It's never too early for rankings.

We still don't know what Michigan basketball will look like in the 2022-23 season, but that hasn't stopped platforms from including the Wolverines in their early ranking predictions. Michigan is awaiting the NBA decisions of Hunter Dickinson, Moussa Diabate, and Caleb Houstan. All three could test the NBA waters and choose to return or elect to enter the draft. Michigan has also been active in the transfer portal communicating with multiple players, including Texas Tech's Terrance Shannon.

Guards Eli Brooks and Devante Jones have graduated, meaning Michigan will have a new starting backcourt. Frankie Collins served well in Jones' absence, and Kobe Bufkin showed flashes. Dug McDaniel is on his way to Ann Arbor and will likely have a similar role to Collins' freshman season. McDaniel is part of a first-year class that includes top recruits Tarris Reed and Jett Howard.

Michigan's ranking could rise or dip based on those NBA decisions, a common theme mentioned in the rankings. Still, Michigan returns young weapons, veteran contributors, another talented freshmen class, and excellent coaching staff. That and how likely the big three are to return has made Michigan a popular name in these rankings.

In their way-too-early top 25, The Sporting News has Michigan ranked No. 4, behind only Kentucky, UCLA, and now defending champion Kansas. The Sporting News has thoughts on the three possible NBA departures, "The Wolverines could afford to lose one of the two frosh, but probably need to hang on to former All-American big man Hunter Dickinson. He could have a Kofi Cockburn-style year in 2022-23 if he takes another lap."

A big reason for their optimism is faith in another talented freshman from 2022, "The injury to Devante Jones at the end of the season revealed how capable Frankie Collins is."

The majority of the way-too-early rankings have Michigan as a top-15 team.

ESPN has Michigan just outside the top 10 at #11, still the highest-ranked Big Ten squad. ESPN also believes Moussa, Houstan, and Dickinson will return because mock drafts don't often feature the talented frontcourt. ESPN's concern is the backcourt, "It will be interesting to see how the Wolverines replace DeVante' Jones and Eli Brooks; Frankie Collins showed flashes down the stretch, while Dug McDaniel is a tough, quick freshman entering the fold."

CBS Sports based its ranking on the same assumption.

"The Wolverines' ranking is based on a returning core of Hunter Dickinson, Caleb Houstan and Moussa Diabate, each of whom is a nice college player but nothing resembling a sure-fire first-round pick."

CBS Sports also thinks this makes Michigan the favorite to win the Big Ten.

SI is the lowest projection for Michigan, coming in at #15. A Hunter Dickinson departure would drop them in the rankings but for now, SI likes what the roster could be, "Juwan Howard can build around him and youngsters such as Frankie Collins, Moussa Diabate, Jett Howard, and Dug McDaniel."

---

Not a subscriber to The Maize and Blue Review? Sign up today!

Discuss this article on our premium message boards

Follow our staff on Twitter @MaizeBlueReview, @JoshHenschke, @BrandonJustice_, @DanielDash_, @DennisFithian, @StephenToski, @Baird_CJ, @ZachLibby, @JimScarcelli, @TrevorMcCue

Subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify

Subscribe to The Maize and Blue Review on YouTube!

Like The Maize and Blue Review on Facebook!