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Michigan Basketball: 5 bold predictions for Wolverines in 2021-22

By Chris Peterson

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 30: Hunter Dickinson #1 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates during the second half against the UCLA Bruins in the Elite Eight round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 30, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 30: Hunter Dickinson #1 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates during the second half against the UCLA Bruins in the Elite Eight round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 30, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /
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Syndication: Detroit Free Press
Syndication: Detroit Free Press /

The 2021-22 Michigan basketball season starts Wednesday night with Buffalo coming to town and here are five bold predictions for the Wolverines this season.

Outside of last week’s exhibition win over Wayne State, the last time we saw Michigan basketball on the court for a real game seemed like forever ago.

I can’t remember the exact date and frankly, I don’t want to think about the painful night any longer than I have to. The good news is that a fresh season starts Wednesday and for Michigan basketball, the expectations are as high as ever.

The Wolverines are ranked sixth in the AP poll starting the season. Even more impressive is that the Kenpom rankings have U-M ranked No. 2 right behind Gonzaga — the team everyone is expecting to cut down the nets this coming April.

On paper, it will be hard to beat Gonzaga. But for Michigan, just getting to the Final Four would be a huge achievement, as well as winning another Big Ten title.

It’s clear that Juwan Howard sees the goals as winning championships this season and before we tip things off Wednesday against Buffalo, here are five bold predictions for Michigan in 2021-22.

Wolverines start the season hot

Looking at the schedule, it’s tough but there isn’t a game Michigan basketball can’t win before the first of the year.

The road game at North Carolina will be tough and Nebraska will be much improved which is another road test before January.

Yet, this Michigan team isn’t really that young. The Wolverines will play some key freshmen and start one in Caleb Houstan, but Hunter Dickinson, Brandon Johns, and Eli Brooks all started in the NCAA tournament and DeVante Jones isn’t a college basketball newbie either.

You also have Terrance Williams who played in a lot of big moments and Zeb Jackson who also got some postseason experience last March. The point is, this Michigan team shouldn’t take much time to find its identity.

It already has one in Hunter Dickinson. Eli Brooks is a steady two-way player and Juwan has done a masterful job of blending talent before and will again, which means Michigan drops just one or maybe two games before the new year.

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