NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has reaffirmed plans to launch a new league in Europe in partnership with FIBA.

Jalen Brunson scored a season-high 40 points to lead the Knicks past the Orlando Magic 132-120.

Desmond Bane matched his season high with 37 points and the Orlando Magic reached the semifinals of the NBA Cup with a 117-108 win over the Miami Heat.

Franz Wagner fell in love with basketball as a kid in Germany when he went with his older brother, Moritz, to watch an under-19 game in Berlin.

The NBA Cup's point-differential tiebreaker is changing game dynamics.

Luka Dončić’s 39 points were not enough for Slovenia as it lost 99-91 to Germany in a thrilling EuroBasket quarterfinal.

Elias Valtonen has scored eight points in the final two minutes to help Finland stun Serbia and Nikola Jokic 92-86 in the round of 16 at the EuroBasket tournament.

Paolo Banchero has agreed to the richest contract in Orlando Magic history.

The Orlando Magic are bringing back forward Moritz Wagner on a one-year deal, a person with knowledge of the move said Friday.

Kevin Durant has been traded to Houston.

The Orlando Magic have acquired Desmond Bane from Memphis in a deal that sends Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony and draft capital to the Grizzlies.

Jrue Holiday of the Boston Celtics has won the NBA’s sportsmanship award for the second time, making him the fifth player in league history to win that trophy in multiple years.

Jayson Tatum had 35 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, and the Boston Celtics pulled away after Magic star Paolo Banchero went to the bench with five fouls, beating Orlando 120-89 in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Franz Wagner scored 32 points, Paolo Banchero added 29 and the Orlando Magic beat Boston 95-93 on Friday night to cut the Celtics’ lead to 2-1 in the Eastern Conference first-round series.

The Orlando Magic have been here before.

Jaylen Brown had 36 points and 10 rebounds, Kristaps Porzingis returned to the game after getting a bloody gash to the forehead and finished with 20 points, and the Boston Celtics beat the Orlando Magic 109-100 in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.

Derrick White scored 30 points, Jayson Tatum had 17 points and finished the game after a scary late fall, and the Boston Celtics rallied in the second half to beat the Orlando Magic 103-86 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.

Paolo Banchero scored 24 points, Franz Wagner added 22 and the Orlando Magic stunned Cleveland 108-103 to end the Cavaliers’ winning streak at 16 games.

Stephen Curry scored a season-high 56 points, making 12 3-pointers and outscoring Orlando by himself in the third quarter of another astounding performance, leading the Golden State Warriors to a 121-115 victory over the Magic on Thursday night.

Orlando center Moritz Wagner will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL in his left knee, that news coming to the injury-riddled Magic one day after they pulled off one of the more improbable wins in franchise history.

Thursday had a little of everything in the NBA.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 23 points and 15 rebounds, Jalen Brunson scored 21 points and the New York Knicks beat the Orlando Magic 121-106 on Tuesday to reach the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup.

Darius Garland scored 25 points, Donovan Mitchell added 22 and the Cleveland Cavaliers improved to 6-0 with a 120-109 victory over the Orlando Magic, who played their first game without injured star Paolo Banchero.

Guerschon Yabusele scored 17 points and France beat Germany 73-69 to advance to the men’s Olympic basketball gold medal game.

Franz Wagner scored 18 points and Germany overcame a sluggish start to beat Greece 76-63 and advance to the Olympics semifinals for the first time.

Unbeaten at last year’s World Cup on the way to the gold medal.

On Friday, LeBron James will carry the U.S. flag.

A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that forward Franz Wagner has agreed to the largest contract in Orlando Magic history, a five-year extension that will be worth at least $224 million.

Donovan Mitchell scored 39 points, Caris LeVert added 15 and the Cleveland Cavaliers avoided a potentially franchise-shifting loss by rallying for a 106-94 win over the Orlando Magic in Game 7.

Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen will miss Game 7 against Orlando with a painful rib injury that sidelined him for the final three games of the series.

Paolo Banchero scored 10 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Orlando Magic hold off the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-96 and force a decisive Game 7 in the their first-round NBA playoff series.

The Orlando Magic desperately want an opportunity to go back on the road.

