Michigan Basketball: 5 bold predictions for the 2020-21 season

#4: Isaiah Livers will lead the Big Ten in 3-point percentage

Livers is back for his senior season and will be looking to have the best year of his Michigan basketball career. We all know Livers can light it up from deep. It’s the strongest part of his game and the reason he was able to play so early in his career as a freshman.

Livers has taken steps to develop the rest of his skillset to make him a versatile player. But just because he may be a bit more versatile than he previously was, don’t expect him to lose what makes him an elite player, his 3-point shooting.

The senior is a career 40.4 percent 3-point shooter for Michigan. He’s coming off what was, in my opinion, his best shooting year of his career a season ago. His numbers dipped slightly from his sophomore year, but his usage was way up so that is expected.

Last season Livers shot 40.2 percent from deep, 44.7 percent from the field, and a staggering 95.7 percent from the free throw line. As a whole, he was one of the most efficient shooters in college basketball.

One of the reasons that I think he could lead the Big Ten in 3-point percentage this season is because of the emergence of Wagner, who will be Michigan’s number one option on offense this season, which will help take attention off of Livers and allow him to play mostly off the ball.

When Livers emerged as Michigan’s go to guy early last season, he struggled at times creating offense. Franz Wagner and Isaiah Livers are two perfect pieces to work together. Here’s why. Franz is a major threat to get to the basket. He will draw help and double teams which create open kick outs to shooters.

On the flip side, having an elite shooter like Livers helps spread the floor and doesn’t allow defenses to crash down and help on drivers. This will help open up driving lanes for Wagner.

Livers playing more off the ball and doing what he does best should allow him to have a monster senior season shooting the ball.