Michigan Wolverines Basketball

The 2020-21 men's college basketball season is now 13 weeks old, and it has been Gonzaga at No. 1 and Baylor at No. 2 in the Associated Press Top 25 for each of those 13 weeks. In fact, the last time any other team received a first- or second-place vote was on Jan. 11, when Pac-12 expert Jon Wilner had Texas ahead of Baylor.

The Bears and Zags were supposed to square off Dec. 5, but that game was postponed because of positive COVID-19 tests within Gonzaga's program. Ever since that game didn't happen, though, there has been this mounting sense of inevitability that they will meet in the national championship.

And that infatuation with those two undefeated teams has led to a lot of people overlooking a 14-1 Michigan squad every bit as capable of winning it all.

In fairness to those still in Rip Van Winkle mode on the Wolverines, there has been a significant "Out of sight, out of mind" factor at play here.

Michigan didn't crack into the AP Top 10 until early January, suffered an 18-point loss at Minnesota less than two weeks later and then went more than three weeks between games (Jan. 22 - Feb. 14) because of an athletics-department-wide COVID-19 pause.

Sunday's win at Wisconsin was the first time this season that the Wolverines played a game while ranked in the Top Five, and they trailed by 14 late in the first half of that one.

However, the way Michigan rallied from that deficit should serve as evidence that we need to be taking this team more seriously as a national championship threat.

A few weeks ago, I combed through schedules to get a sense of how greatly teams have been impacted by COVID-19 pauses. The general consensus from others in the national media was that we should be expecting rust and sloppy play in a team's first game in several weeks, but that's not what the data suggested. Teams generally picked up right where they left off on offense and allowed roughly four more points than projected on defense. Which makes sense. A lengthy gap between games/practices is more likely to cause some lapses in defensive communication and rotation than it is to cause someone to lose his shooting stroke.

And in the first half of Michigan's game against Wisconsin, those initial defensive difficulties were on full display.

The Badgers—who entered the afternoon having averaged 63.2 points over their last nine games—shot 14-of-26 from the field and 5-of-7 from three-point range en route to 39 points. The low point was probably when 7'1" freshman center Hunter Dickinson got switched onto 6'0" senior guard D'Mitrik Trice and tried to guard him one-on-one at the top of the key. It predictably resulted in a Trice bucket.

Save for the Dec. 31 road game in which Maryland outrageously shot 9-of-11 from three-point range while scoring 44 points, it was the worst first half of defense Michigan has played all year.

But it only took those 20 minutes for Michigan to snap back to dominance.

After the intermission, Wisconsin shot just 7-of-28 (25.0 percent) from the field. Even several of the shots that went in were on low-percentage attempts. Both Micah Potter and Jonathan Davis hit two-pointers from maybe a foot inside the three-point line, which all the analytics say is the worst shot in basketball. Davis also made an acrobatic, driving, fadeaway floater over the outstretched arm of backup center Austin Davis—the type of shot that goes in maybe once every five times.

That's what it takes to score against the stingiest two-point defense in the country, though.

When he isn't occasionally getting put on skates while trying to step out to guard the perimeter, Dickinson has made a massive positive impact on defense. His block rate (1.7 per game; 3.8 per 100 possessions) isn't anything special, but his presence in the paint alters several shots per game while also forcing the opposition to settle for long twos.

He's not alone in the paint-protection department. Franz Wagner, 6'9", and Isaiah Livers, 6'7", block a combined 2.1 shots per game, forming this sort of Bermuda Triangle in which easy buckets do not exist.

Wisconsin was 0-of-1 on layups in the second half on Sunday. In its last game before going on the pause, Michigan held Purdue—a team that more or less views the area outside the paint and inside the three-point line as a no-fly zone—to 11-of-31 on what ESPN's play-by-play log labeled as layup attempts.

Missing 20 layups in a game is just ridiculous, but that's Michigan's defense for you.

And while star scorers get all the spotlight, defense is the name of the game in the NCAA tournament.

The 2019 national championship was Texas Tech vs. Virginia, who ranked first and fifth, respectively, in adjusted defensive efficiency on KenPom. The 2018 title game was Villanova (No. 11 in AdjDE) vs. Michigan (No. 3). The year before that was No. 1 (Gonzaga) vs. No. 11 (North Carolina).

