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 Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

Middle-of-the-road scenario

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

For some people, the middle-of-the-road scenario would likely include one of either Wagner or Livers choosing to stay in the NBA Draft and not return to Ann Arbor. But despite the misfortune of Michigan basketball in a number of avenues this offseason, my money is that both players are going to be on the floor for the Wolverines in the 2020-21 season.

Subsequently, the core of Wagner and Livers should remain the backbone of this team in both the best-case and middle-of-the-road scenarios. Furthermore, Brooks and Brandon Johns Jr., a rising junior who showed some real promise in an increased role last offseason, remain in place from the best-case scenario.

Johns Jr. is worth touching on a bit more. As the starting power forward, he’ll be asked to occupy a much larger role than he did as a sophomore but he progressed quite well from his freshman to sophomore season. After playing only 4.2 minutes per game in his first year, the 6-foot-8 forward averaged 6.0 points and 3.9 rebounds in 19.5 minutes per game this past year. If he can stay a steady force, he’ll be valuable.

The difference between the best lineup and this one is, of course, the center position. Despite his size and apparent readiness, there’s a chance that Dickinson needs some seasoning before he sees the floor. That will put veteran Austin Davis into the starting job, a 6-foot-10 big man who has never played more than 10.7 minutes per game. He can be a fine player but he doesn’t offer the same upside and optimism as Dickinson.