Michigan Basketball: Revised Expectations?

I've always really enjoyed watching JB's teams. Last year just wasn't as much fun.

This team is a blast to watch. 

So much credit to Coach Beilein. Not often you see a veteran coach adapt and change. He had the humility and awareness to recognize and address deficiencies.

So far he's managed to incorporate big-man play and defensive energy, without compromising ball security and 3-pt. shooting. And damn, Harbaugh-level player development!

That's coaching.

I still expect it. Some teams click faster than others, we have the benefit of returning players, I think talent will catch up on us once other teams are clicking.

Making it through one or two rounds of the tournament would be a success.

Sweet Sixteen.. Should be the goal every year... Just my opinion

I believe they will win the Big Ten regular season but not the tournament and go to the final four yeeeeAaaah!!!

I had no idea what to expect this year, though I was probably rather pessimistic. Hard to pay attention when football is this good. But two strong wins against real competition (who knows how good they are, but they were both good last year and they aren't just scrubs now) is revelatory. Michigan has been dominant. And, given how the team started last season, that is tremendously encouraging. They've got my attention.

I'm thinking 6 seed right now. They have little to no NBA talent (maybe Wilson), but this is Beilein's first truly veteran team at Michigan. They could be like all those veteran Wisconsin teams that contend for a Big Ten title and grab a 2 or 3 seed - albeit while playing a different brand of basketball. I guess well see.

Thought we were a bubble team but likely to make the tournament but now I'll be disappointed if we don't make the sweet 16. I think they are definitely a top 15-20 type of team after what I saw these past couple of nights. Still a long way to go but a very encouraging start to the season.

Not gonna get crazy with raised expectations, but as someone who expected very little this year it was a pleasant surprise to see them actually playing some d. I understand that the competition isn't the greatest, but I remember tons of games against bad teams the last couple years where they couldn't cover anybody. Certainly more interested to see how the season develops, that's for sure.

Preseason expectations: relatively same as last year--10-11 seed.

Revised expectations: finish 3-5 in big ten--4-8 seed

Where is the poster who always demands this? Missing, I see.

Coach b sucks! Amaker rules! /s

in the top 4/5 of the conference but I thought it would take more than a few games to gel. That's what I'm wondering about now, how much better can they get? Wagner will get better, he's starting his second year in US basketball. Robinson will adjust to his new role. Simpson and Watson are going to be eased into their most impactful roles, like Caris and Irvin were as freshman. Then there's Teske. This is a very interesting team. If Donnal keeps playing as he has it will be hard not to offer him a fifth year, unless Bamba sees the light.

Ibi Watson has such a pure shot. Can't wait for his role to expand

We are obviously going to follow up our national championship in football with one in basketball. Duh.

7 seed baby!!!

Size and defense;  two things that we can rely on when shots aren't falling. That's a real winning formula.

It only took a lifetime, but Beilein is finally realizing the impact an athletic, vertical, defensive, rebounding big man like a Dennis Rodman can have in his starting 5. 

Protect the rim and crash the boards when all those 3's don't find the bottom of the bucket.

This is a team to get excited about

First it's football season and we are in the playoff hunt. That's my focus. Not that I don't care ultimately but it's hard to care about basketball at this point. But thanks to those doing the work to evaluate and set the stage for the season. College basketball would be better off if the season started in January.

No revision, the season is still in early days, so while I am encouraged I am not going to ruin the fun with any expectations. It's time to just enjoy this and see what happens.

to win 20+ times and finish at top 5 in B1G with a 5-7 seed.

Now? Top 3 in B1G with a top 4 seed.

It helped they shot over 50%. Walton isn't going to hit 3's like that consistently. However, the shiny new toy is this defensive wizardry- and that is the thing that will give this team its identity and, quite possibly, a deep run in March. The D has led to a wide range of quality looks in transition. The length, helpside execution, and rebounding has been excellent.

I went from expecting to be one of the last comfortably in the tourney team, to expecting a 4-5 seed.

Wait til teske gets his game going

they have looked really good, but I'm not budging from my prediction of a 2nd round tourney exit. there will be games where they are not making 40% 3PT shots. what do they do when the shots stop falling? also this team lacks depth. what happens if someone goes down for a few games? what about late season fatigue? we have a good 7 man rotation, but it really drops off fast.

I was concerned that we wouldn't be any better than last year's team. Weak performances against Armstrong St and Howard didn't help.

After watching them dismantle two solid teams, the floor of this team should be top 20 finish and a 5 or 6 seed in the tournament.

I'll have to wait and see how good the rest of the b1g looks to take a guess in the ceiling. But things are looking good. Should be a fun team to watch.

This is literally the same as predicting the football season based on M being up 10-0 after the 1st qtr of the 1st game.

I'll take it, it's necessary not sufficient , but the true tests come later

 

Before - Bubble team

 

Now 5 or 6 Seed  (Hope not the dreaded 5 seed...)