Every now and then a team will make it to the title game despite a defense that merely ranks in the top 50, but no team has ever won it all while ranking lower than 18th in adjusted defensive efficiency—where Michigan is currently ranked eighth.

The Wolverines are also seventh in adjusted offensive efficiency and currently have a difference between offensive and defensive effective field-goal percentage that is borderline historic.

They are sitting at 56.8 percent on offense and 43.1 percent on defense, which is a difference of 13.7 percent. In KenPom history (which dates back to 2001-02), there have only been three major-conference teams to end a season with a difference greater than 13 percent: 2006-07 Florida (14.4 percent) won the national championship, 2007-08 Georgetown (14.8 percent) was upset in the second round by some kid named Stephen Curry and 2017-18 Michigan State (14.2 percent) inexplicably forgot how to score* in a 55-53 second-round loss to Syracuse.

*It was one of only two games in the past 11 seasons in which a team both grabbed at least 25 offensive rebounds and scored fewer than 60 points. In the other, Kent State—which wasn't a good shooting team in the first place—missed all but one of its 24 three-point attempts at Oregon State. That Michigan State loss to Syracuse remains one of the most baffling results in recent NCAA tournament history. 

Not exactly scientific proof of success there, but as long as they don't save what would be by far their worst offensive performance for the tournament and as long as they don't run into one of the greatest shooters in basketball history, you've got to like the Wolverines' chances.

The fly in the ointment is we don't know if Michigan is ready to beat Baylor or Gonzaga—let alone Baylor and Gonzaga in the span of two days, which is theoretically what it would take to win it all this year—because it has yet to face Illinois, Iowa or Ohio State in Big Ten play.

As far as the latest Bracket Matrix update is concerned, Michigan has only played three games against projected single-digit seeds: two wins over No. 5 seed Wisconsin and one win at No. 6 seed Purdue. Compare that to the other projected No. 1 seeds (Baylor, Gonzaga and Ohio State), who have a combined 9-0 record against teams in the projected Nos. 2-4 seed range and at least six games each against single-digit seeds.

Those opportunities to prove themselves are fast approaching for the Wolverines, though.

The next four games on the schedule—vs. Rutgers, at Ohio State, at Indiana, vs. Iowa—are all of the Quadrant 1 variety, and we assume they are going to try to fit in a game against Illinois somewhere along the way. (Tuesday, March 2, looks like it would be the most mutually agreeable date, but that's just a guess.)

If you haven't been paying much attention to Michigan up until this point, now is the time to start. Juwan Howard has something special brewing in Ann Arbor.

             

Statistics courtesy of KenPom.com.

Kerry Miller covers college football and men's college basketball for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter, @kerrancejames.

The University of Michigan is shutting down all athletics programs for two weeks as COVID-19 cases surge, according to Ethan Sears of the Michigan Daily.

Michigan quickly confirmed the report.

Official from Michigan:

The University of Michigan Athletics Enters Department-Wide Activity Pause pic.twitter.com/MBa8ZpKX49

— Brendan Quinn (@BFQuinn) January 24, 2021

Per Sears, five cases of the B.1.1.7 variant of the virus have been confirmed within the athletics department, with 15 more tests presumed positive. The decision to pause athletics fell to the Michigan state health department. No other state schools are expected to be impacted by the order.

The pause will begin Sunday. All members of the athletic department will quarantine for up to 14 days.

The move comes after 22 student-athletes tested positive for COVID-19 this week, following 13 positive cases a week earlier.

Among the notable games likely to be impacted are the men's basketball contests against Indiana and Michigan State, two women's basketball games against Michigan State and two men's hockey games against Penn State.

According to Sears, UM has completed 87.2 percent of its scheduled athletic contests this season.

Former NBA All-Star power forward Chris Webber, who starred at Michigan as a member of the Fab Five, will be developing a limited scripted series based off him and the four Wolverine teammates who led the school to back-to-back NCAA Division I men's basketball national championship appearances in 1992 and 1993.

Rick Porter of the Hollywood Reporter provided the exclusive on Webber, who offered some insight into the series.

"What I think is different about it is I've never spoken about my time with the Fab Five," the 47-year-old said.

"There's a lot of behind the scenes that not many people know about, and it's about so many things. Hopefully I'll be able to express those things, whether it's about Detroit or the work ethic of the city and the factories—all those things that made us."

Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Ray Jackson, Jimmy King and Webber made up the Fab Five, which was the focal point of an ESPN 30 for 30 documentary in 2011.

Webber did not take part in that project but will be telling his story here. Jackson and Howard—the current Michigan men's head coach, will be consultants.

Per Porter, the series is based off the Turner Sports basketball color commentator's upcoming autobiography, By God's Grace.

Moussa Diabate is going to bring his unique skill set to Michigan in the 2021-22 season.

Diabate told basketball reporter Joe Tipton on Monday that he has committed to the Wolverines. Jeff Borzello of ESPN confirmed the commitment.

Born in France, Diabate played for his home country in the 2018 FIBA U16 European Championship. He averaged 11.1 points and 10.3 rebounds in seven games to help the French squad finish fourth.

In 2019, Diabate enrolled at IMG Academy in Florida to hone his basketball skills. The move seems to have paid off, as 247Sports' composite rankings list him as a 5-star prospect and the No. 20 overall player in the 2021 class.

Diabate has tremendous potential in his 6'10" frame, though he needs to add more muscle—he is listed at 215 pounds.

Jerry Meyer of 247Sports named former Georgia Tech star Gani Lawal as the best comparison for Diabate:

"Long arms at 6-9. Energetic athlete who plays with aggression and a competitive edge. Thrives on contact and has an unorthodox style that is physically intimidating. High level rebounder who goes out of his area to pursue the ball. Very limited shooting range. Not uncomfortable with the ball but not a playmaker. A versatile and adept defender."

Given the immense ceiling Diabate possesses, the Wolverines will have no problems adding him to their rotation. A lot of development remains, especially as an offensive player as he continues to work on a consistent shot.

If Juwan Howard and his staff can get Diabate to reach his full potential, he can become one of the best players in college basketball as a freshman.

Highly touted power forward Caleb Houstan has committed to Michigan.

"I was down to four great schools, but one definitely stood out to me the most—I decided to commit to Coach Juwan Howard and the University of Michigan," he confirmed to ESPN's Jonathan Givony. "I was recruited by a lot of great schools, and I appreciate all the time they all spent with me and my family."

Houstan is the second-best power forward and eighth-best player overall in the 2021 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

The Montverde Academy star was originally slated to arrive in 2022 but decided to graduate from high school early to reclassify for 2021.

"I feel like I'm ready to take the next step," he told Givony in July. "Being at Montverde and playing for Team Canada at the FIBA level has helped prepare me for that. The best decision for me is to go to college in 2021. That will help me get to next level and eventually where I want to go, which is the NBA."

As Houstan outlined, he already has some international experience after representing Canada in the 2018 U17 World Cup and 2019 U16 Americas Championship. He was particularly good in the latter, where Canada made a run to the final before losing to the United States.

He was the tournament's second-leading scorer (22.8 points) behind Jean Montero of the Dominican Republic. He finished with 25 points in the championship game, accounting for almost a third of Team Canada's total output (77 points).

A slightly deeper dive into the Americas Championship provides a general picture as to Houstan's game. He averaged 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting 44.0 percent and going 12-of-37 from beyond the arc. The 6'8", 205-pound forward isn't afraid of firing up from deep, especially in catch-and-shoot situations.

With the news the prep star was reclassifying, Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman tweeted that he had watched some film on Houstan: "Advanced shooter for age/size, + defensive tools, plays with balance/control. Not explosive athletically or super creative yet."

In a prior era, Houstan's frame would likely limit him to small forward since he'd get bullied inside by bigger power forwards. Instead, he's perfectly suited to serve as a stretch 4.

He should make an immediate impact in Michigan's frontcourt.

Given the timing of John Beilein's departure, Juwan Howard had an almost impossible task of immediately bringing the kind of success the Wolverines enjoyed under his predecessor. A 19-12 finish showed the work Howard had ahead of him.

Michigan assembled a solid 2020 class, signing Hunter Dickinson, Zeb Jackson, Terrance Williams and Howard's son Jace. The momentum is continuing into 2021 as Houstan joins Frankie Collins, Kobe Bufkin and Isaiah Barnes.

Coveted college basketball recruit Isaiah Todd decommitted from Michigan on Tuesday and said he will instead pursue a professional career, per Jason Jordan of Sports Illustrated.