Donovan Mitchell scored 28 points, Evan Mobley blocked Franz Wagner’s layup in the final seconds and the Cleveland Cavaliers survived a scare from Orlando, holding off Paolo Banchero and the Magic 104-103 in Game 5.

Franz Wagner had 34 points and 13 rebounds, and the Orlando Magic held the Cleveland Cavaliers scoreless for a second-half stretch of almost seven minutes Saturday in a 112-89 victory that tied the Eastern Conference first-round series at 2-2.

Coach Jamahl Mosley and the playoff-contending Orlando Magic have agreed on an extension that keeps him under contract through the 2027-28 season.

Franz Wagner scored 28 points, Paolo Banchero added 25 and the Orlando Magic rallied from a 21-point second-quarter deficit to beat Washington 119-109 and hand the Wizards their 16th consecutive loss.

The New York Knicks traded RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to the Toronto Raptors on Saturday and got back OG Anunoby, dealing two of their top offensive players but likely getting a boost to their defense.

Playing and coaching in the Basketball World Cup this summer seems as though it helped plenty of people get ready for the NBA season.

German basketball is having a great summer.

There will be no gold medal for the U.S. at this World Cup.

Germany will play the United States in the semifinals of the Basketball World Cup in a rematch of an exhibition matchup from earlier this summer where the Americans needed a big rally to win.

Alec Burks scored a season-high 32 points, Saddiq Bey added 28 and the Detroit Pistons overcame the ejection of two players after a scuffle to beat the Orlando Magic 121-101 and snap a six-game losing streak.

Three players were ejected after a fight between the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons late in the first half of their game.

Three players were ejected after a fight between the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons late in the first half of their game.

Paolo Banchero scored 31 points and Admiral Schofield had 11 of his 13 in the fourth quarter to help the Orlando Magic sweep consecutive games in Boston with a 95-92 victory on Sunday.

Jalen Suggs nailed a wild 3-pointer in the closing seconds and the Orlando Magic beat the Chicago Bulls 108-107 after blowing a 19-point lead.

The Detroit Pistons took down the Orlando Magic 113-109 in the season opener thanks to an influx of talent, including newcomers Bojan Bogdanovic, Jalen Duren, and NBA Rookie of the year candidate Jaden Ivey.

Orlando Magic rookie Paolo Banchero will do a periodic diary on his season for The Associated Press.

College basketball season ended almost three months ago, the NBA draft lottery was more than a month ago and the draft itself is later this week.

Franz Wagner made three free throws with 12.2 seconds remaining and dunked on an inbounds play for the final points, leading the Orlando Magic to a 94-90 win over the Golden State Warriors.

All-Star point guard Darius Garland had 24 points and 12 assists, Evan Mobley had his NBA rookie-high 20th double-double, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons 113-109.

Saddiq Bey scored a career-high 51 points and the Detroit Pistons beat the Orlando Magic 134-120 on Thursday night end a four-game losing streak.

Pistons forward Saddiq Bey scored a career-high 51 points, leading the Pistons to a blow-out win vs. the Orlando Magic on Thursday night.

The No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Cade Cunningham, led Team Barry to a 25-20 victory over Team Isiah and Detroit Pistons second-year players Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart in the Rising Stars Challenge championship.

From preseason No. 6 to the wrong side of the bubble, the last three months have proven difficult for the Michigan basketball program.

The Los Angeles Lakers rolled past the Orlando Magic 106-94 for their fifth victory in seven games.

Reggie Jackson hit a step-back jumper with 2.2 seconds remaining to give the Los Angeles Clippers a 106-104 victory over the Orlando Magic on Saturday.

Juwan Howard is shooting to win a national championship, an achievement that has eluded him as a coach and player at Michigan.

Michigan basketball’s Franz Wagner was selected by the Orlando Magic with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft.

Michigan guard DeVante’ Jones has withdrawn from the NBA draft.

Michigan freshman center Hunter Dickinson has entered the NBA draft while giving himself the option of staying in school.

The Michigan sophomore made the announcement Tuesday.

Michigan senior Isaiah Livers is not returning for an extra year of eligibility.

