2016–17 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team

Departures

Caris LeVert and Spike Albrecht graduated during their senior seasons for the 2015–16 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team. Albrecht will use the graduate transfer option to play a fifth year at another school. Ricky Doyle announced he would transfer to another program for his final two seasons of eligibility. Due to NCAA transfer rules, he will have to sit out the 2016–17 season before becoming eligible. On April 1, Beilein decided not to restrict Doyle or Albrecht from transferring to schools within the Big Ten if they desired to do so. On April 6, 2016, Aubrey Dawkins transferred to play for the UCF Knights, where his father, Johnny Dawkins, had been named head coach two weeks prior. The following day, assistant coach LaVall Jordan, who had spent the prior 6 seasons with Michigan, was hired as the head coach of Milwaukee Panthers men's basketball. On April 20, the story broke that assistant coach Bacari Alexander, who had spent the prior 6 seasons with Michigan, would leave to be hired as the head coach of Detroit Titans men's basketball. On May 3, 2016, Albrecht announced he would play his final year of collegiate basketball for the Purdue Boilermakers. On that same day, Kameron Chatman announced his intention to transfer with two years of eligibility remaining. On May 4, Billy Donlon and Saddi Washington were named assistant head coaches. On May 17, Doyle announced his decision to play for the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles, which became official 2 days later. On June 8, Chatman announced that he would transfer to play at Detroit under Alexander after sitting out one season.

Preseason

On October 11, 2016, a panel of conference media selected a 10-member preseason All-Big Ten Team and Derrick Walton was among the honorees. Zak Irvin and Walton represented the team at the October 13 Big Ten Basketball Media Day held in Washington, D.C.. Michigan began the season unranked, but receiving votes in the preseason Coaches' Poll. The team scheduled its third annual Open Practice, Selfie Promotion day for October 25. According to SB Nation Irvin (#11), Walton (#16) and Muhammad Ali Abdur Rahkman (#23) are among the 25 best players entering the season in the Big Ten Conference. On November 1, Michigan announced that the team would have an anthem buddy program for youth between age 8 and 11 to stand for the anthem with their favorite player.

2016–17 recruits

On August 7, 2014, Jon Teske, who lived in Grand Rapids, Michigan suburb Grandville until he was 10 and his family moved to Medina, Ohio, committed to Michigan via Twitter. On April 16, 2015, Austin Davis of Onsted, Michigan committed to Michigan. On May 11, Tyus Battle committed to Michigan. At the time of Battle's signing, the entire set of scholarships for the class of 2016 seemed to be allocated. On June 19, Battle decommitted from Michigan. On July 28, Ibi Watson committed to Michigan from Caris LeVert's alma mater Pickerington High School Central. On September 9, Xavier Simpson committed to the team. At the time he was ranked as the number 66 player and number 12 point guard by ESPN, number 55 and number 12 by Scout.com and number 87 player and number 44 guard by Rivals.com, making him the number 69 player and 13 point guard by 247Sports.com. Davis, Teske, Watson and Simpson all signed their National Letters of Intent on November 11, 2015. Michigan announced that sophomore Fred Wright-Jones (a team manager as a freshman and NCAA-recognized official practice player after injuries to LeVert and Albrecht) would join the team as a walk-on.

Among the accomplishments of the recruits are Simpson earning the 2015 Ohio Associated Press Division I Player of the Year and Davis earning the 2015 Michigan Associated Press Class B Player of the Year awards as juniors as well as Simpson's 2014 Ohio Division III state championship.

Simpson was named 2016 Ohio Mr. Basketball by the Associated Press. Simpson's Lima Senior High School was undefeated until losing in the OHSAA Division I championship game to Westerville South High School, finishing the season 29–1. Simpson also earned the Ohio Boys Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year honor. Michigan recruits Simpson, Ibi Watson and Jon Teske were all named to the 2015-16 Associated Press Ohio high school Division I boys basketball all-state 1st team. ESPN's Jeff Borzello named Simpson as one of the top 25 entering freshman in the 2016–17 class on April 6, 2016. Austin Davis finished second in the Mr. Basketball of Michigan voting to Michigan State commit Cassius Winston of University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy. Davis repeated as Michigan Associated Press Class B Player of the Year.