"My dream has always been to play in the NBA," Todd told Jordan. "I just feel like this route will help my game grow even more. I want to be as prepared as possible when the time comes. This was a no-brainer for me."

Todd, who committed to Michigan in October, is rated as a 5-star recruit by 247Sports, as well as the No. 13 overall player and No. 2 power forward in the Class of 2020.

Per Jordan, Todd remained "open" to the possibility of turning pro even after committing to Michigan.

"This was a tough decision for him, but he just feels like this is what’s best for him and his development," Todd's mother Marlene Venable told Jordan. "We love Michigan and [head coach] Juwan [Howard], but, at the end of the day, he has to make the best decision for him."

Todd said he will announce where he will play during the 2020-21 season "in the near future."

The 6'10", 195-lb. Todd's decision to skip college in favor of the professional ranks is reminiscent of what R.J. Hampton did last year. Rather than starring at Kansas, Hampton opted to play in New Zealand.

That decision may not have paid dividends for Hampton since he is ranked 12th on Bleacher Report NBA draft analyst Jonathan Wasserman's big board after entering the season with designs on potentially being the No. 1 overall pick.

Conversely, playing professionally worked for LaMelo Ball, who is the No. 1 player on Wasserman's big board after impressing in Australia.

After starring at World of God Christian Academy in Raleigh, North Carolina, Todd has a chance to play his way into the conversation of being a top pick in the 2021 NBA draft if he lands in the right situation like Ball seemingly did last season.

Small forward Jace Howard is walking on at Michigan to suit up for his father, Juwan Howard, and the Wolverines, according to the Michigan Insider's Josh Henschke.

Howard, a 3-star recruit in the 2020 class, ranks 57th at his position and 348th overall in 247Sports' composite rankings.

He announced his intention to play for Michigan in January:

I’〽️ CO〽️ING HO〽️E. #CommittedToTheVictors @TiptonEdits pic.twitter.com/imqScSmJmg

— Jace (@JaceHoward_) January 21, 2020

Juwan Howard initially offered scholarships to his two sons. Jett Howard is a 4-star recruit in the 2022 class.

With Jace walking on, the Wolverines might have another scholarship to hand out for what is already a strong group arriving for the 2020-21 season. Michigan is fourth in 247Sports' composite team rankings. Isaiah Todd, the No. 2 power forward, is the crown jewel.

MLive.com's Andrew Kahn wrote in March, however, the program was having trouble making the math work in terms of its returning and incoming players:

"The future includes a five-man recruiting class, though only one is signed. If the others, including 5-star Isaiah Todd, stay true to their pledge, Michigan would be one over the scholarship limit. And Michigan is still in the mix for a different 5-star, Joshua Christopher, in addition to potential graduate transfers."

Jace will still have the opportunity to follow in his father's footsteps and represent the Maize and Blue. Juwan starred for the Wolverines during the Fab Five era, helping them reach back-to-back national title games in 1992 and 1993.

The 47-year-old returned to his alma mater in May 2019 to replace John Beilein.

"Obviously, in May when my father got the job, it was a life-changing experience and I had to put it in perspective," Jace said to Henschke in January. "This could really happen. Throughout the whole recruiting process, it was always in the back of my mind, 'Is this the place I'm going to end up?' It happened."

Jalen Rose is ready to settle his beef with former University of Michigan teammate Chris Webber.

"We're in contact currently and we're brothers," Rose said, per Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe. "So I always feel like anything that we need to say needs to be face to face, eyeball to eyeball, without any distractions, without any hype, without any camera. That's the big-boy way to do that. That's my brother."

Washburn noted the relationship between the two players "began defrosting" when their alma mater hired former college teammate Juwan Howard as head coach.

The three were part of the famous Fab Five team with the Wolverines, who captured the college basketball world's attention with their style of play and winning ways as freshmen but saw their Final Four banners taken down because of NCAA violations.

Rose hopes the group will one day receive more official recognition outside of the 30 for 30 documentary and position in basketball lore.

"None of our jerseys are retired, but one of us is the coach of the team. I watch a lot of college basketball, I see their numbers get retired, and I'm happy for them. I did three years at Michigan, they have to do one black banner, put the maize and blue on the outside of it, and put the five numbers up there and still let the people wear the numbers. Make it a Fab Five banner.

