Random Basketball Rumblings (feel free to add insight/thoughts)

Based on comments from the major blog sites, insiders, etc. - below is what I've been able to compile (without stealing/sharing any premium content).

Overall: This team has a real chance for another deep tournament run, it's ceiling may be higher than last year's squad (I personally don't believe it is)...but it's floor is a lot lower.  Last year's team had so many known quantities (Livers, Wagner, Brooks, even Brown).  This year's team has crazy potential. Prediction, a much lower seed, but they get just as far as last year's squad. A team that peaks late.

Per multiple comments, the thing that makes it more likely that this group reaches its potential...is the culture.  Juwan Howard continues to build on Beilein's culture, but this is officially HIS team.  There are still holdovers, but this is 100% Juwan's program now, while before he was really good (and patient) at gradually building the program he envisioned, never tearing down the old, but slowly adding his style, approach, values, etc.

Eli Brooks is the unequivocal leader of this team and his presence cannot be understated.  He is also a huge reason this team can reach its full potential. 

Dickinson: Working on his right and extending his range. The range seems to be coming along faster, he's just not as comfortable with the right hand as he should be.  He's gone after this year, but the right hand may be a reason he should stay (he is more Garza/Kaminsky, but he thinks he's an NBA player now).  That said, his game doesn't necessarily translate to the NBA, but right hand or not...he's still the biggest man on the floor 9 times out of 10 in college.  He's going to be fine, he's improved, and from what I've read, his biggest improvement is his conditioning.  It'll be needed, because it's small ball behind him.

Johns: A lot of predictions from national pundits for him to be the breakout guy, but I think that's just lazy to be honest. The Michigan insiders all seem to agree that he's pretty much the same player he was last year...for better and for worse.  He's a year older and right now he's the starter, so his biggest improvement is his confidence...he's a leader.  He's a consistent outside shot away from being lethal, but he's still on fire one day and ice cold the next (summer workout notes, they've only had a day of practice so nothing from that).

Houstan: Silky smooth, lights out shooter, "sneaky effective driving the ball"...because he has a nice pull-up mid-range shot and he is also big enough to shoot over guards that get switched onto him.  His game has a maturity to it, he knows what he wants to do when the ball is in his hands.  Right now, biggest weakness per two insiders is his defense.  Capable, but no where close to Wagner, the guy he's replacing.

Brooks: All-around game continues to improve, will have a long career playing pro basketball if he wants one (not necessarily in the NBA).  In fact, one person wrote that he's the perfect international player, he's like one of those annoying effective guards from Spain or Australia that would torch Team USA for 30+ in a loss.  That tells me he's just efficient, nothing stands out, but he will make you pay if you give him space.  By far the heart and soul and leader of this team.  Huge leader all summer.

Jones: Early reports had him MUCH better than Mike Smith, it sounds like that isn't necessarily the case...it just depends on which Mike Smith you're talking about.  Jones is a different kind of player all together, he can play "bully ball" and he likes to attack downhill.  His outside shot is good enough, but it's not Smith when Smith got hot.  His game is much more of an NBA game, which suits Howard's style of play.  Defensively, he's "fine," but by all accounts he has another level that he has not tapped into.  The coaches have to unlock that part of his game and infuse a little Chaundee Brown into him (which sounds like most NBA players).  Last comment, sounds like there's no ego.  He's all-in and a leader on this team with Brooks.

-----Reserves-----

Diabate: A 2-year guy unless he's just insistent on the NBA.  "A guy that could go 15-20 after 2 years or 5th after 3...will likely take the 15-20 and Michigan fans will be ridiculous about it (like normal)."  EVERYONE says he's really limited offensively outside of lay-ups, lobs and put-backs.  Defensively he's not there because he's learning, but the light will go on at some point and he'll be closing out games while Hunter sits (offense/defense).  Someone mentioned Caris LeVert.  Caris was all over the place his freshman year, it wasn't until the tournament where things started to slow down.  Diabate doesn't seem that far behind, but it may take the non-conference schedule for him to find a rhythm defensively.  When he does, Johns better watch out.

Williams: Will be the most improved.  The Caris comparison applies to him as well.  He was a mess most of the regular season, just a ball of energy, but moving way too fast.  It's starting to slow for Terrance and he looks like a potential starter.  "He's basically Johns, right now - today, without the same experience, size, and strength. But he's improving while Johns looks a lot like he did last year."  Sounds like he's taken on the energy role that Brown had last year.  Should see plenty of time (although same for Diabate) when Johns is playing the 5.  Has versatility, plays the 3 as well.

Bufkin: Rivals put a write-up on him today, I won't reference it.  But up until this point, all signs pointed to him being extremely versatile and rivaling Houstan for most ready to play right now.  He can play three positons, but he's mostly an off guard behind Brooks.  That said, there has been talk of him playing some PG or splitting the second team PG duties (at times) with Jackson.  Just as Brooks and Jones do for the starters.  He's capable to be a big PG down the road, though it's not the plan right now.  Words you hear to describe him are: "smooth," "high IQ," "natural," and "will contribute."

Jackson: If Williams isn't most improved, that's only because Zeb beats him out for it.  Jackson will be in the rotation, he's solidified that.  The comments on him seem to be that his game has "matured."  Less turnover prone, he understands the offense better and how he fits within it.  He might be used in a "microwave" type of role because his mentality is naturally to attack.  Shot is better, but still inconsistent.  Gets to the rim more than he did last year, still could use another 10 lbs.  Likely a 4 year guy.

Collins: This is where things start to drop a bit.  Collins seems like the natural backup PG, but he's not there yet.  Right now you're more likely to see Brooks or Jones stay in and Bufkin or Jackson come in.  If both Brooks and Jones are out...it's still Bufkin and Jackson right now.  Collins isn't a big guy, but he can be "a little bulldog" in the paint.  His shot isn't good enough to warrant a ton of playing time and he's not an all-time great perimeter defender like X/Zavier Simpson.  He feels like he'll be last year's Zeb Jackson.  Some DNPs, more time during the end of the year.  Already a candidate for "breakout player for 2022-23."

Tschetter: A lot of hype on him early, but it's started to die down.  Honestly, I wonder if some of that was country white kid comes in with no expectations, has some real game, gets hyped.  Or maybe it's just because he was the lowest rated recruit of the bunch.  Then again, some of the hype was from the coaches, Martelli in particular.  Either way, he surprised folks early and he'll play this year.  The kid can shoot.  Someone said he reminds them of "that one kid we had that was solid and then transfered to Maryland." (Evan Smotrycz)

Barnes: Had the toughest transition, was the opposite of Tschetter.  Per Rivals, it took him the longest to get settled in and comfortable.  However, he's already improved and finding his place.  Right now, not likely to play a ton, but he's a 4 or 5 year guy that could start for 2.  May have a Johns-like trajectory.  Not a lot of info on his game.

Nunez: Same player, but much more famous, right now is the best shooter on the team.

Howard: A great kid, clearly loves the weight room (?!), and not a pain in the ass for being the head coaches kid.  Nothing on his game, but you have to assume he's improved and could be called on for a few minutes if you had to break the glass for an emergency.

If I had to guess...I'd say #5 seed, bow out in the second weekend of the tournament.  Though I wouldn't be surprised for a second if the talent all comes together and this team is in the Final Four.  Potential is there, I just think it's too early to tell.