2017–18

On October 23, 2015, four-star recruit Jordan Poole became the first commitment for the Class of 2017 after home gym visit from Beilein and assistant coach Jordan and multiple Michigan campus visits. Poole had several competing offers including Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Memphis, Marquette, and Auburn. As a junior, Poole was a 2016 WBCA All-State Boys Basketball first team selection. On June 20, 2016, reports confirmed that Michigan had recruited Kentucky transfer Charles Matthews, who played his freshman season for the 2015–16 Kentucky Wildcats. Matthews would have to sit out the 2016–17 season. Michigan confirmed the story on July 1. The same day, Poole announced that he would transfer from Rufus King High School in Wisconsin to La Lumiere School in Indiana where he would experience a campus lifestyle, play a schedule with several ESPN broadcasts, and be teamed up with unsigned class of 2017 prospects Brian Bowen and Jeremiah Tilmon. On July 19, Spring Grove Area High School point guard Eli Brooks, committed to Michigan over offers such as defending national champion Villanova, Ohio State, N.C. State, Temple and Kansas State. On August 7, Isaiah Livers committed to Michigan over contenders Michigan State, Butler, Minnesota, California and Boston College.

2018–19

On December 22, 2016, junior recruit David DeJulius became the first commitment for the Class of 2018 after receiving a December 17 offer following his career-high 46-point, 7-rebound, 5-assist December 17 performance in leading East English Village Preparatory Academy over Dakota High School and Michigan State signee Thomas Kithier.

November

On November 4, the team played an exhibition game against Armstrong State, winning 77–49. Wagner and Irvin led the team with scoring in the exhibition with 15 points each. Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman sat out the exhibition with an ankle injury. Michigan opened the season on November 11 against Howard, winning 76–58. Derrick Walton led the team in scoring with 20 points, including four three pointers, while D.J. Wilson led the team in rebounding with eight rebounds to go along with nine points playing in 20 minutes off the bench. Additionally, Rahkman returned from his ankle injury reclaiming his spot in the starting line-up. On November 13, Michigan defeated IUPUI, 77–65. Zak Irvin led the team in scoring with 15 points, as four Wolverines finished the game with double-digit points, while Wilson led the team in rebounds with 14, to go along with seven points and five blocks playing in 30 minutes off the bench. In the semifinal round of the 2016 2K Sports Classic held at Madison Square Garden on November 17, Michigan defeated Marquette 79–61 behind a team-high 16 points from Irvin and 4 other double digit scoring efforts, including D. J. Wilson's first career double-double (10 points and 12 rebounds). The following night, Michigan won the tournament by defeating SMU 76–54. Walton made seven three-point shots and scored 23, while Irvin added another 16 to earn tournament MVP. On November 23, Michigan suffered its first loss of the season to South Carolina, 46–61. Michigan was led by Walton with a team-high 15 points. Michigan scored 24 of its 46 points from the free throw line, shooting just 19 percent (10-for-52) from the field, including 2-for-26 from three-point range. On November 26, Michigan defeated Mount St. Mary's, 64–47. Michigan was led by Irvin with 14 points, as the Wolverines used a 25–4 run to turn a four-point deficit into a 17-point halftime lead. On November 30, Michigan lost to Virginia Tech 70–73 in the ACC–Big Ten Challenge. Michigan was led by Irvin with a game-high 23 points, as the Hokies rallied from a nine-point deficit at halftime to take their first lead of the game with 1:46 remaining and hold on to win.

December

On December 3, Michigan defeated Kennesaw State 82–55. Michigan was led by Moritz Wagner with a career-high 20 points, while D.J. Wilson posted his second double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Michigan used a 19–4 run to end the first half to take an 18-point lead into the halftime break. Michigan emerged victorious against Texas on December 6. Michigan led by as many as 10 in the first half, but neither team led by more than 3 in the final 17 minutes. Wagner led the team with 15 points including a putback that gave the team the lead with 18.8 seconds left followed by a blocked shot on the subsequent defensive stand. On December 10, Michigan lost to (#2 AP Poll/#2 Coaches Poll) UCLA 84–102. Michigan was led by Irvin with 18 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds. The two teams combined for 22 three-pointers in the first half, as Michigan's first 18 points of the game came from beyond the arc. The game was tied 50–50 at halftime, however, Michigan made just three field goals in the final seven minutes of the game, as UCLA pulled away with the victory. With nine points, Walton became the 51st Wolverine in program history to score 1,000 career points. On December 13, Michigan defeated Central Arkansas by a 97–53 margin on the strength of a school record 19 three-point shots. On December 17, Michigan defeated Maryland Eastern Shore 98–49. Michigan's 49-point victory was a season high and the 10th-largest margin of victory in program history. Michigan was led by Walton with a game-high 21 points, while Wilson scored a career-high 16 points. Michigan recorded a season-high 28 assists as a team, assisting on 28-of-34 made field goals, led by Abdur-Rahkman's career-high 10 assists. Fred Wright-Jones recorded his first career points on a three-pointer. On December 22, Michigan defeated Furman 68–62. Michigan was led by Wagner with a game-high 18 points and six rebounds. Michigan was a perfect 16-for-16 from the free throw line, shooting 100 percent from the line for the first time since 2014–15. With the win, John Beilein earned his 750th career win.

