The Wolverine

November 2017*

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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54 THE WOLVERINE NOVEMBER 2017 2017-18 BASKETBALL PREVIEW BY AUSTIN FOX T he 2016-17 Big Ten basketball season featured its fair share of interesting storylines. N o r t h w e s t e r n f i n a l l y reaching the Big Dance for the first time in school history was certainly a feel-good story, and so was Minne- sota's resurgence to reach the NCAA Tournament as a No. 5 seed. How- ever, the conference's biggest story of all occurred right before the league's tournament began, when the plane carrying Michigan's team failed to make it off the runway due to high winds and narrowly averted disaster. From that point on, the Wolverines appeared to be a team of destiny on the court, playing their way to a Big Ten Tournament title and a berth in the Sweet 16. The dream ended there, though, and now the question becomes whether or not the Maize and Blue can carry last year's momentum into this season. Here's a closer look at the Big Ten as a whole heading into the 2017-18 campaign: OVERVIEW Parity Reigns From Top To Bottom FIVE BEST PLAYERS IN THE BIG TEN 1. Miles Bridges, Michigan State (6-7, So., G/F) — Bridges shocked the college basketball world when he decided to return for his sophomore season. The 6-7 wing averaged 16.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game last year, and he would have been a top-15 pick in the NBA Draft had he come out. He was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and landed on the sec- ond-team all-conference squad. Expectations will be sky high for Bridges, who will be regarded as one of the best players in the country this year. 2. Ethan Happ, Wisconsin (6-10, R-Jr., F) — Happ has racked up his fair share of awards during his time in Madison, landing on both the All-Big Ten first team and the league's All-Defensive team last year. He nearly averaged a double-double, tallying 14.0 points and 9.0 boards (third in the Big Ten) per game. He will be the unquestioned leader of a young Badgers team that was decimated by graduation after last year. 3. Nate Mason, Minnesota (6-2, Sr., G) — Mason earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2016-17 after averaging 15.2 points and 5.0 assists (third in the league) per game. He helped lead his team to the 2017 NCAA Tournament and, as perhaps the best point guard in the league, Mason's Gophers will be expected to contend for a Big Ten title in 2017-18. 4. Moritz Wagner, Michigan (6-11, Jr., F) — Wagner emerged in a big way for the Wolverines last year, averaging 12.1 points and 4.2 rebounds per contest. He also shot 40.7 percent from behind the arc and was a mismatch nightmare for opponents. Given the losses from last year's roster, Wagner will be tasked with being the main offensive weapon for the Wolverines this season. 5. Justin Jackson, Maryland (6-7, So., F) — After a solid freshman campaign in which he averaged 10.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, Jackson appeared to be headed to the NBA, but withdrew his name from the draft and decided to return to College Park. His 43.1-percent shooting from three-point range ranked fifth in the conference, and his rebounding total ranked third among all Big Ten freshmen. Despite being just a sophomore, Jackson will be one of the most experienced players on a young Terrapins team this season. Michigan State guard/forward Miles Bridges is the only freshman in the country in the last 25 years to average 16 points, eight rebounds and two assists per game, and then return for his sophomore campaign. PHOTO BY ROBERT HENDRICKS/SPARTANMAG.COM

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