Here’s an early look at the 2022-23 roster: (Photo: Alejandro Zúñiga / The Michigan Insider, 247Sports) That said, Michigan boasts plenty of talent, quite a few unknowns and a lot of potential upside. The Wolverines have lost starters to the NBA and to the transfer portal, and they must replace the majority of their rotation - including four of the top five leading scorers from a year ago. As his knee gets stronger, he’ll likely become a regular rotation guy.The Michigan men’s basketball program has had a busy offseason. I’m not sure his twice-surgically-repaired knee allow him to move well enough to defend adequately. He’s clearly a cerebral player with some offensive game. It’s hard to tell how much Carter will contribute this year. If he can hit from there, his role expands. Goins said his shooting range has increased to beyond the 3-point line. He might even play some small forward, given Kyle Ahrens’ injury. He’s healthy now and shouldn’t see a minute at the 5. On a bad knee, Goins battled through last season at center. Goins returns to the role he in which belongs - as an energy guy and role player off the bench, often guarding stretch forwards. Like Matt McQuaid, Schilling will likely play starter’s minutes. Schilling is the quickest big man laterally at MSU since Andre Hutson and his ability to defend ball screens makes him valuable. The benefit: MSU has him this season as a fifth-year senior. Nothing crippled last season more than Schilling’s knee injury. When he’s not, he’s a really effective player. He goes through stretches where he’s tentative offensively. The key for McQuaid is to let it fly when the shot is there and to keep shooting, regardless of whether it falls. He’s MSU’s purest shooter and, Tom Izzo believes, the Spartans’ most attentive perimeter defender. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t play at least 12-15 minutes per game. That combination worked well in spurts last year. His role this season expanded when Kyle Ahrens aggravated a foot injury, the trickle-down effect being that Nairn and Cassius Winston will play more together. Nairn is one of the great leaders of Tom Izzo’s tenure, more off the court than on it. Defense and consistent energy will determine whether he plays 20 minutes a night or more. There are very few people on earth who can score the basketball on the low block as well as Ward can. But Ward is still MSU’s behemoth in the post. The arrival of Jackson gives Spartan fans a new toy to fawn over. MSU mostly just needs him to stay active with his hands and wingspan. He can hit step-back 3s, drive the basketball or comfortably pass from the post. With Bridges on the wing and Jackson at the 4-spot, the Spartans will feel like a sizable Kentucky team to opponents. Jackson gives the Spartans a combination of length and skill at power forward they’ve never had before. Bridges’ length and size should be a headache on both ends for 95 percent of the players he’s matched up against. If he does now, he’ll truly be a superstar. That should be a more natural fit, though he didn’t handle the ball well enough as a freshman to flourish as a guard. He’s an essential part of this season, on both ends of the court.īridges moves from power forward to the wing this year. He does not always shoot and play with confidence, and he lets his shot impact his body language. He’s a better offensive player than he’s shown to this point - with an old-school game and terrific ball-handling ability. Maybe those expectations were a bit overblown.

Langford’s freshman season fell short of expectations. If he can be a serviceable defender, his offense becomes a tremendous advantage. The questions with Winston are on the defensive end. He’s a smooth offensive player, with great vision and feel and he’s also one of MSU’s best shooters. He’ll start and play the bulk of the minutes at point guard. Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch breaks down the Spartans’ roster. The Spartans open Friday night at home against North Florida.

Michigan basketball roster 2017