Expect more Michigan basketball roster movement

Some Michigan basketball fans acted surprised when Dug McDaniel entered the transfer portal on Monday, but in this new era of college basketball, it would have been a surprise if he stayed.

Beyond Juwan Howard, who recruited Dug, getting fired on Friday, McDaniel was suspended for six games this season and was probably ready for a fresh start. He averaged 16.8 points per game and shot 36 percent from 3-point range. On that right team, surrounded by shooters, McDaniel could be a force and he’s going to demand a big-time NIL payday.

Frankly, it would be foolish for McDaniel not to enter the portal. Michigan basketball is in flux and that’s going to be the case until a head coach is hired. But even then, the musical chairs won’t stop.

Expect more roster movement for Michigan basketball

Danny Sprinkle, a candidate for coach of the year after leading Utah State to the NCAA tournament, had one player back on his roster from the 2022-23 season. That’s just reality. It’s also why Michigan basketball fans should expect more transfer portal departures.

It’s not just limited to players on the roster either. Khani Rooths, who committed to Michigan in the 2024 class but never signed, re-opened his recruitment. He said Michigan would be considered but it’s hard to see him winding up in Ann Arbor now, just like when Jalen Wilson went to Kansas after John Beilein left.

BREAKING: 2024 Top-30 recruit Khani Rooths has decommitted from Michigan, he tells @On3Recruits.

The 6-8 small forward says he will continue to consider the Wolverines with his recruitment now back open.

The school parted ways with Juwan Howard on Friday.

Story:… pic.twitter.com/D53SJNm2bA

— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) March 18, 2024

Christian Anderson and Durral Brooks, the 2024 signees for Michigan, said they would wait to see who the head coach is, plus what the roster looks like before making a final decision. So there’s a chance all three could re-open their recruitments, leaving Michigan in a dire scholarship situation.

That’s especially true considering that Michigan has struggled to add players in the portal who aren’t freshmen or graduates. That limits you’re choices and the admissions policies have cost the Wolverines dearly in each of the past two offseasons.

It probably won’t be the last time either. Yet, in terms of this offseason, the only thing we know for sure is that Monday’s departures weren’t the last. They also aren’t the sign of anything damning. It’s just par for the course when you have a head-coaching change.

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