National preseason magazines are hitting newsstands across the country this month. We got our hands on a copy of Lindy’s 2019-20 College Basketball Preview to see where the Wolverines are projected.
Lindy’s picks Michigan to finish fifth in the Big Ten in 2019-20.
The full projected order of finish in the conference is as follows: Michigan State, Maryland, Ohio State, Purdue, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Penn State, Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota, Rutgers, Nebraska, and Northwestern.
Despite being picked fifth, Lindy’s predicts that Michigan will miss the NCAA Tournament in 2019-20. The magazine projects Michigan State, Purdue, Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Maryland to make the NCAA Tournament with the Spartans pegged as preseason No. 1 and projected NCAA Tournament Champions.
Zavier Simpson is the only Michigan player included on Lindy’s Honor Roll, garnering preseason honors as the best defender in the conference. He’s also the only Michigan player included in Lindy’s Top 150 national player rankings, checking in at No. 63.
The magazine tabs Cassius Winston, Anthony Cowan Jr., Lamar Stevens, Jalen Smith and Xavier Tillman as First Team All-Big Ten performers. Zavier Simpson is on the second team along with EJ Liddell (Ohio State), Aaron Henry, Trevion Williams and Kaleb Wesson. The third team features Joshua Langford, Ayo Dosunmu, Matt Haarms, Luka Garza and Nate Reuvers.
Lindy’s writes that Michigan “figures to be the Big Ten’s — if not the nation’s — most fascinating team as everything changes.”
Freshman guard Cole Bajema is designated as the newcomer who “will take you by surprise.” Several of Michigan’s non-conference opponents are ranked in Lindy’s top 40 including Louisville (2), Creighton (28) and Oregon (35).
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bluejayway
I realize I always see through maize and blue glasses, but it befuddles me how this season’s team, with Zavier, Teske, and Livers at its core along with some highly regarded—some still unproven—complementary players, is projected not to make the NCAA tourney. Seems like the bottom would have to fall out in that scenario. Does the transition of a new coach and new system really “lower the team’s floor” that much? A honest question to those more educated: what am I not understanding here?
umhoops
Meh, I wouldn’t take Lindy’s projections too seriously. There are a lot of inconsistencies in the mag and you can tell that different people did different sections of the mag (i.e. the NCAA tourney projection vs conference standings).
Overall, I think fifth sounds pretty reasonable for a conference protection.
bluejayway
Yes, I think fifth is a reasonable prediction in the B1G as well, but I can’t foresee 36 at-large teams having a better resume than U-M at season’s close, based on the very scientific criteria of my best hunch. Your point makes sense. I haven’t read the article, but did the roster include Franz?
umhoops
The roster did include Franz and he was mentioned as a key newcomer but the Big Ten recruiting blurb didn’t.
adamsmit86
Yeah there is no chance that Michigan misses the tourney if they finish fifth in the B1G.