Basketball Snowflakes
Any hope for the season is lost at this point.
Would like to see Dug become a semi-competent PG down the stretch. Idk what to think of TWill. Dickinson misses more layups than any 7 footer should.
I’d love to never see the Jett and Kobe disappearing act again.
Time for Juwan to broom out the assistants and freshen up the staff. Next year is hot seat time and I’m rooting for the guy unlike most of this forum, but going 0-6??? in crunch time games this year is next level sad.
February 11th, 2023 at 8:21 PM ^
Team is close.
Close to being able to score a single point in the last 5 minutes against a half decent team
February 11th, 2023 at 8:22 PM ^
T.Will ONLY Michigan player with a negative in +/- last 2 games...A sometime deceiving stat but not in this case.Mich went on a run in BOTH halves when he was subbed out.
February 11th, 2023 at 8:25 PM ^
Not a B10 level player.
Tarris Reed has been the only one actively getting better this year.
February 12th, 2023 at 1:46 PM ^
Kobe has gotten better this year. TWill has not only been bad, but after Juwan rightly benched him he decided that crunch time was when he should re-enter the game. This team makes so many mental mistakes and lapses too often. Combine that with befuddling roster construction and lots of recruiting misses and it’s hard to see Juwan lasting much longer except that he’s a famous alum. His approach is quite the contrast to John Beilein’s excruciating attention to detail.
February 11th, 2023 at 9:11 PM ^
I have not seen any clips but the Maize n Brew says that Michigan went on the first half run when Hunter went to the bench-and IU closed the gap immediately upon his return. Interesting.
February 12th, 2023 at 12:00 AM ^
Actually, we were up 8 when he went out, and up 8 when he came back in. Just the facts.
February 12th, 2023 at 9:55 AM ^
At a certain point a year or two ago, it was easy to see why T Will was on the floor. Could hit 3s at a 35%+, was a scrappy rebounder and defender, and had good chemistry with Dickinson but now he's just a net negative in every facet of the game. It's really puzzling that he gets so many minutes when Tschetter consistently have a much better +/- despite playing far less minutes
February 12th, 2023 at 10:10 AM ^
this. He used to have a motor and hustle. he us a terrible defender, shoots terribly, can't dribble, his attitude just seems very bland all year. I out a lot of blame on him because he has been incompetent out there but Howard also shouldn't be playing him.
Reed is going to be very good abd its great he has the skillet of a 4 year player.
February 12th, 2023 at 9:57 AM ^
He turned the ball over once every five mins he played in this game. Not great.
February 12th, 2023 at 10:34 AM ^
Fortunately, he did it at times that were inconsequential…
Face palm
February 11th, 2023 at 8:25 PM ^
The one thing I’ll say in Juwan’s defense is this roster is ranked 300+ in age and experience. I think a lot of us expected too much this year.
February 11th, 2023 at 8:40 PM ^
And it'll be the same thing next year. Hunter and Jett are gone, and if Kobe improves any more, the NBA will want him too. This is just how CBB is now, and you have to develop players, which Juwan can't do.
February 11th, 2023 at 8:44 PM ^
Doesn't Hunter have his senior year and a COVID year?
February 11th, 2023 at 8:56 PM ^
And that’s the scary part. Unless Hunter and Kobe stay, plus help from the portal, this team will most likely be worse next year.
February 12th, 2023 at 12:01 AM ^
I don’t see any plausible scenario where this team is better next year. They will be 3 quality starters away from being a bubble team. I don’t see how they find that in the portal in one off season.
February 11th, 2023 at 9:05 PM ^
@shoelacesflappinginthewind wrote:
"you have to develop players, which Juwan can't do."
++ Wait..what?
Kobe's Bufkin's big jump from freshman to sophomore season does not count as development in your mind?
Going back further a few years...Zavier Simpson, Eli Brooks, Austin Davis, Franz Wagner, Isaiah Livers all developed under Coach Howard. Does that not count as development?
I get some of you can't stand Juwan Howard but saying things that are patently false is not a good look.
++ Jett Howard, Tarris Reed, and Dug McDaniel are all true freshmen. They haven't had a chance to develop. They're developing this season. Will Tschetter is a redshirt freshman and Kobe Bufkin is a sophomore. So 3 of our 5 starters and 5 of our 9 rotation players are underclassmen. We're one of the youngest teams in CBB this season (bottom 15% percentile). The growing pains suck but they're a natural part of the process.
