Caris LeVert: The Missing Piece For Michigan
By Chris Morgan
Name: Caris LeVert #23
University: Michigan
Year: Junior
Height: 6'7''
Weight: 200
Hometown: Pickerington, OH
Position: G
The University of Michigan has been one of the best teams in college basketball the last couple of seasons, but this year is a very different story. The team has struggled, and, admittedly, they will need to make a major run in order to return to the NCAA Tournament. It is a real step down for the team. There are a lot of reasons for this, and some degree of a step back was inevitable. However, if you are looking to pinpoint the major problem for this Wolverines team, you need not look further than the injury to Caris LeVert.
On Jan. 17, LeVert played 38 minutes in a win over the Northwestern Wildcats. He had 18 points, 6 rebounds, and seven assists. He also suffered a broken foot, one that will keep him out for the rest of the season. The team proceeded to lose six of their last nine games without him, essentially sinking their season. They are barely over .500 now, putting them in a very different place.
After barely playing as a freshman, LeVert averaged just under 11 minutes per game on a stacked team; he moved into a bigger role last season. LeVert had a nice year, scoring 12.9 points per game while making just over 40% of his three-pointers. This year, with guys like Trey Burke, Nik Stauskas, Mitch McGary, and Glenn Robinson III all gone, this became LeVert's team. He still leads the team in points per game, he ended averaging 14.9, and he also averaged 4.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. He provided a combination of veteran leadership and skill. Even with his injury, LeVert is considered by many to be a potential first round pick. A late first round pick, sure, but that's nothing to sneeze at.
Of couse, LeVert can't help his team now. When they lost his ability and experience, the Michigan Wolverines took a big hit. We're talking about a guy who is atop the Wolverines' leaderboard in points, rebounds, and assists. On a team lacking depth, after having so much, that is going to really create a negative impact.
Michigan will probably need to win the Big 10 tournament to make it into March Madness. That's almost guaranteed not to happen with this roster in this conference. Sure, the Wolverines can point their finger at the day LeVert went down, but that's an excuse that no sports team is likely to accept. LeVert may come back next season. His stock isn't so high that he's a lock to leave. However, it is also possible LeVert's college career is over. Had he stayed healthy, who know what could have happened for this team? LeVert was the guy who was supposed to take over for all the talent that left. He did, but then, through no fault of his own, he left his team behind as well. It appears that it was too much for this team to handle.
Chris Morgan has been a diehard Detroit Lions fan through the good (Barry Sanders) and the bad (Matt Millen) and that love has led him to take jobs writing about sports, including as a fantasy sports "expert." His work can be found on Examiner.com. .