Michigan Wolverines Basketball

The Michigan basketball program has been put through the wringer ever since it ended its season in the Elite Eight on March 30 against Kentucky last season.

The 2014 offseason has been a busy one with many ups and downs occurring along the way.

Michigan has seen many players come and go, while also embarking on a trip to Italy to build team chemistry. As a Wolverine fan, you've seen it all this offseason.

That said, let's recap the biggest ups and downs from the 2014 offseason so far.

First "down"

Michigan loses Nik Stauskas, Mitch McGary and Glenn Robinson III early to the NBA

The Wolverines losing players en masse to the NBA has become sort of a tradition at Michigan these days. Stauskas, McGary and Robinson III have all now joined Tim Hardaway Jr. and Trey Burke in the NBA, all of which occurred in the last two years.

While it's a good recruiting pitch for John Beilein to say he can send players to the NBA, it does somewhat halt momentum.

However, all the good coaches (think Mike Krzyzewski, Tom Izzo, Roy Williams, etc.) work around it, and Beilein will certainly rally the troops.

First "up"

Michigan reels in top-30 recruiting class to offset NBA departures

While the meat and potatoes of the 2014 recruiting class was harvested in the fall when Beilein and company corralled the likes of Kameron Chatman, Austin Hatch, Ricky Doyle and D.J. Wilson, the Wolverines also picked up two promising players in the spring with the additions of Aubrey Dawkins and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman.

Collectively, the group is ranked as the 28th-best class in the country, according to 247Sports. The class has a nice blend of athleticism, versatility and potential.

Led by Chatman, who is a consensus top-50 recruit according to 247Sports, this class will have to take on a big load considering what the Wolverines lost in the offseason.

After all, besides the loss of Stauskas, McGary and Robinson III, the team also saw Jordan Morgan graduate and Jon Horford transfer to Florida.

The freshmen should be up for the task, and Beilein will mold them into shape soon enough.

Second "down"

Caris LeVert has offseason foot surgery

True, this is not so much of a "down" anymore after the performance Caris LeVert had in Italy (which we'll go over in detail next) over the summer.

However, there was a time in the offseason where there was some concern over LeVert's foot, which required surgery in May. He admitted to Brendan Quinn of MLive.com that he played with a broken foot at the end of last season.

Alas, his foot appears to be a nonissue, as he looked great in Italy en route to averaging 14.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.0 steals in four games overseas. He should be ready to roll in November.

Second "up"

Michigan enjoys fantastic Italy trip

As mentioned previously, the Wolverines had themselves a fine trip in Italy, where they took on some all-star clubs from all parts of the country, from Rome to Vicenza.

In all, the team went 4-0 while averaging 101 points per game and shooting 55.4 percent from the field.

Several key players stepped up big time, especially LeVert, Doyle, Zak Irvin and Mark Donnal. B/R's C.J. Moore noted Irvin's play:

Irvin was probably the MVP of the trip after he averaged 20.8 points and 7.8 rebounds while shooting a scorching 68.8 percent from the field.

Not only that, but Irvin continued to dial it up from deep, as he connected on 12 of his 16 of three-point field goals. As one of the key players expected to emerge this year, Irvin calmed the nerves of some Wolverine fans by having a breakout trip.

One of the biggest X-factors for Michigan this year is the play of its frontcourt, and Donnal was one of the few big guys to answer the bell in Italy.

Donnal had an inspiring performance to the tune of 10.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while also shooting a whopping 69.5 percent from the floor. He did all that was asked of him in Italy and then some.

Doyle will also be needed to anchor the front line after Michigan lost McGary, Morgan and Horford, and judging from first impressions, Doyle is ready for the task. He topped off his trip by averaging a very respectable 11.8 points and eight rebounds.

In all, Beilein and crew have to be encouraged after what transpired in Italy. Here's hoping they bottle it up and have it pour over when the games count for real in November.

Bonus "up"

Michigan secures high-profile transfer

Although he wont be eligible for the upcoming season, Beilein used a scholarship to secure the services of high-scoring Division III forward Duncan Robinson this summer.

Robinson averaged 17 points and seven rebounds per game last year while playing for Williams College. You shouldn't expect Robinson to come close to those numbers at the Division I level, but considering he is noted for being a dead-eye shooter, he will have a key role in Beilein's offense going forward.

Maybe it's a good thing Robinson will sit out. This way, he'll have a year to get adjusted to the rigors of playing big-time basketball in the Big Ten while practicing against the squad and getting stronger in the process.

Follow me on Twitter @Stacdemon.

As the Michigan basketball program enters the 2014-15 season, recruiting may be the farthest thing from the mind of head coach John Beilein. You see, Beilein and company technically have no scholarships to give out this year, per VerbalCommits.com.

Obviously things can change, as they did last year for the Wolverines when they lost Nik Stauskas, Glenn Robinson III and Mitch McGary early to the NBA. Also, a player or two could transfer, or any other number of situations can unfold to add more players.

