Michigan Basketball: Predicting stat leaders for the 2020-21 season
By Max S.
Steals: Franz Wagner
This was a pretty easy one for me. Wagner ranked third in the entire conference last season in steals per game as a true freshman. He showed that he already is one of the best wing defenders in the conference.
His incredible wing span and quick feet allow him to get in passing lanes better than anybody I can remember for Michigan basketball. It allows him to guard multiple positions but it also allows him to be a great perimeter zone defender any time Juwan Howard wants to drop back into a zone.
Wagner has a great chance to lead the conference in steals this season and become one of the best two-way players in the Big Ten.
Prediction: 1.5 SPG
Blocks: Brandon Johns
Michigan does not have a true shot blocker on the team yet again this season. Teske was seventh in the conference last year at 1.8 blocks per game but I wouldn’t consider him a natural shot blocker or rim protector.
I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that Brandon Johns will lead the team in blocks this season. I think he’s going to have a spike in minutes this year and will play more small ball center.
This should allow him more opportunities to use his size and athleticism and be a decent rim protector for the Wolverines. Hunter Dickinson will start at center and is 7’2 so of course it wouldn’t surprise me if he leads in this stat. I just don’t think it will be a strength of his at this point of his career and at this stage of his development.