January

On January 1, Michigan lost to Iowa 83–86 in overtime in its Big Ten conference opener. Wilson posted his third career double-double of the season with a career-high 28 points and 14 rebounds. On January 4, Michigan defeated Penn State 72–69. Michigan trailed 29–36, at halftime, and Penn State led by as many as 14 points in the second half, before the Wolverines outscored the Nittany Lions 32–15, over the final 12-plus minutes of the game for the comeback win. With the win, head coach John Beilein became the second coach in program history to reach 200 wins with the Wolverines, joining Johnny Orr, who is the all-time leader with 209. On January 7, Michigan lost to Maryland 70–77. Michigan was led by Wagner who scored 15 of his team-high 17 points in the second half. On January 11, Michigan lost to Illinois 69–85. Michigan was led by Wilson with a team-high 19 points. On January 14, Michigan defeated Nebraska 91–85. Three Wolverines reached the 20-point mark, including a career-high 23 points from Wagner. On January 17, Michigan lost to (#17/#17) Wisconsin 64–68. Michigan was led by Irvin with a game-high 20 points. After trailing by five points at halftime, Michigan used a 17–2 run to take an eight-point lead, with 12:40 left in the game. Wisconsin then went on a 15–0 run to regain the lead for good. On January 21, Michigan defeated Illinois 66–57. Michigan was led by Wilson with a game-high 19 points, while Walton posted his first double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds. On January 26, Michigan defeated Indiana 90–60. Michigan's 30-point win is the second-largest margin of victory over the Hoosiers in program history (+48, February 22, 1998 by the 1997–98 Wolverines over the 1997–98 Hoosiers). Six Wolverines scored in double figures, including all five starters, led by Walton with a game-high 21 points. It was the first time Michigan had six players in double digits since December 12, 2015, against Delaware State. On January 29, Michigan lost their rivalry game to Michigan State 62–70. Michigan was led by Walton with a season-high 24 points. The loss was Michigan's fifth straight loss to MSU.

February

On February 4, Michigan lost to Ohio State 66–70. Walton posted his second double-double of the season with a season-high 25 points, and 10 rebounds. On February 7, Michigan defeated rival Michigan State 86–57. The win snapped a five-game losing streak against Michigan State. With his 20 points, eight assists and five rebounds, Walton became the third player in Michigan program history to reach 1,000 points, 400 rebounds and 400 assists, joining Gary Grant and Jalen Rose. Michigan's 29-point victory was the largest margin of victory in the series since 1996, when Michigan also won by 29-points, 75–46. The Wolverines forced the Spartans into 21 turnovers and outscoring them 30–7 in points off turnovers. The last time Michigan forced 20 or more turnovers was on November 14, 2011 against Towson. Michigan shot 60 percent from the field, the first time the Spartans defense allowed an opponent to shoot over 50 percent from the field all season. On February 12, Michigan defeated Indiana 75–63. Michigan was led by Walton with a game-high 25 points, his fifth consecutive 20-plus point game. Wagner posted his first career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. The win marked the Wolverines first win at Assembly Hall since 2009, and the first time they defeated Indiana twice in the same Big Ten season since 1994–95. It was the team's first road win. Walton earned Co-Big Ten Player of the Week honors on February 13. On February 16, Michigan defeated (#11/#10) Wisconsin 64–58, earning their first win over a ranked opponent of the season. Michigan was led by Wagner with a team-high 21 points. With five rebounds in the game, Walton became the first player in program history to record 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 400 assists. On February 19, Michigan lost to Minnesota 78–83 in overtime. Michigan was led by Walton and Wilson with 16 points each. On February 22, Michigan defeated Rutgers 68–64. Michigan was led by Irvin with a game-high 16 points. With the win, Beilein earned his 500th career win in Division I play. On February 25, Michigan defeated (#14/#14) Purdue 82–70. Michigan was led by Wagner with a career-high 24 points, including 22 points in the first half. Walton posted his third double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Schedule and results

The 18-game set of games against Big Ten opponents was announced on June 20 without dates. On July 27, the 14 game preconference schedule was announced including the first games of three home-and-home series against Texas, UCLA and South Carolina. The final schedule was announced on August 25.

Honors

On December 5, 2016, Irvin was named as a nominee for the Allstate Good Works Team in honor of his volunteerism and civic involvement. On January 6, 2017, Walton was one of 5 Big Ten players included on the 30-man Senior CLASS Award candidate list. On January 9, the Wolverines promoted Andrew Dakich to full-scholarship status. Moritz Wagner was one of two Big Ten athletes (along with Caleb Swanigan named to the February 9 2016-17 NCAA Division I Academic All-District Men’s Basketball Team for District 5 (IL, IN, MI, OH), placing them among the 40 finalists for the Academic All-American 15-man team. On February 13, Walton earned co-Big Ten Player of the week recognition (along with Jordan Murphy.