So, let's address three burning questions about the Wolverines' 2015 recruiting plans.

Will transfer Duncan Robinson be the only newcomer to the 2015 class?

In August, the Wolverines roped in Duncan Robinson (which the school just officially announced), a highly touted transfer from Williams College from the Division III level.

Of course, as per NCAA laws, Robinson will have to sit out this year, but he will have three years of eligibility remaining starting in 2015. Noted as a dead-eye shooter, he figures to be a perfect fit in Beilein's offense. Hopefully his skills can translate to the Big Ten. He did average 17 points and seven rebounds per game last year, and he looks like he'll be be a major role player going forward.

However, as mentioned before, technically the Wolverines have no open scholarships, and Robinson could conceivably be their only addition, despite the Wolverines' interest in 2015 recruits such as Eric Davis, Trevor Manuel and Perry Dozier.

One thing that may happen is for Michigan to add no players in the fall signing period. Which leads us to the next point.

Who may be available later in the spring in case a scholarship opens?

That is a very fluid question, considering all of the variables involved.

Beilein's best hope is that some of his 2015 targets postpone their college decisions 'til the spring. Dozier is scheduled to make a visit on September 26, and perhaps Beilein can squeeze him in, or maybe convince him to wait it out, which is unlikely. 

The thing is, the Wolverines have two potential NBA talents in Caris LeVert and Zak Irvin. And just like Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr., Stauskas and Robinson III before them, LeVert and Irvin could be tempted to leave early too. It's too early to speculate on this, but Beilein has to have a contingency plan just in case.

There is really no telling who will hold off on their commitments this fall. No doubt Beilein and crew are hoping some of the guys they like hold off 'til the spring when he'll know for sure what LeVert and Irvin plan to do.

How will 2015 recruiting class affect 2016 class?

Also of significance in regards to the class of 2015 is how it relates to the 2016 class.

Obviously, the more 2015 recruits Michigan locks up, the fewer scholarships they can offer to the 2016 class. And by all accounts, the 2016 class is where the Wolverines may strike gold, as they are tied to many top-notch recruits.

Beilein already has a commitment from Jon Teske, a 6'11" center from Medina, Ohio, who is considered a fringe top-100 recruit (he's ranked as the No. 105 recruit according to 247Sports). After that, Michigan has approximately two open spots left.

Expect Beilein to go hard after a couple of top-10 point guard prospects in Cassius Winston and Derryck Thornton Jr., with both liking Michigan a lot. With Derrick Walton Jr. expected to be a senior by the time either of these guys would enroll, Beilein will want some depth at point guard. And both Winston and Thornton Jr. are considered can't-miss prospects.

After that, Michigan may look for the best available players, and they have extended offers to plenty of high-end prospects in V.J. King, Josh Langford and T.J. Leaf (all top-25 recruits according to 247Sports).

With the wealth of talent legitimately considering Michigan in the 2016 class, Beilein may bank all possible scholarships he may have for 2015 and pursue the 2016 class more aggressively.

Nevertheless, the way Beilein approaches the 2015 class will impact how the 2016 class shapes up.

Follow me on Twitter @Stacdemon

Michigan is, from top to bottom, one of the most complete and fundamentally sound basketball programs in the country, so of course it has a shot to win the Big Ten on a yearly basis.

Wolverines coach John Beilein has made that so.

While they’ll need to find ways to win without Nik Stauskas, Glenn Robinson III and Mitch McGary, the Wolverines should find and occupy a spot near the top of the league standings in 2014-15 and emerge as a favorite to win both regular-season and postseason champion honors.

But how will they do it? How can they do it?

Easy. They just have to follow this blueprint.

Stay the Same, Coach

Other than winning a national championship, Beilein has done just about everything a coach can do in order to ensure—dare we say it?—a Hall of Fame career.

Yes, HOF. I said it.

There aren’t many coaches at any level, in any sport, who are as respected as the Wolverines’ front man who was recently rewarded for his sportsmanship and integrity by the NCAA, per Brendan F. Quinn of MLive.com.

Beilein is one of a few coaches who represents everything right with collegiate athletics. He’s a mentor who champions the idea of really doing things the “right way.”

He’s yet to cut down the nets at the Final Four, but he’s been there once. He’s yet to establish his program as the true juggernauts, but he’s right on the edge…and this season could be the tipping point, despite having lost three stars to the NBA draft.

Beilein is an all-round developer of student-athletes. There is no need for the 61-year-old to alter his approach—his teams have proven that much year after year on the court.

Jumpstart Kameron Chatman

Michigan’s shiniest new import is a year away from true stardom, but he might as well get started now. At nearly 6’7” and 200 pounds, the true frosh should immediately add positive production from the wing.

Sure, mistakes such as turnovers and poor decision-making will happen; they’re a part of the learning process.

But Chatman fits both a need and a want—he can run with the frontcourt, which needs personnel, and he can score, an area in need of a kick now that Stauskas, Little Dog and McGary aren’t available.

