The Michigan basketball season wrapped up over the weekend with a 78-65 loss to Auburn. The basketball program gave us an incredibly fun season as fans. For a team that was predicted to finish 9th in the Big Ten to win the Big Ten tournament championship and make a Sweet 16 run is a huge accomplishment.
Dusty May is the perfect man for the job at Michigan, and we have a lot of exciting winters and springs to look forward to watching this program. However, this time of year means we are now on the clock until college football season. Don't get me wrong, I love PGA Tour golf, NBA playoffs, NHL playoffs, Champions League soccer, and MLB baseball. These sports keep us afloat during the spring and summer. However, college football is my favorite sport by a wide margin, and college basketball, especially towards the end of the season, is my second favorite sport.
The wait to August 30th is on when Michigan football hosts New Mexico at the Big House. This season brings tons of anticipation for U-M fans for so many reasons. Here are the top three things I am excited to find out more about as the season gets closer.
1. Bryce Underwood development
This is the most anticipated athlete on the Michigan football team (maybe ever). Every time the football Twitter account posts a video or series of photos, I think all of us skim through it hoping for some footage of Bryce. He looks the part, he is well spoken, and every report from high school coaches, trainers, teammates and now college coaches is that the kid wants to be the best and will do anything to achieve that. I expect Bryce to start day one but Mikey Keene will definitely give him a run for his money as the veteran in the quarterback room. If Bryce does end up winning the battle, the anticipation will be off the charts, and it sounds like he wouldn't want it any other way.
2. The wide receiver room
The wide receiver room simply has to be better this upcoming season. Every fan knows it and I think the coaches and players in that room would agree as well. I could go over all the players who need to have a better year or who we are hopeful to have a breakout year but we all know the answers to those questions. All that matters is that there is more production from the wide receivers this year if Michigan football has any plans on winning a Big Ten Championship. I'm excited to see the development from this group during the rest of spring ball and into the season next year.
3. How will Wink Martindale use Jaishawn Barham
Barham was a star for the defense last year. He is a sideline-to-sideline player who plays violently and was a huge addition to this program. There have been some rumblings that he may be playing this year with his hand down some of the time rather than strictly at linebacker. Barham has All-American ability and can be a matchup nightmare for defenses if Wink decides to move him all over the field. It will be fun to see how Michigan football uses him and what his impact is for this defense in 2025.