(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)ANN ARBOR, Mich. – It’s going to take a while for the sting of Tuesday night’s loss to fade for the Michigan basketball team. The Wolverines were one win away from the Final Four, but played their worst 40 minutes of offense all season. 11 seed UCLA marked an incredibly disappointing end to the 2020-2021 season, but that doesn’t mean it should tarnish the memory. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament since the Fab Five era. Michigan didn’t get its storybook ending, but the journey was one fans won’t soon forget.

(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)INDIANAPOLIS – UCLA has made more trips to the Final Four than any program but North Carolina. AdThey were clinging to a 50-49 lead when Michigan called a timeout with 19 seconds to go, intending to set up the game's final shot. The buzzer sounded and UCLA began to celebrate, only for the officials to put a half-second back on the clock. They were 3 of 11 beyond the arc, shot 39% overall and couldn't make one at the end. UCLA won a regional semifinal in 2006 and the Bulldogs returned the favor in the 2015 regional semifinals.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan basketball will play UCLA on Tuesday in the Elite Eight for a spot in the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. The game is scheduled to tip off at 9:57 p.m. Tuesday from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. 1 seed Michigan advanced to the Elite Eight with a dominant win over No. 11 seed UCLA punched its ticket by upsetting No. AdThe winner of the UCLA-Michigan game will play either No.

The evening's most telling stat was points in the paint: Michigan 50, Florida State 28. Other lowlights for the Seminoles:— 14 turnovers, including 10 in the first half that led to 16 Michigan points. Adding to the trouble, Walker, the team's leading scorer this season, rolled his ankle at the 14-minute mark of the second half. FSU went on a mini-tear when Osborne and Polite made back-to-back 3s to trim Michigan's lead to five early in the second half. Driving the lane and making the extra pass underneath, the Wolverines made 11 of their first 13 shots in the second half.

(AP Photo/AJ Mast)INDIANAPOLIS – It's not that Juwan Howard doesn't love his old friend and mentor, Leonard Hamilton. Howard and Hamilton struck up a strong friendship in 2000, when Howard was wrapping up his time with the Washington Wizards and Hamilton was coaching there. He said even if his late grandmother, Jannie Mae Howard, was alive and playing basketball, "I'd play her 1-on-1. “Johnny is young,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said after the BYU game. He’s improved immensely.”___More AP College Basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball; and https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket

(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)INDIANAPOLIS – What the Big Ten needed was someone, anyone, to start playing like it came from the Big Ten. Seven of nine teams from the conference had departed before coach Juwan Howard brought Michigan (22-4) to the court for its second-round game in the East region. But during the 14-1 stretch that opened things up, Michigan did what typical Big Ten teams are supposed to do. Most-telling stat of the night was points off the bench: Michigan 26, LSU 2. His 27 points kept LSU in range in the second half, but Wagner rejected him underneath at the end of that stretch.

Chaundee Brown #15 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts to beating the LSU Tigers in the second round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 22, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 1 seed Michigan basketball knocked off No. 8 seed LSU on Monday to clinch a spot in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Wagner ended up with 15 points, seven rebounds and two assists. 11 seed Michigan State have all been eliminated.

– Juwan Howard got the win in his first NCAA Tournament game since taking over at Michigan, guiding Mike Smith and the top-seeded Wolverines to an 82-66 victory over Texas Southern on Saturday. It's his second season in charge, but the NCAA Tournament was canceled last year because of the pandemic. Howard and the Wolverines (21-4) had little trouble with the No 16 seed Texas Southern, but the absence of Livers could lead to adversity down the road. It wasn’t perfect as Texas Southern outscored Michigan 42-30 in the paint and got within 12 late, causing Dickinson to re-enter the game. Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference member Norfolk State ousted Appalachian State on the same court, marking the first time SWAC and MEAC schools won NCAA Tournament games on the same day.

(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)INDIANAPOLIS – All Michigan coach Juwan Howard intended to do, he said, when he started walking toward the baseline during the second half of Friday’s Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals was question a call. After the game, Howard apologized for his actions — and also placed blame on the other bench. Don’t talk to me ever again,’ Then he charged at me. All I said is, ‘Don’t talk to me, don’t talk to me.’”Maryland scored five points after the fracas to cut the deficit in half. BIG PICTUREMaryland: A strong finish — and Thursday's victory over Michigan State — should be enough to get an NCAA Tournament bid.