February 11th, 2023 at 9:22 PM ^
Basketball is a highly nuanced sport and not well understood by the viewing public. There are issues with this team and coaching is, by definition, involved. However, this staff is in a very "damned if they do damned if they don't" situation.
February 11th, 2023 at 10:45 PM ^
Part of the problem is that basketball is getting younger and younger by the year with kids bolting but Juwan really needs to convince his better players to stay one more season this year. You can’t lose Jett and Hunter this off-season and expect next year to be any better. Just imagine if Diabate would have stayed or the Sophomore jump for Frankie. The team IS young but it can’t be the excuse every season from now on.
February 11th, 2023 at 11:39 PM ^
I agree.
Think of how much better this team is with a 2nd year Moussa Diabate. As a freshman, he averaged 9ppg, 6 rpg, 1bpg. He probably averages something like 14 ppg, 8 rpg, 2 apg, and 2 bpg this season. He alone probably flips about 5 losses into wins. Terrance Williams is a major step down from Diabate.
This Michigan team badly needs 2 things:
1. a better scorer from the PF position.
2. better defense especially on the perimeter.
Diabate would've given us both things.
If we're 19-6 instead of 14-11, we're squarely in the NCAAT and the feel of this team is very different.
I was surprised Diabate left to be a 2nd round pick. With another season in college, he would've likely been a solid 1st rounder in the 2023 NBA Draft (with an outside chance at the late lottery with a great sophomore campaign).
February 12th, 2023 at 8:58 AM ^
As I just watched the Matthew Loves Ball replay...I believe that somewhere between 90% and 95% of Indiana's half-court offense points were scored by them targeting Hunter. The perimeter defense improves significantly if there is a level behind them-and, as opponent after opponent clearly knows, there is virtually none. Here, poor perimeter defense is a symptom of having zero rim protection behind them.
I am dreaming/wondering about a line-up of Reed, Diabate, Caleb, Jett and Kobe. Two rim-protecting bigs who are not offensive liabilities, a couple snipers and a slasher or two is more my idea of a good basketball team.
February 12th, 2023 at 4:08 PM ^
One thing for sure if Diabate stuck around for a second year is opposing teams wouldn't be driving and scoring in the paint near as much as they've done to us this season. His quickness and athleticism would prevent a lot of that. Points in the paint and Jekyll & Hyde inconsistent shooting are killing this team.
February 12th, 2023 at 10:53 AM ^
other than the gift of Jett being JH'so, our guard recruiting is not up to par to truly contend. we keep undersized transfer guards. they struggle against bigger guards or guards with elite athleticism. some of our transfers could really of helped. Castleton is having a great year, Dejulius would be starting, Bajema has been serviceable etc
February 12th, 2023 at 10:02 AM ^
Yea I don’t think player development has been Juwan’s problem. His issue has been talent identification and roster construction. With all of the attrition these days, you have to be really good at team building and it is a constant process. JB was a master at it. Juwan isn’t there yet.
February 12th, 2023 at 1:42 AM ^
Hunter isn't going anywhere.
February 12th, 2023 at 6:43 AM ^
Except maybe to a city in Europe.
February 12th, 2023 at 7:28 AM ^
Grosse Dickinson Engerie doesn't have the same ring to it though.
February 12th, 2023 at 10:33 AM ^
Really??? I’m disappointed, but Hunter, Jett, and Kobe play better than their high school rankings. This is called development!! The surprising fact is how poor the development is for the 4 spot (power forwards). I would have thought evaluation and development of this position would be amazing based on the background of our coach. But to act like several of the players aren’t being developed is lazy and emotional thinking.
February 12th, 2023 at 10:34 AM ^
Really??? I’m disappointed, but Hunter, Jett, and Kobe play better than their high school rankings. This is called development!! The surprising fact is how poor the development is for the 4 spot (power forwards). I would have thought evaluation and development of this position would be amazing based on the background of our coach. But to act like several of the players aren’t being developed is lazy and emotional thinking.
February 11th, 2023 at 8:41 PM ^
It's not like people are complaining that Michigan isn't contending for a B1G title. Making the tournament shouldn't ever be considered too lofty of expectations.
February 11th, 2023 at 8:54 PM ^
But how many B1G teams fighting for an NCAA tournament bid have one returning starter? Maybe Illinois, who hit the jackpot in the transfer portal.
