There are plenty of similarities between the John B-Line era and the Joanne Howard era here with

Michigan men's basketball, but there is a pretty significant difference in recruiting.

Undercoach B-line, Michigan was rarely around the top 10 nationally, and more often than not,

the Wolverines were closer to the middle of the Big 10 than that number one spot.

Now, that doesn't necessarily mean anything. Heck, look to just the 2017 class for an example. Michigan was barely in the top 50

nationally. They were sixth in the Big Ten, according to 24-7 sports, and that was Isaiah

Livers, Eli Brooks, and Jordan Poole. Yeah, that class worked out

just fine. But there is no denying that the recruiting level for Michigan has gone up

significantly under Coach Howard. The six freshmen who arrive here in Ann Arbor in the coming

days make up, according to most, the top class in the country.

It's hard not to be excited about what this class, what these six young men can do for Michigan this season and beyond.

Still, in a world where recruiting is discussed as much as it is, it is easy to forget about the returning players who could be ready for that big jump from

not contributing to being a rotation piece or from being a rotation piece to becoming a star.

You know, the whole shiny new toy factor.

A year ago at this time, people wondered if Zeb Jackson could beat out Mike Smith for the point guard spot,

or at the very least, carve out a significant amount of time in that spot or at the two-guard position.

Zeb did not get as many minutes as he wanted to, but he did everything right off the floor and in the

practice facility. So many throughout the season raved about his work ethic, his voice,

his team first mentality, and that all came to a head in the first NCAA tournament game

against Texas Southern. Now, all of that does not guarantee a thing, nor does the recruiting

rankings of the incoming players or of those who are already in the program.

Michigan is loaded with talent.

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