Isaiah Livers #2 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates after a made basket by Franz Wagner #21 of the Michigan Wolverines in the game against the Indiana Hoosiers during the first half at Assembly Hall on February 27, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan basketball landed three players on All-Big Ten teams this season: wings Isaiah Livers and Franz Wagner, and freshman center Hunter Dickinson. He was named to the second team by the coaches and third team by the media. Dickinson, who led Michigan with 14.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, was named the to the first team by the media and second team by Big Ten coaches. RELATED: Hunter Dickinson named Big Ten Freshman of the YearThe trio led Michigan in scoring and rebounding this season while playing strong defense.

Rocket Watts scored 21 points and Aaron Henry had 18 to lead the Spartans in a 70-64 victory over No. The Wolverines (19-3, 14-3) closed the regular season getting routed at home by the Fighting Illini, beating Michigan State handily to clinch the Big Ten title and losing the rematch three days later. They were ready to play today and we weren’t.”AdJoey Hauser scored nine of his 11 points off the bench in the first half as Michigan State led 30-26. SENIOR MOMENTFifth-year senior Joshua Langford, who missed much of the previous two seasons with injury, made a 3-point shot with 49 seconds left to give Michigan State a 64-59 lead. UP NEXTThe Big Ten Tournament begins Wednesday in Indianapolis, where first-seeded Michigan may meet Michigan State for a third time.

2 Michigan wrapped up the Big Ten title with a 69-50 victory over rival Michigan State on Thursday night. The Wolverines won it again in 2014. Aaron Henry scored 14 points for Michigan State (14-11, 8-11), which will finish with a losing conference record for the first time since 1993. Michigan State went 0 for 9 from 3-point range, its first game without a 3 since Nov. 15, 2013 against Columbia, according to Sportradar. MOTIVATIONAL VIDEOFormer Michigan State star Draymond Green made an appearance in a pregame video the Wolverines watched.

Gonzaga continued to hold down the top spot in the Top 25, just as it has all season, receiving 59 of 63 first-place votes among national media members. Illinois climbed one spot to fourth and Iowa gave the Big Ten three teams in the top five. They have a showdown with the Illini on Tuesday night before wrapping up the regular season with a home-and-home series against Michigan State. That’s a big part of what they’re doing.”West Virginia continued its steady climb, up four spots to No. The newcomer Boilermakers and sliding Badgers give the Big Ten six teams in the Top 25, one fewer than the poll-leading Big 12.

3 Michigan pull away for a 73-57 victory Saturday at Indiana. Aljami Durham led Indiana (12-12, 7-10) with 15 points and Race Thompson finished with 11 points and six rebounds. Michigan made Indiana uncomfortable while facing full-court pressure, stayed in front of the Hoosiers in half-court defense, and challenged shot after shot. Indiana: The Hoosiers trailed 22-21 with 8:36 to go in the first half — and then this one got away from them. ... Indiana shot 38% from the field and was outrebounded 37-27.

Dickinson vs. GarzaOffensively, Dickinson was solid, dropping in 14 points on 6-13 shooting with one assist and three offensive rebounds. Iowa center Luka Garza came into the game leading the nation in scoring at over 24 points per game. Connor McCaffery #30 of the Iowa Hawkeyes, Luka Garza #55 of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Hunter Dickinson #1 of the Michigan Wolverines go for a rebound during the second half at Crisler Arena on February 25, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (2021 Getty Images)Many Michigan fans will remember last season, when Garza dropped 44 and 33 points on the Wolverines in their two games against Iowa. Head coach Juwan Howard of the Michigan Wolverines reacts against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half at Crisler Arena on February 25, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Dickinson gave Garza fits around the basket, and Franz Wagner scored 21 points to lead No. Michigan answered that with a 14-2 run that took place mostly while Dickinson was on the bench. The 7-foot-1 Dickinson, who like Garza went to high school in the Washington area, blocked Garza's first shot attempt of the game. “I know I’ve got to be better for my team,” Garza said. Michigan: The Wolverines have only one day off before playing at Indiana on Saturday.

