17-0

Jordan Poole is really good and an important part of the team but sometimes he gets lazy and makes mistakes.  He will probably be back.

Eli Brooks is better than Ibi Watson.  He has improved and he plays valuable minutes.  He is a strong guard, good ball-handler, and capable scorer.

He definitely has an all-around game for an older than usual freshman, but Ignas Brazdeikis has room to improve as well.  His presence has solidified the team, as a freshman!  Big baskets and made free throws cannot be overstated.  He should be back too.

Austin Davis is still terrible.  Nonetheless John Beilein has found a few minutes of purpose for him each game.

Someone has to come off the bench and provide minutes for different players and Isaiah Livers is excellent in that role.  Hitting 3's helps and he is good at that.  So far in just the one game (Indiana), Brandon Johns, Jr. has shown a rebuilt body and promise too.

Charles Matthews is the team MVP up to this point (17-0).  Against Illinois I was worried because he was not in at the beginning of the game (he had a quick foul) and Michigan did not look great.  He always brings toughness, defense, rebounding, and a complete game.  When he is hitting from outside Michigan looks unbeatable.  He can play guard or defense against a center.  How does a guy like Matthews improve into a star and pro prospect?  Be there every game and do everything well.  There is no question he is a big part of the exceptional winning streak.

The best player right now is John Teske.  It helps that he is over 7 feet (a huge percentage of 7-footers are in the NBA), but he is athletic, smart, and a really good basketball player too.  He dives for loose balls.  He plays major minutes (he is seldom in foul trouble) and the stamina is there too.  Maybe he will leave early for the NBA; he is as good as Moe Wagner.

The team's most important player is Zavier Simpson.  In the past year during the winning streak, Michigan has not had to play without him.  Neither the offense or defense stalls.  He has improved in that, except for the national championship game, not many teams have come close to beating Michigan.  How?  Why?  Hopefully he will remain healthy for this year and stay around for his senior year too.

John Beilein, what can you say?  He looks great and he says he feels great.  It wasn't always this pretty at Michigan with Beilein.  There was a time when walk-ons played.  But that is not this team at all.  This team knows how to win.  Luke Yakich is probably another big part and he is the perfect foil for the not yet elder statesman Beilein.

Michigan may not be unbeatable, but for now and still, they are unbeaten.

Next up, Wisconsin at the Kohl Center.  No, that is not a department store.  Ethan Happ has always been contained by Michigan (give Beilein enough time...) and this year the surrounding cast is not as good.  Still it is a very tough, road Big Ten game.  Could the armor crack?  It hasn't so far and that game is winnable.