The UM backcourt is 2 freshmen and a sophomore. You need experience in these positions.
February 12th, 2023 at 5:51 PM ^
Maybe Illinois, who hit the jackpot in the transfer portal.
You mean the same jackpot Michigan was primed to win until transfer issues got in the way?
I've stopped thinking about how different this team looks with Terrance Shannon at this point.
February 11th, 2023 at 11:42 PM ^
This 10x. So many tough, close losses.
This is a young but very talented roster, but Juwan is simply not getting the team to play well in key moments. Several guys seem to repeatedly struggle with decision-making and tonight was just brutal down the stretch. Freshman PG are rarely the solution for teams needing tough buckets or quality sets.
Hopefully Juwan keeps growing as a HC and a more mature team wins the close ones next year.
February 11th, 2023 at 8:54 PM ^
I mean, this isn’t his second year or something. It’s his roster by this point, young or old, talented or not, he’s had multiple recruiting classes.
February 11th, 2023 at 8:58 PM ^
And a majority of those classes has transferred, gone pro, or redshirted. Which is why there is little depth or experience.
February 11th, 2023 at 10:36 PM ^
and tell me, whose job is it keep players from transferring and who decides when they redshirt? Jesus fucking Christ, the excuse making. I don’t think Howard should be fired or anything, but if the roster sucks it’s his goddamn fault.
February 12th, 2023 at 7:53 AM ^
Excuses or, you know, rebuttal to the typical MGoSkyFalling babies?
Or should moderators only allow for the negative criticism comments from the whiny fucking pessimists who are either 100% for the team or 100% against it depending on the outcome of every…single…game?
The roster doesn’t suck—the team would not be competitive until the end of games with top 5 teams if the players “sucks.”
They are young and developing. If Juwan gets Jett back and helps him develop into a top 5 draft pick, team will be much better next year. Dug is having a pretty solid freshman year. Tarris has grown tremendously.
February 12th, 2023 at 8:39 AM ^
I still think they are going to make the tournament this year.
February 12th, 2023 at 10:05 AM ^
Jett ain’t coming back.
February 12th, 2023 at 2:11 PM ^
Thank you....results, results, results
19/20: 10-10
20/21: 14-3
21/22: 11-9
22/23: 8-6 (projected 11-9)
and people ignore that this may be the least competitive B10 season in recent memory...the league is very down this year.
February 12th, 2023 at 2:36 PM ^
Jeez, don’t get your mgopanties in a bunch. Some of it is definitely his fault, but not all of it. We seem to overlook that this is Juwan’s first head coaching job, and college basketball, especially roster construction, is very difficult. But you don’t want excuses. You just expect him to come in and be perfect and win NCs.
February 12th, 2023 at 6:11 PM ^
Who said anything about NCs? How about just consistently being good in the B10? I root for us but gotta be able to call a spade a spade sometimes ya know…
February 12th, 2023 at 6:24 PM ^
Who said anything about NCs? How about just consistently being good in the B10? I root for us but gotta be able to call a spade a spade sometimes ya know…
February 11th, 2023 at 9:01 PM ^
Who’s your shooters next year when Jett and Baker are gone?
February 11th, 2023 at 9:21 PM ^
Who are our shooters this year with Jett and Baker on the team?
February 11th, 2023 at 9:35 PM ^
Now that is funny
February 11th, 2023 at 10:48 PM ^
They both are really good shooters. Jett has fell too much in love with the three ball. Indiana was content to run Jett and Baker off of the line at all costs and we didn’t capitalize on driving to the basket to punish them for it.
February 11th, 2023 at 8:25 PM ^
choked down the stretch
February 11th, 2023 at 8:34 PM ^
At least it was a team effort. The last five minutes saw all 5 starters miss shots. All jumpers except 1 layup attempt by the guy who is 5’7”. Nothing at the rim by the guy who is 7’1”, who played afraid of a 6’9” guy. IU missing their power forward and we didn’t make them pay inside. Just an awful game plan.
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/playbyplay/_/gameId/401484945
February 12th, 2023 at 11:17 AM ^
This- especially since we were in the double bonus so long, the inability or unwillingness of guys to take it strong to the hoop was disappointing. In addition to not getting the free throws, IU was thin to begin with , and 3 of the 6 guys they were playing had 3 fouls with a lot of time left. At some point the coaches have to be responsible for something.
February 11th, 2023 at 9:18 PM ^
This will be etched on this season’s tombstone.