Winning back-to-back national championships in basketball is really hard to do.
Duke did it back in the early 1990s. Florida also did it under Billy Donovan, and of course, UConn is the most recent example under Dan Hurley.
Michigan basketball, led by Dusty May, is looking to become the next team to do that. The coaching staff has already said publicly it feels like it has a top-five roster. Another move could be made, but Michigan won't force it.
The Wolverines don't need to, not after adding arguably the best center available in the transfer portal, Moustapha Thiam.
“Probably the best center in the Portal overall. I didn't see a name that was a true center like him, that had the talent, that had the motor, that had the character, that had the upside. I could go on and on about him, but his size, his mobility, his physicality is really going to stand out," Michigan basketball GM Kyle Church said.
A "seamless transition" from Aday Mara
One of the biggest questions facing May was how he would replace Aday Mara? The projected lottery pick became a force on both ends of the floor. Thiam can be that, too. Church actually said the transition from Mara to Thiam will be "seamless."
“It's obviously hard to replace a 7-foot-3 Aday Mara, and Moustapha will do it in his own ways. He's certainly a different player than Aday, but I can't think of a more seamless transition.”
Michigan has won a lot of games, getting the most out of players who haven't quite reached their potential. Thiam could be next. He's got as much or more potential than anyone on next year's Michigan basketball team, or the one that just won the national championship.
That's why, if Dusty May can help Thiam reach his ceiling, the Wolverines can reach theirs.
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