The Detroit News' 2017-18 Michigan player review

Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman, G, senior: Abdur-Rahkman is the example of a player who continued to improve over the course of his career. A reliable and steady presence, he averaged a career-high 12.9 points per game, ranked second nationally with a 4.4 assist turnover ratio and was the one the team turned to in late-game situations to make a play. Replacing him will be difficult because he was the glue guy who also did all the little things that often don’t show up in the stat sheet.

Duncan Robinson, F, senior: Robinson, the Big Ten sixth man of the year, began the season as a starter before moving to the bench. He made a team-high 78 3-pointers, shot 38.4 percent from the beyond the arc and his post defense was often overlooked for a three who was often playing the four. He became the first player to appear in both the Division III and Division I title game, where he finished his career on a sour note with a scoreless outing.

Jaaron Simmons, G, senior: Simmons was believed to be the frontrunner for the starting point guard spot when he transferred from Ohio, but it never came to fruition due to the time it takes to fully grasp coach John Beilein’s intricate offense. His minutes fluctuated over the first half of the season before he took over the backup role and delivered in a couple key moments in the NCAA Tournament.

Moritz Wagner, C, junior: The All-Big Ten second-team selection posted 10 20-point games and led the Wolverines in scoring (14.6 points), rebounding (7.1) and 3-point shooting (39.4 percent). He racked up 40 points and 22 rebounds in the Final Four in what could potentially be his last games in a Michigan uniform. He’ll likely declare for the NBA Draft, where he’s projected as a mid-to-late second-round pick, but there’s no guarantee he’ll leave early.

Austin Davis, C, sophomore: Davis played sparingly as the third big man and usually saw the floor only if Moritz Wagner and Jon Teske were both in foul trouble or in mop-up duty late in games. Still, he’ll need to improve at defending without fouling as he was whistled 15 times in 50 minutes. His real value, though, was the work he did in practice battling and preparing Wagner and Teske for each and every game.

Charles Matthews, G/F, redshirt sophomore: Matthews shined throughout the nonconference slate, hit some rough patches in Big Ten play and regained his luster in the NCAA Tournament, where he was named the Most Outstanding Player of the West Region. He had his run-ins with free throw and turnover woes, but still finished as the team’s second-leading scorer (13 points) and rebounder (5.5), and his defensive versatility was a boon. He could dip his toes in the NBA Draft waters and could be poised for an even bigger season if he returns.

Zavier Simpson, G, sophomore: Simpson lost the starting point guard role five games into the season and never looked back once he regained it early in Big Ten play. He continually set the tone on the defensive end by flustering opponents with his relentless effort and never shying away from a challenge. However, he has noticeable flaws on the offensive end. He struggles to create his own shot off the dribble and shot a team-worst 51.6 percent from the free-throw line and 28.6 percent from 3-point range.

Jon Teske, C, sophomore: The 7-footer immediately gave Michigan a defensive boost and an increased post presence the second he stepped on the floor. Teske tied for the team lead with 26 blocks and wasn’t relied upon to be a scoring option but showed that he can knock down 15-footers. He gained some valuable starting experience in a couple games and could be in for a much larger role next season depending on Moritz Wagner’s NBA decision.

Ibi Watson, G, sophomore: Minutes were hard to come by for Watson because he played behind Charles Matthews and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman, who led the team in playing time, and was jumped by freshman Jordan Poole in the rotation. He split time at the two and three positions and will provide needed depth at both spots next season.

Eli Brooks, G, freshman: Brooks took over the starting point guard spot during the Maui Invitational and held it for 12 games before Zavier Simpson reassumed the role. He eventually hit a freshman wall and saw his role decrease further when Jaaron Simmons became the main backup. Over the final 20 games, he received 10 DNPs and played more than five minutes just once. He finished the season with a 2.3 assist turnover ratio but shot a team-worst 24.4 percent from 3-point range.

Isaiah Livers, F, freshman: Livers worked his way off the bench the second half of the season after scoring 35 points in a three-game stretch, but he was never able to provide the same type of lift as starter. He scored just four points during the NCAA Tournament, yet continued to make an impact with his defensive versatility. His bread and butter was the corner 3-pointer, but he’ll need to work being more aggressive and get to the free-throw line more than 12 times next season.

Jordan Poole, G, freshman: Poole was nothing short of electric and will be remembered for his winning 3-pointer as time expired against Houston in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He was a spark plug who could heat up in a hurry, change the complexion of the game and scored at least 10 points off the bench 10 times. He will be in for a bigger role next season and is the lead candidate to take over Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman’s spot in the lineup.