(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan basketball has rescheduled home games against Michigan State, Illinois and Iowa after several matchups were postponed by a three-week pause. READ: If Michigan basketball wants Big Ten title, it has to beat the best over next 2 weeksTwo of those five games -- home games against Michigan State and Illinois -- will now be made up, the university announced. Here’s how the final six games of the Michigan schedule will play out:Feb. 21: at No. 5 IllinoisMarch 4: vs. Michigan StateMarch 7: at Michigan StateThe Iowa game was originally scheduled to take place March 4, but now, the Wolverines will finish the season with a home-and-home against in-state rival Michigan State. Ohio State, Iowa and Illinois are the top three teams in the conference, other than Michigan.

4 Ohio State on Sunday. AdJacob Young scored 16 points for Rutgers, which led early but lacked the offensive sharpness necessary to keep up with Michigan. Rutgers missed the Top 25 by only two spots this week, but the Scarlet Knights couldn't come up with the upset Thursday. UP NEXTRutgers: The Scarlet Knights host Maryland on Sunday. Michigan: The Wolverines play at Ohio State.

Michigan's Franz Wagner had 10 of his 14 points in the second half. But the Badgers shot 7 of 28 in the second half and missed their last 11 3-point attempts. “What we did in the first half is what we wanted to do in the second half,” Ford said. Michigan beat Wisconsin 77-54 on Jan. 12 and became the first team to sweep a regular-season series from the Badgers since 2017-18, when Michigan State and Nebraska both did it. AdWisconsin: The Badgers needed more from their starting five, who combined to score 10 points and shoot 2 of 16 in the second half.

The Michigan Wolverines won the game 62-58. ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan basketball’s postponed game at Penn State has been rescheduled for Wednesday (Jan. 27), the Big Ten announced. Michigan and Penn State were supposed to meet in Happy Valley on Jan. 9, but the game was postponed due to positive COVID-19 tests within the Nittany Lions’ program. Instead, they will play at Penn State on Wednesday night and then host Indiana the following Saturday (Jan. 30) in Ann Arbor. In their first meeting this season, Michigan survived a scare from Penn State, winning 62-58 after trailing in the final minutes at the Crisler Center.

7 Michigan raced to a 17-3 lead, and the Wolverines had little difficulty beating Maryland 87-63 on Tuesday night. Michigan led 42-25 at halftime and stretched its advantage to as many as 25 points in the second. Livers led Michigan with 20 points and Franz Wagner contributed 15. Michigan: The Wolverines made their loss to Minnesota look like just a bump in the road, putting Maryland in a big hole early and not letting up. Michigan: The Wolverines play at Purdue on Friday night.

9 Wisconsin on Tuesday night, Michigan became the first team in college basketball history to stack such a dominant trio of ranked blowouts. 19 Northwestern, which came into the matchup after victories against Michigan State, Indiana and Ohio State and a close road loss to Iowa. 4 Iowa and beaten Michigan State and Ohio State by a combined 42 points. 9 team in the country and a proven contender atop the Big Ten, came in sporting victories over Michigan State, Minnesota and Iowa. Saturday will bring a different kind of test, as Michigan hits the road against a ranked team for the first time this season.

Then, unbelievably, the Wolverines led No. The Wolverines outscored the Badgers 43-6 over a stretch that spanned parts of both halves, and Michigan remained unbeaten with a 77-54 win Tuesday. They have a lot of players and they have playmakers on both ends of the floor," said D'Mitrik Trice, who led Wisconsin with 20 points. Michigan led 26-23 before scoring the last 14 points of the half. Michigan led by 29 against Northwestern before winning by 19.

Isaiah Livers #2 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts during the second half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Crisler Arena on January 06, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In its two first ranked matchups of the season, Michigan completely blasted No. Head coach Juwan Howard of the Michigan Wolverines yells during the second half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Crisler Arena on January 06, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. As a team, Michigan shoots 35.8%, which is tied for 100th in the nation. Chaundee Brown #15 of the Michigan Wolverines and Jaron Faulds #44 of the Michigan Wolverines talk after their win against the Ball State Cardinals at Crisler Arena on December 02, 2020 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Franz Wagner #21 and Jace Howard #25 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrate after winning a college basketball game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Crisler Arena on January 3, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Michigan Wolverines won the game 85-66. The truth of the matter is, most people probably didn’t watch any Michigan games in 2020, unless they tuned in for overtime against Oakland. 19 Northwestern, a team that already has wins over Michigan State and Ohio State, as well as on the road against Indiana. It’s entirely possible that in four Big Ten games, Michigan has played the three worst teams in the league: Nebraska, Penn State and Maryland.

