickinson

A lot of people think the starting center this season is going to be a toss-up. I am not one of those people. Back in July, I tweeted a poll asking my followers who they thought the starting center would be this season. I was shocked to see that 35% voted for Austin Davis.

I’m a big Austin Davis fan. I thought he filled in very nicely and was a great backup center last season. When Jon Teske had his mid-season struggles, Davis gave the Wolverines a much-needed spark. But let’s be clear here, Austin Davis is not a starting center.

He has improved every season and seemed to be a better fit for Juwan’s offense than he was for John Beilein’s offense. But we have seen him in action for three seasons now. He still is a below-average defender and rebounder.

This is why Hunter Dickinson will start at center right away for Michigan basketball this season. Dickinson is the highest-ranked big man to come to Michigan since Mitch McGary. He ranked as the 40th best player in the 2020 class in the 247Sports Composite. But this ranking is also a bit misleading in my opinion.

High school rankings are not only a bit political but they also heavily factor in someone’s potential.  Hunter Dickinson is not the most athletic big man in the class and this played a huge factor in his ranking. But he makes up for that by being extremely polished and fundamental. That will allow him to start from day one at Michigan.

I would expect Dickinson to be a 10 points and 8 rebounds per game type player in his freshman season. He will show flashes of brilliance and will also likely look like a freshman at times. But there’s no doubt in my mind that he will start over Austin Davis.

Behind Dickinson, we already mentioned Davis. He should be a solid backup once again this season. But one player that I think will play way more at center than people think is Brandon Johns. With the return of Isaiah Livers, Juwan Howard has to find creative ways to get Johns minutes and the most logical way is to play him some at the five.

Brandon Johns will be one of Michigan’s top 7 best players this season. Juwan Howard has always preached playing the best guys. To get Johns the minutes he deserves, he will have to play the three through five spot and fill in wherever is needed.

My good friend Justin Wooten (@MetaWootenPeace on Twitter) started the campaign to normalize Brandon Johns at the five spot last March.

Myself and others followed.

Dickinson, Davis, and Johns give Juwan Howard some depth and versatility to play with.

The center position was previously thought of as a potential weak spot for Michigan basketball but I think by season’s end, it very well could end up being a strength.