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Michigan basketball: Starting lineup options for next season

By Mike Phillips

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Zavier Simpson #3 of the Michigan Wolverines shoots the ball during a practice session ahead of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament West Regional at Honda Center on March 27, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Zavier Simpson #3 of the Michigan Wolverines shoots the ball during a practice session ahead of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament West Regional at Honda Center on March 27, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) /
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ANAHEIM, CA – MARCH 28: John Beilein head coach of the Michigan Wolverines reacts during the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the third round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at Honda Center on March 28, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – MARCH 28: John Beilein head coach of the Michigan Wolverines reacts during the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the third round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at Honda Center on March 28, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) /

After losing in the Sweet 16, Michigan basketball will have to regroup with a new roster in 2019-2020. Here’s how the Wolverines starting lineup could look.

While a lot of the Big Ten’s attention has gone to Michigan State, which went to the Final Four this season and is poised to begin the next as the no. 1 team in pre-season polls, their in-state rivals have been consistent national title threats.

Michigan went all the way to the national title game in 2018 and looked poised to duplicate that feat early this season, with freshman Ignas Brazdeikis and company putting together one of the most smothering defenses in America. The Wolverines were the last unbeaten team in the country and fought the Spartans for the Big Ten title all the way, but a trio of losses down the stretch knocked them down to the 2-line in March Madness.

The NCAA Tournament exposed Michigan’s fatal flaw, a punchless offense, and they got throttled by Texas Tech in the Sweet 16. The Wolverines are expected to lose some pieces off of that roster as well, with Charles Matthews graduating and both Brazdeikis and Jordan Poole testing the NBA Draft waters.

It remains to be seen if either player returns to Ann Arbor, but even without them, the Wolverines have enough talent on their roster to contend for the Big Ten title and potentially a national championship. Let’s take a look at some lineup options for the Wolverines, beginning with their best case scenario.