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

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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(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

No dropoff on defense

If you have been following Michigan basketball leading up to the season, you will know that the Wolverines have had some rough-and-tumble practices. There have been cuts, bruises, and bloody lips. But as Juwan always says, “Michigan is for competitors only.”

That’s one reason why I don’t think this team is going to see much dropoff from last year on defense. The Wolverines ranked fourth a year ago in Kenpom adjusted rating for defense and Michigan basketball should have an elite defense once again.

Dickinson is a rim protector even though he doesn’t block a bunch of shots. He impacts them. Moussa Diabate is going to be a really exciting defender and can help replace Franz Wagner, while Eli Brooks is Eli Brooks.

DeVante Jones should actually be an upgrade defensively over Mike Smith and one thing about Brandon Johns is that when he doesn’t lose focus, he’s a pretty solid defender too. He’s especially strong on the boards and adds another big body with length on the interior.

A lot of the talk is about Dickinson and the freshmen standouts like Houstan, Diabate, and Kobe Bufkin, but Michigan’s defense is the reason I expect 24-25 regular-season wins.

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