The 2019–20 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team represented the University of Michigan during the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Wolverines were led by first-year head coach Juwan Howard, following the departure of long-time head coach John Beilein. They played their home games for the 53rd consecutive year at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This season marked the program's 104th season and its 103rd consecutive year as a member of the Big Ten Conference.
Previous season The Wolverines finished the 2018–19 season 30–7, 15–5 in Big Ten play to finish in third place. They defeated Iowa and Minnesota in the Big Ten tournament before losing for the third time on the season to Michigan State in the tournament championship. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 2 seed in the West regional. They defeated Montana and Florida to advance to the Sweet Sixteen before losing to eventual National Runner-Up Texas Tech.
Offseason
On May 13, 2019, it was announced that John Beilein was hired as the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). On May 22, the Wolverines named Juwan Howard head coach, agreeing on a five-year contract. It was announced on May 28, 2019 that assistant coach Luke Yaklich accepted an offer to join Shaka Smart's staff at Texas, effective May 31. DeAndre Haynes announced his departure on May 30 via Twitter. He was announced as a member of Mark Turgeon's staff at Maryland on June 10. Phil Martelli, former head coach at Saint Joseph's, joined Howard's staff as an assistant coach on June 3.
Departures On April 9, 2019, Ignas Brazdeikis, Charles Matthews and Jordan Poole declared for the 2019 NBA draft with the intention of hiring agents. Michigan DeparturesNameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes 13 F 6'7" 215 Fr Mono, ON Declared for NBA Draft 2 G 6'5" 195 SoMilwaukee, WI Declared for NBA Draft 1 G 6'6" 205 RS Jr Chicago, IL Declared for NBA Draft
Expectations Prior to the season, Simpson was named to the 10-man preseason All-Big Ten team. He was also named to the preseason Cousy Award 20-man watchlist, while Teske was named to the preseason Abdul-Jabbar Award 20-man watchlist. The team began the season unranked but receiving votes in the national polls. With the departure of Beilein and three starters from previous year, 2019 was expected to be a transition year under new head coach Howard.
Recruits
2019–20 After receiving an offer during an unofficial visit on May 13, 2018 Jalen Wilson became the first verbal commitment to the 2019 class on May 30, 2018. During the summer of 2018, Cole Bajema went from being unknown and unranked to being a top 60 recruit. After accumulating offers from San Francisco, Eastern Washington, Santa Clara, Pepperdine, Portland, Washington, Oregon State, Virginia and Xavier, Bajema committed to Michigan on August 4. On November 14, 2018, Wilson and Bajema signed their National Letters of Intent. As a senior, Bajema received first- and second-team all-state (WA) recognition. In the class 1A State Championship tournament, Bajema's undefeated defending champion Lynden Christian Schools team was upset in the quarterfinals, leaving it with a 24–1 record and snapping its 31-game winning streak, and he was named to the Class 1A All-tournament first team. Wilson was a Class 6A All-state (TX) selection. With the departure of John Beilein, Wilson requested for a release and re-opened his recruitment on May 16, 2019 and eventually committed to Kansas.
On July 6, 2019, new Wolverines head coach Juwan Howard announced that German shooting guard Franz Wagner, younger brother of former Wolverines star and current Washington Wizards player Moritz Wagner, had signed a financial aid agreement to join the team for the 2019–20 season. Franz Wagner was playing professionally with Alba Berlin of the Basketball Bundesliga before signing with Michigan. He averaged 3.8 points per game while shooting 38.3% from 3-point range in 56 combined appearances with Alba Berlin.
2020–21 On October 23, 2018, Michigan received its first class of 2020 commitment from four-star guard Zeb Jackson of Montverde Academy in suburban Orlando, Florida. Jackson had met assistant coach DeAndre Haynes when he was on the Toledo staff. On October 17, 2019, Michigan received its second commitment of the 2020 class and the first commitment of the Juwan Howard era, five-star power forward Isaiah Todd of Word of God Christian Academy in Raleigh, North Carolina. Todd is the highest-rated recruit to commit to Michigan since 2000. Howard then picked up his third commitment of the 2020 class in Hunter Dickinson a four-star Center out of Hyattsville, Maryland. On January 1, 2020, Terrance Williams, a four-star Forward out of Washington D.C. who de-committed from Georgetown in December 2019, became the fourth commit of the 2020 class. On January 20, Howard picked up his fifth commitment of the 2020 class, his son Jace Howard, a three-star small forward from Miami.
Roster
Rankings
^Coaches did not release a Week 2 poll.