"I hope it doesn't take something to happen to one of us in order for it to take place. And the Basketball Hall of Fame, too, we can't get a plaque in there? Give us our flowers while we're still here."

Rose played from the 1991-92 season through the 1993-94 season with the Maize and Blue and was teammates with Webber for the first two of those three campaigns.

The Wolverines lost in the national championship game in both of those years and then reached the Elite Eight during Rose's final collegiate season. It was a period of dominance for the program and one Howard is surely looking to replicate—minus the NCAA infractions—as the head coach.

Both Rose and Webber were consensus All-Americans during their time at Michigan and went on to successful NBA careers but have not remained as close since. Their relationship even featured some back-and-forths through the media and details in Rose's book, but they are apparently making amends with one of their teammates leading the team they once represented.

Michigan guard Zavier Simpson's one-game suspension in January was the result of crashing a car that belonged to Chrislan Manuel, the wife of Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel.

Samuel Dodge of MLive.com acquired the police report via the Freedom of Information Act and provided more information on the incident, which took place in the early hours of Sunday, January 26, in Ann Arbor, Michigan:

"The report also shows that the University of Michigan basketball star lied to officers about his name and whether he was driving when the vehicle crashed into a utility pole in Ann Arbor hours after Michigan’s loss to Illinois last month, according to the police report.

"Officers found the senior point guard outside the vehicle that made contact with a pole and street sign on the corner of Hill Street and South Forest Avenue at 3:03 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, according to the report.

"Simpson initially told officers his name was Jeff Jackson Simpson and that he was walking down South Forest Avenue when he noticed the crashed vehicle, Ann Arbor police said."

Officers recognized Simpson as the team's point guard, however. He was given a traffic citation for "driving too fast for conditions," per Dodge.

Simpson, a senior, sat for his team's 79-68 win over Nebraska on January 28. He returned for Michigan's win against Rutgers four days later.

Simpson is averaging 12.7 points and 8.2 assists for the 13-9 Wolverines, who are 4-7 in Big Ten play.

The team captain was reinstated after one game following a decision by Manuel and head coach Juwan Howard, who noted that the situation would be handled in-house:

Breaking News from 〽️🏀

Juwan Howard reinstates senior guard Zavier Simpson#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/NQ3tvTtYC7

— Michigan Men's Basketball (@umichbball) January 31, 2020

Simpson provided a statement and said he accepted "full responsibility" for his actions and apologized to his team and others.

Michigan's next game will be home against rival Michigan State on Saturday at noon ET.

Michigan head coach Juwan Howard is reinstating Zavier Simpson after suspending his point guard Monday and forcing him to miss a game against Nebraska earlier this week. 

"After speaking with [Michigan Athletic Director] Warde [Manuel] before today's practice and after my media availability, we agreed to lift Zavier's suspension," Howard said in a statement released by the school. "I am looking forward to moving on from this. Anything further will continue to be handled within." 

Simpson will be able to rejoin the Wolverines when they face No. 25 Rutgers on Saturday afternoon. 

The senior was initially suspended for violating unspecified team rules. The senior, one of the top point guards in the nation, is currently averaging 12.8 points, 8.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game. 

"This past weekend I made some disappointing decisions which violated our team rules," Simpson said in a statement. "I accept full responsibility and having to sit out the Nebraska game was part of that. I deserved it and fully supported coach Howard's decision. Not being with my teammates made it a long night, however, it gave me the time to reflect. I know I let my coaches, teammates, and fans down as well as athletic department and community members. More importantly, I let myself and family down. They say you learn something new, or from something, every day and this is one of those times.

"I have apologized to my team and now apologize to everyone who continues to support me as well as our program. I am grateful for the opportunity to get back on the court Saturday and to represent this great university. Go Blue!"

Without Simpson in the lineup, Michigan defeated Nebraska 79-68, snapping a four-game losing streak in the Big Ten. The Wolverines (12-8, 3-6 Big Ten) had previously risen to No. 4 in the Associated Press poll early in the season before falling out of the Top 25 entirely. What started out as a promising season for Michigan in Howard's first year has quickly derailed with the Wolverines near the bottom of the Big Ten standings and 4.5 games back of co-leaders Michigan State and Illinois.