Defining expectations and making predictions for Michigan in 2017-18

Michigan enters 2017-18 with as many question marks as it has for at least five seasons. The Wolverines have to replace a pair of 4-year graduating rotation players, lost another starter early to the NBA Draft, and have at least five players in the rotation who haven’t played major minutes in the program.

I usually feel comfortable slapping some sort of an expectation on Michigan by this point in any given preseason. Making a projection about where the Wolverines should finish in the Big Ten or how far they might go in the NCAA Tournament usually feels more like stating the obvious than taking a bold stand. This year, I could be convinced on any given day that the most important player on the roster could be someone different.