Hunter Dickinson #1 of the Michigan Wolverines shoots a free throw against the UCF Knights during the second half at Crisler Arena on December 06, 2020 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. But dig a little deeper and Thursday’s victory starts to look even more impressive for a Michigan team that was previously untested against quality teams. Franz Wagner #21 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts after scoring in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at Welsh-Ryan Arena on February 12, 2020 in Evanston, Illinois. Winning without vintage LiversWhile Wagner, Dickinson and Smith played exceptionally well Thursday, it was perhaps even more encouraging to see Michigan win so convincingly without a strong game from Isaiah Livers. Instead, Michigan breezed past Maryland, at one point leading by 19 points with under four minutes to play.

16 Michigan is the only unbeaten team in Big Ten play: Hunter Dickinson. Dickinson played for DeMatha High School, located a few miles from the University of Maryland. After trailing by as many as 10 points in the first half, Maryland took its first lead, 47-46, on a 3-pointer by Aaron Wiggins with 18:31 remaining. Maryland coach Mark Turgeon found consolation in watching his team hang with perhaps the best team in the Big Ten. Michigan was 15 for 16 at the line in the first half and Maryland was 3 for 4, which offset the Terrapins 9-for-11 shooting from beyond the arc.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Michigan basketball team survived the first three games on its schedule and will now play against much tougher competition the rest of the season. Three days before taking Michigan to overtime, Oakland lost to Toledo by 27. Two days after leaving the Crisler Center, Oakland lost to Purdue by 43. Coming upIn this COVID-19-shortened season, Michigan only has five non-conference games before the start of Big Ten play. Franz Wagner #21 of the Michigan Wolverines looks on during the second half against the Ball State Cardinals at Crisler Arena on December 02, 2020 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Isaiah Livers scored 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting, Hunter Dickinson had his first career double-double, and Michigan beat Ball State 84-65 on Wednesday night. Franz Wagner added 14 points and Mike Smith scored 10 for Michigan (3-0). Dickinson made a layup to make it 34-14 with 5:39 left in the first half, but the Cardinals scored 19 of the last 25 first-half points. El-Amin hit a jumper early just 14 seconds after halftime to trim Ball State's deficit to 40-35, but Michigan scored the next six points and the Cardinals got no closer. Walton led Ball State (0-2) with 20 points.

The Wolverines have been to the NCAA Tournament eight times in the last nine seasons. But will that translate to an NCAA Tournament appearance in March 2020? (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)Its hard to see Michigan making the NCAA Tournament if Livers isnt one of the top players in the Big Ten. If they live up to the hype, Michigan will certainly be an NCAA Tournament team. If he returns to full health, Michigan could be a dangerous middle seed in the NCAA Tournament.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - New Michigan basketball coach Juwan Howard got his first major recruiting victory over the weekend, landing a commitment from German forward Franz Wagner, brother of former Wolverines star Moe Wagner. Franz Wagner is listed at 6 feet, 7 inches tall, so while he has good size, he's a much different player than his brother. "We are extremely excited to announce Franz has committed to join the University of the Michigan in the fall," Howard said, via MGoBlue.com. @JuwanHoward has announced German guard Franz Wagner has a Tender of Financial Aid & will join the Wolverines this fall! Michigan made two national championship games, three Elite Eights and five Sweet 16s in that span.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. New Michigan basketball coach Juwan Howard got his first major recruiting victory over the weekend, landing a commitment from German forward Franz Wagner, brother of former Wolverines star Moe Wagner. Franz Wagner is listed at 6 feet, 7 inches tall, so while he has good size, he's a much different player than his brother. "We are extremely excited to announce Franz has committed to join the University of the Michigan in the fall," Howard said, via MGoBlue.com. @JuwanHoward has announced German guard Franz Wagner has a Tender of Financial Aid & will join the Wolverines this fall! Michigan made two national championship games, three Elite Eights and five Sweet 16s in that span.