Wolverines Break Through In Big Ten

Let's see: the Wolverines lose their leading scorer (15.0 points), third-leading rebounder (4.0) and their floor general (6.7 assists to lead the Big Ten) and that's just one player in point guard Darius Morris, who left Ann Arbor early for the NBA. With Morris, this lineup was just one made bucket away from knocking off the defending-national champion Duke in the 2011 NCAA Tournament. Even without him, Michigan has to be looking forward to this season with all of the talent returning, including Tim Hardaway and Jordan Morgan.

Hardaway, now a sophomore, had a heck of a freshman season to build upon (scored in double figures the final 16 games, started all 35 games) and developed his game even further this summer where he finished the third-leading scorer for Team USA's U-19 team (11.5 points). Like many of his teammates, Hardaway struggled to find his groove in Latvia, connecting on just 7 of his 26 field-goal attempts.

If Hardaway struggles during the regular-season, and even if he doesn't, you can expect coach John Beilein to get the ball in the low post on a regular-basis to forward Jordan Morgan; as a freshman last season, Morgan's numbers were just pedestrian (9.2 points, 5.5 rebounds), but he did play in just 24 minutes a game and is primed for a big year.

With every player but Morris returning to the Wolverines, Beilein's depth and experience is heightened with two four-star guards who could crack the rotation.

By President Corey Ruff - 10 - 12 - 11