"His basketball IQ has been outstanding," Beilein recently said, per MLive's Quinn. "He's picked up some of our concepts and some of our actions as quick as anybody we've ever had."

Nick Baumgardner of MLive sees things coming together for Michigan at the wing:

Place Some Focus on the Frontcourt

A steady platoon of multitooled forwards and centers have helped Michigan gain momentum under Beilein.

From contributors such as Jordan Morgan, to stars such as DeShawn Sims and Robinson, the frontcourt has always had the ability to dictate the outcome of a game. 

Beilein's recruiting more by the season, and he has two impressive candidates primed to make their presences felt this winter: Mark Donnal, a redshirt freshman, and Ricky Doyle, a true frosh. 

Both roughly 6'9" and 235, they'll fill voids left by Robinson and McGary. Each long and athletic, Donnal and Doyle also fit well into Beilein's system. That makes sense. Beilein is definitely a system coach who recruits to fit a style, not for star rankings or hype. 

While in Europe, the pair has fine-tuned smoothness, per Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press, by growing more comfortable with "Euro" style, a style that's becoming a signature of successful and versatile bigs. 

Can't hurt to get that down now, right? It'll only help down the road. 

Caris Carries Le’Load

By the way, how’s my French?!

Since 2008, the Big Ten Player of the Year has come from either Michigan or Michigan State four times (two each). On top of that, each team has been in the mix for the conference banner nearly every season, with the Wolverines winning two in the process. 

See where this is going? 

Figured as much.

Caris LeVert is one of the most improved players in the nation, and he also happens to be an early favorite to win league POTY honors in 2014-15.

As a sophomore, in addition to averaging 12.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, he proved to be a solid defender and an invaluable all-around asset. 

Due to coaching, he's one of many Wolverines who simply knows where to be on the court most of the time.

Now a junior, the 6'7", 200-pounder is being looked at as the obvious go-to guy for Beilein, who also has rising talents in Zak Irvin and Derrick Walton. 

It sounds easy. And it is. Basically the formula is this: Beilein continues to do what he does, his players follow suit and Michigan contends. 

Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan Wolverines basketball writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81

Michael Albrecht isn't a household name in college basketball. 

In fact, most of those outside of the Big Ten only know of the Michigan junior guard because of his unique nickname, "Spike," which pays homage to a childhood favorite. 

"I got [the nickname] when I was like 5 years old," he said during an interview in 2013 with MGoBlue TV's Michelle Roberts. "I got my first pair of baseball spikes...I'm a big baseball fan...Baseball was like my favorite sport growing up. When I got them, I just started wearing them everywhere. I was wearing them out to church, out to eat. People just started calling me 'Spike.'

"I think my grandpa started calling me 'Spike.' It just kind of stuck..."

His nickname "stuck," and so has his value, which sometimes slides under the radar but shouldn't be discounted. For the past two seasons, the 5'11", 175-pounder has found a way to peak when coach John Beilein needs him to most.

Due to the loss of Nik Stauskas, Beilein's going to need another experienced guard to help ease the transition and knock down buckets from wherever. 

Albrecht can do that. In fact, he already has. 

As a freshman, he backed up Trey Burke, the 2013 Naismith and Wooden Award winner. It was a tall order to fill, but Spike held his own, clocking valuable minutes while the star of the show took a breather. 

Easily the most impressive of his collegiate exploits, he unleashed his range by scoring a career-best 17 points during Michigan's 82-76 national-title loss to Louisville in 2013. His 4-for-5 burst from deep (we're talking miles, here) was enough to make Stauskas blush.  

Let's put this in other terms: Spike is that cool song on that cool unknown band's new album that no one's ever heard. You either know about him or you don't.

Spike the Punch

As a sophomore, Ablrecht shot 38.7 percent from long distance. Again, not a blow-you-away stat, but the here-and-there offerings certainly have helped with the overall flow. As a role player, he also helped Michigan reach the Final Four and Elite Eight. 

Not only has he been reliable from the perimeter, but he's also been good for a couple assists and an occasional steal. He does what he can when he can do it. 

Case in point: Michigan's 72-70 loss to then-No. 1-ranked Arizona this past year. Albrecht's season-high 10 points kept the game in reach for Beilein. Also worthy of mention, his pair of  free throws when trailing 53-48 helped the Wolverines close the gap on the Spartans during their 80-75 win at the Breslin Center back in January. 

Albrecht fits the mold of the classic underdog. He's not about flash or personal recognition; he's all about playing together with teammates as one, which couldn't have been more evident when he earned the 2013-14 Travis Conlan Sportsmanship Award. 

He probably won't score 20 per night or make the Mothership's highlight reel on a regular basis. But he'll make his baskets count, as he's done for two years. 

With a new supporting cast on its way, along with the return of mainstays such as Caris LeVert, Derrick Walton and Zak Irvin, now wouldn't be a bad time to start singing the song of the unsung who's never missed a game. 

In all likelihood, it'll be a familiar tune in 2014-15. 

Follow Bleacher Report's Michigan Wolverines basketball writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81