Michigan Basketball: 5 Things Still on Wolverines' Offseason to-Do List

The offseason for the Michigan basketball program has been one paved with many ups and downs, but we still have 48 days until the season opener on November 17 against Bucknell. Alas, there are still things that need to be resolved.

In a few weeks, official practice will be under way, and head coach John Beilein has some things to sort out before we head into another exciting year of basketball in Ann Arbor. With the football program mired in mediocrity, Wolverine fans will be clamoring for some good news from their basketball team soon enough.

That said, here are five things still on Beilein's offseason to-do list.

With Glenn Robinson III, Mitch McGary, Jordan Morgan and Jon Horford no longer around, Beilein will need someone to step up and become the power forward for the team this year.

Like last year, Beilein could once again gravitate toward not going with a true 4 and perhaps go with a hybrid forward with plenty of skills. In this case that would be Kameron Chatman. Or, Beilein could opt to put redshirt freshman Mark Donnal at the 4.

Chatman is a good rebounder for his size (6'7”, 210 pounds) and has the skills to flourish in Beilein's system. So, he'll likely get the nod here. After all, he started alongside Zak Irvin at forward in four games on the trip to Italy this summer.

If indeed Chatman starts at the 4, then it's almost certain Donnal will start at center. He, like Chatman, started all four games in Italy.

At 6'9”, 240 pounds, Donnal has at least the height and weight for the job. With a plethora of skills to work with, he can be a suitable center. The Wolverines don't need him to be a star for him to do an effective job. If he can play like he did in Italy, where he averaged 10.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while shooting a tremendous 69.5 percent from the floor, he will have done his job.

If Beilein is not satisfied with Donnal, he could give bulky freshman Ricky Doyle the job. At 6'9”, 245 pounds, Doyle has a bit more size to work with. Like Donnal, Doyle too had a good trip in Italy, where he averaged 11.8 points and eight rebounds.

Together, Donnal and Doyle should make for a suitable center. Their inexperience will show at times, but clearly the talent is there.

Again with the personnel loss the Wolverines have endured, they will need some of its role players to step up and provide a spark off the bench.

Certainly, many of the six true freshmen on the team will get time off the bench, with Doyle, D.J. Wilson and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman figuring to get the bulk of the minutes. Also, expect holdovers Spike Albrecht and Max Bielfeldt to get some run here, too. In the case of Albrecht and Bielfeldt, they at least have some experience on their side, and they will be leaned on early off the bench—especially Albrecht.

It should be interesting to see how many players will be in Beilein's rotation this year.

This kind of goes hand and hand with what was mentioned in the previous slide, as the 2014 recruiting class will be instrumental in supporting the main core of Caris LeVert, Derrick Walton Jr. and Irvin.

The freshman class will be an important part of how the rotation will be defined. Chatman figures to get a great deal of minutes regardless. As previously mentioned, Wilson, Doyle and Abdur-Rahkman should also play good minutes in Beilein's rotation. Don't sleep on Aubrey Dawkins either. And despite all his heroics from coming back from life-altering adversity, Austin Hatch doesn't figure to get much playing time this year.

Simply put, LeVert, Walton Jr. and Irvin will need help from the freshmen, and how they jell together will be of critical importance heading into the 2014-15 season.

With technically no scholarships to work with at the moment, according to VerbalCommits.com, Beilein and Co. are still pressing for at least one commitment this fall nonetheless. You'll remember Michigan had Duncan Robinson transfer in over the summer from Division III Williams College, which used up an available scholarship.

Regardless, Beilein is still hot on the trails for Dozier Jr., who recently completed an official visit to Ann Arbor this weekend (September 27). Dozier Jr. is a wanted man, as Louisville, Georgetown, North Carolina and South Carolina are hot on his heels.

Ranked as the 26th best prospect in the country, according to 247Sports, any school would be lucky to have him. Dozier Jr. is a high-scoring athletic combo guard who possesses next-level skills. So, while it will be tough to secure his services, it would still be a tremendous coup for Beilein if he can snatch up Dozier Jr. this fall.

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