Michigan basketball: 3 starting lineup options for 2020-2021 season

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 06: Head Basketball Coach Juwan Howard of the Michigan Wolverines during the first half of a college basketball game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Crisler Arena on December 6, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Michigan Wolverines won the game 103-91 over the Iowa Hawkeyes. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) /

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Michigan basketball (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Best-case scenario

Point Guard: Eli Brooks
Shooting Guard: Franz Wagner
Small Forward: Isaiah Livers
Power Forward: Brandon Johns Jr.
Center: Hunter Dickinson

Despite the addition of four-star guard Zeb Jackson who could, in theory, step up into the starting point guard role, it seems unlikely that anyone but Eli Brooks will be the starter at the position for the 2020-21 season.

Brooks appeared in 30 games as a junior last year and had a nice season, averaging 10.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and two assists per game while hitting over 36 percent of his 3-point attempts. If he can be more of a playmaker for this teammates, Brooks seems equipped to lead the offense adequately.

Of course, the biggest factor for the best-case scenario is the return of forward Isaiah Livers and guard Franz Wagner. Livers was the leading scorer last season for the Wolverines last season while Wagner put up only 1.3 points fewer per game than his cohort. Both are currently testing the NBA Draft waters but both seem relatively likely to return to Ann Arbor as they’re both projected to go undrafted currently.

What makes this the best possible starting lineup for the Wolverines, however, is that it includes four-star freshman and the No. 32 overall recruit in the 247Sports Composite rankings, Hunter Dickinson, being capable of stepping in right away as a starter. If the 7-foot-2 big man can come in and immediately provide relief from losing Teske, that’s a big win for Howard’s team.