We Ride Again

In news that was expected but still more than welcome, Michigan announced yesterday that wing Franz Wagner will return for his sophomore season instead of exploring the NBA Draft process:

"It's important for me to thank Coach Howard and the staff for not only giving me the time to think about this decision, but also help me gather as much information as I could," said Wagner. "Returning to Michigan is the right step for me not only as a basketball player, but as a person, too. This first season was a transition, competitive, fun and one of growth. I am very much looking forward to getting back to Ann Arbor and living that again."

Wagner's freshman debut was delayed by a broken wrist and the aftereffects of that injury seemed to impact his three-point accuracy for much of the year; he still averaged 11.6 points, shot 61% on twos and 83% from the line, and flashed the potential for a Stauskas-like (Stauskesque?) breakout next year.

His return was particularly critical after Josh Christopher committed to Arizona State and David DeJulius transferred to Cincinnati, and it'll be the saving grace of the offseason if Isaiah Livers keeps his name in the NBA Draft. Juwan Howard may need Wagner to play significant time at shooting guard and he could become the centerpiece of the offense. He can serve as a pick-and-roll ballhandler or work off the ball to set up his shot:

He's also a disruptive defender who can protect the rim a bit as a help defender or an on-ball defender against smaller players, which will happen fairly often whether he plays the two or the three.

Wagner should be more ready to hit the ground running the next time he hits the court. In addition to the wrist injury, he spent the summer heading into his freshman year fulfilling his national team obligations while his fellow freshmen had already joined the program for workouts. Michigan will need him.

Sorry About That, Brian

In one day, this blog's interest in George Mason grad transfer Justin Kier went from "front page scouting post" to "guess we'll check at some point to see if he winds up as an opponent":

George Mason graduate transfer Justin Kier will announce his decision on Sunday.

Georgia, Minnesota and NC State are his final three, he tells ESPN.

Arguably the best available grad transfer. Averaged 14.5 PPG and 6.5 RPG in 2018-19.

— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) April 23, 2020

As I mentioned on this week's podcast, the transfer market has been picked down to the bone at this point. That could change in a huge way, however, when the NCAA votes on a one-time transfer waiver on May 20th that would allow anyone to change schools without sitting out a season. Given the circumstances and what I assume is the NCAA's desire not to deal with hundreds of waivers that say "I'M MOVING CLOSER TO HOME BECAUSE OF A PANDEMIC, YOU ASSHATS," I'm betting that waiver passes.

That should beget a second wave of transfer portal entries that Michigan will be interested in looking over. They may also have more clarity on Livers by that time, though the deadline for underclassmen to withdraw from the draft isn't until June 15th.

There's nothing after the jump.