5 most important Michigan basketball players in 2023 season

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This is Part 4 of the Free Press’ “Five most important players” series, in which we take a look at the x-factors for the six major beats. Check out Part 1 on the Detroit Lions, Part 2 on the Detroit Tigers and Part 3 on the Michigan football team.

After missing the NCAA tournament in 2023, then losing the Wolverines’ three best players, there is a lot on the line for Michigan basketball this season.

Coach Juwan Howard has shown glimpses of greatness over his four years in charge, but thus far has been too inconsistent for the expectations the Wolverines maintain.

However, Howard has shown an ability to identify talented players and convince them to come to Ann Arbor. He has also proven himself as a talent developer, with perhaps the best example being Kobe Bufkin, who was drafted 15th overall by the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks on Thursday. Bufkin was a four-star recruit out of Grand Rapids, but had yet to show NBA skills well into the 2022-23 season.

Howard and his staff enabled Bufkin to demonstrate his skills and he improved as the season went on.

Howard’s son Jett was also drafted in the first round, by the Orlando Magic at No. 11.

That is the playbook the Wolverines will use this season: Identify, develop, and perform, as the Wolverines aim to blend more inexperienced players with some highly-rated transfers. Getting them to jell quickly will be key.

WHO THEY’RE PLAYING: Michigan basketball announces tough non-conference schedule: Florida, Oregon on docket

Let’s take a look at the five most-important players on the Wolverines’ roster for this upcoming season (remember, “five most-important” does NOT mean “five best.”):

No. 5: F Youssef Khayat

Michigan forward Youssef Khayat (24) dribbles against Toledo during the first half of the first round of the first round of the NIT at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, March 14, 2023.

Khayat was positioned to struggle early last year after joining the team during a trip to Europe right before the season started.

The Beirut, Lebanon,…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/5-most-important-michigan-basketball-102735824.html?src=rss

Author : Detroit Free Press

Publish date : 2023-06-27 10:27:35

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