Regular season
November Michigan began the season with a 79–71 victory over Appalachian State. Michigan was led by Eli Brooks with a career-high 24 points, while Jon Teske added 17 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, for his 11th career double-double. Michigan's defense forced 19 Appalachian State turnovers. On November 12, Michigan defeated Creighton 79–69 in the Gavitt Tipoff Games. Michigan was led by Isaiah Livers with a then career-high 22 points, while Zavier Simpson and Teske added 17 points each. On November 15, Michigan defeated Elon 70–50. Michigan was led by Teske with 16 points, while David DeJulius added 10 points and eight assists, both career-highs, and Colin Castleton added a then career-high eight rebounds off the bench. On November 22, Michigan defeated Houston Baptist 111–68. Michigan was led by Livers with a career-high 24 points, while Simpson added 22 points and 14 assists, both career-highs, for his fifth career double-double. Michigan had its first 60-point half since 2013, also against Houston Baptist, and surpassed 100 points in a game for the first time since a 102–64 victory over Chaminade in 2017. Michigan's 111 points were the most points scored in a game since a 112–64 victory over Indiana in 1998.
On November 27, Michigan defeated Iowa State 83–76 in the quarterfinals of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament. Michigan was led by Livers with 17 points, while Simpson added 10 points and a tournament-record 13 assists for his seventh career double-double, and DeJulius added a career-high 14 points. Freshman Franz Wagner made his season debut following injury, and finished with six points, three rebounds, and one block in 23 minutes. On November 28, Michigan defeated (#6 AP Poll/#4 Coaches Poll) North Carolina 73–64 in the semifinals of the Battle 4 Atlantis. Michigan was led by Brooks with a career-tying 24 points. Michigan used a 19–0 run early in the second half to secure the upset victory. On November 29, Michigan defeated (#8/#7) Gonzaga 82–64 to win the Battle 4 Atlantis. Michigan was led by Livers with a game-high 21 points, while Teske added 19 points, a career-high 15 rebounds and four blocks, and Simpson added 13 points and 13 assists for his third double-double of the season. Teske was named tournament MVP. On December 2, Teske was recognized as co-Big Ten Player of the Week, after he averaged 13.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.3 blocked shots per game. As a result of their quality wins in the tournament, Michigan tied the 1989–90 Kansas Jayhawks for the largest jump in the history of the AP Poll as they jumped from unranked to number 4 in the 2019–20 basketball rankings.
December On December 3, Michigan lost to (#1/#1) Louisville 58–43 in the ACC–Big Ten Challenge, as Michigan shot a season-low 37 percent from the field. Michigan was led by Teske with 18 points and 10 rebounds for his 13th career double-double, while Simpson added nine points and three assists, becoming the fourth player in program history to surpass 500 career assists. On December 6, Michigan defeated Iowa 103–91 in its Big Ten Conference season opener, as Michigan had six double-digit scorers, including all five starters. Michigan was led by Wagner with a career-high 18 points, while Simpson and Teske added 16 points each, Livers added 14 points, Brandon Johns Jr. added a career-high 12 points, and Austin Davis added a career-high eight points off the bench. This marked the first time Michigan surpassed 100 points in multiple games during a season since 2015–16, and the most points scored in a Big Ten game since 1998 (112 against Indiana). The 44 points by Iowa's Luka Garza are the most points ever surrendered to an opposing player at Crisler Arena and the most points by a Big Ten player since Glenn Robinson scored 44 for Purdue against Kansas in the 1994 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
On December 11, Michigan lost to Illinois 71–62. Michigan was led by Teske with 16 points, while Livers and Brooks added 12 points each. Illinois led by as many as ten points in the second half. With less than three minutes to play, Michigan reduced the lead to four points, but Illinois went on an 8–0 run to secure the victory. On December 14, Michigan lost to (#10/#13) Oregon 71–70 in overtime. Michigan was led by Wagner with a career-high 21 points, while DeJulius added a career-tying 14 points off the bench. Oregon led by as many as 16 points in the first half; however, Michigan overcame an eight-point halftime deficit to force overtime. On December 21, Michigan defeated Presbyterian 86–44. Michigan was led by Brooks with a game-high 16 points, while Teske added 15 points and seven rebounds. Michigan's bench scored a season-high 41 points. Michigan's defense held Presbyterian to 44 points, the lowest total allowed by the Wolverines this season, including 28% shooting (17-of-60) from the field. On December 29, Michigan defeated UMass Lowell 86–60. Michigan was led by Teske with a career-high 25 points, while Simpson added 10 assists and nine points, one point shy of a double-double, and Castleton added a career-high nine rebounds off the bench. This was their first game without leading scorer Livers following a groin injury he sustained the previous week against Presbyterian.
January