The Michigan Insider

Taking a look at the Michigan basketball team, we break down the Wolverines’ win over Michigan State, and what it means moving forward.

First, we look at what some of the keys to Michigan’s win. We dissect improved defense from Franz Wagner, Eli Brooks and the entire team, how far the Wolverines’ bench has come, the positive impact on the stat sheet and beyond that Isaiah Livers’ return to the lineup can bring. We also look at some schematic changes, and the team’s energy in the surprising win.

We then break down what the Wolverines’ final eight games look like, and where Michigan still needs to improve to come out on top. Among the areas discussed include consistent shooting, more offensive production from Jon Teske, more reliable showings from the Wolverines’ sophomore class and furthering some recent trends. We then close by looking at Michigan’s bracketology breakdown, and other notes to watch in Michigan’s pursuit of the NCAA Tournament.

Following the news that Colorado head coach Mel Tucker had accepted the job to take over Michigan State’s head-coaching vacancy, we dissect what the hire means for the Spartans and, indirectly, the Wolverines. 

First, we look at how good of a hire Tucker is for Michigan State. We break down his background at Michigan State, Ohio State, at big-time programs such as Alabama, Georgia, LSU and in the NFL, and opine on what he brings to East Lansing after one season with the Buffaloes. We also look at the optics of the hire, including whether Tucker was in the wrong for initially saying no to the job, the timing and how the situation changed so quickly for the Spartans.

Next, we look at what kind of program Tucker is inheriting. We look at what kind of recruiting impact Tucker will have, how and how much that will impact Michigan, the importance of Tucker’s offensive coordinator hire and what the next two years can and should look like for the Spartans on the field.

Sam Webb interviews 5-star Michigan basketball target Josh Christopher about his standout career at Lakewood (Calif.) Mayfair, his connection with Juwan Howard, the appealing attributes of his final five schools, his decision criteria, timeline, and more. Plus Sam and Tim McCormick discuss Michigan's loss to Ohio State, the evolving role for Brandon Johns, Isaiah Livers return, the win over Michigan State, and preview this week's match-ups with Northwestern and Indiana.

Reacting to the retirement of Mark Dantonio, we break down how the veteran head coach got to this point, and what the keys to his downfall at Michigan State were.

We look at the Spartans’ missed opportunity after making the College Football Playoff and a third Big Ten title in five seasons. We break down whether or not Michigan and Penn State’s return to prominence played a role, and how the last four years might erase the legacy of the first two-thirds of his tenure with the Spartans.

We also look forward, discussing the state of the Michigan State gig given its location, division and current state. We break down potential candidates for his replacement, and look at what Michigan State looks like heading into the 2020 season from both a depth chart and a 2021 recruiting standpoint.

In a short, lightning-round format, Shaw and Lorenz break down the key things to know about the Michigan football team’s 2020 recruiting class.

We begin by discussing how uneventful not just the February National Signing Day was for Michigan, but really the entire recruiting cycle has been since July, with only two commitments since then. We also break down the Wolverines’ process in scouting and pursuing top targets, and how that has changed in recent years.

After that, we zero in on some of the key recruiting battles and top targets that landed in Michigan’s class. We break down the key players to watch from the class in the 2020 season, what to make of the geographic recruitment this cycle and offer a quick peek-ahead to the 2021 cycle.

Tim McCormick interviews former Michigan great Phil Hubbard about his standout career in Ann Arbor, his time as an Olympian, his transition to NBA in the eighties, his thoughts on this year's team, and more. Plus, Tim and host Sam Webb discuss Zavier Simpson's return from suspension, Brandon John's standout performances versus Nebraska and Rutgers, and preview the upcoming games versus Ohio State and Michigan State.

Continuing with part 2 of our review-preview series, we break down what happened, what’s next and more with the Michigan football team’s defensive line, linebackers, cornerbacks, safeties and special teams units.

First, we look at Michigan’s defensive line, and weigh the strengths of the Wolverines’ defensive ends vs. some issues with Michigan’s defensive interior and depth. We also look at what the unit will look like next season with more experience, and why the second- and third-year “project” players are the key to the line making the next step.

We then look at linebacker, and dissect what was overall a strong year from an experienced group. We look at why big plays continued to be a problem, and what the position group looks like with three departing starters next season. 

We next break down Michigan’s cornerbacks and safeties, following our same formula as the other groups. We offer grades, what worked, what didn’t work, decide if the arrow is pointing up, down or even and break down out big key offseason question. We close by doing the same for special teams.

Tim McCormick interviews New York Knick forward Ignas Brazdeikis about his transition to the NBA, his standout freshman campaign at Michigan last season, his thoughts on this year's team, and more. Plus, Tim and host Sam Webb discuss the offensive struggles in the latest losses to Penn State and Illinois, possible adjustments, and preview the upcoming games versus Nebraska and Rutgers.

In the first of a two-part series, we break down every offensive position group with a five-point review preview.

First, we look at Michigan's quarterbacks, taking a look at the group's 2019 grade, what worked for the group, what didn't work for the group, whether the arrow is pointing up, down or flat at the position heading into 2020 and what our biggest offseason question for the group is.

We then do the same for Michigan's running backs, receivers, tight ends and offensive linemen. Along the way, we differ on grades, dissect the legacy of departing players, offer some intel on incoming recruits, break down returning talent and read between the lines on young ascending players who might step into starting roles next season. We also look into the key offseason questions, ranging from developing stars to new positions to how certain players fit in Michigan's system.

Tim McCormick interviews college basketball analyst Jay Bilas about the beginning of the Juwan Howard era at Michigan, how impactful he believes Howard will be on the recruiting trail, the battle for supremacy in the Big 10, where the league rates nationally, what college basketball will look like in 10 years, and much more. Plus, Tim and host Sam Webb break down Michigan's recent loss to Iowa, the adjustment in defensive strategy, and the upcoming matchups versus Penn State and Illinois.