An Intimate Look at Charles Matthews
The article linked below appeared on MLive in February. But now that the season is over and Charles Matthews appears to be the designated successor to Zak Irvin, I thought it appropriate to revisit. It shows how the reality of coming to college as a 5-star can't miss one-and-done candidate doesn't always equate to the dreams and illusions of the player.
All told, it appears Matthews has his head squarely on his shoulders now, and we can look forward to big things from him.
http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2017/02/charles_matthews.html
March 27th, 2017 at 10:16 AM ^
Can he play point guard?
March 27th, 2017 at 10:31 AM ^
Well that's a new one. pic.twitter.com/sudwY5dEl6
— Due# (@JDue51) February 23, 2017
That's some valuable input there, wd. Thanks.
March 27th, 2017 at 11:27 AM ^
March 27th, 2017 at 11:55 AM ^
I agree. X will be a really good player for Michigan. We know he can pass, and is quick, and next year we'll see his ability to score the basketball.
I've noticed this becoming more common on TV, but why do people say "score the basketball"? How is it different than just saying "score"?
March 28th, 2017 at 12:11 AM ^
It's not X hate, it's that the team next year with a Walton level point guard is final four worthy and X is almost certainly a year or two or more away from that and it puts a ceiling on the team.
March 27th, 2017 at 10:16 AM ^
March 27th, 2017 at 10:23 AM ^
My favorite part of that article is the reference to the current season "sliding down the well".
March 27th, 2017 at 10:29 AM ^
Of course at the time it didn't seem like a crazy thing to be saying.
March 27th, 2017 at 11:28 AM ^
Everyone should read the link:
http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2017/02/wolverines_season_is_on_the_br.html
If you told us that we would finish the season from there as the Btig Ten Tournament Champions and 1 point away from the Elite Eight, we would have sent you to Bolivia for excessive trolling.
I strongly dislike Brendan Quinn.
March 27th, 2017 at 10:24 AM ^
Also interesting to read the comments about the team on Feb 7. My how things can change quickly.
March 27th, 2017 at 10:30 AM ^
I haven't read the comments, but yeah I remember reading that article when it was seemingly the only bright spot in the future.
March 27th, 2017 at 11:56 AM ^
you should see this place.
March 27th, 2017 at 10:25 AM ^
I suspected this to be an "OMG Shirtless" thread. I'm happy that it's not.
March 27th, 2017 at 10:35 AM ^
March 27th, 2017 at 10:42 AM ^
Oh,yes. I can't wait to write the explanation as to why that thread came down eventually too. I imagine that might be some of my best work in the four years I've been helping to moderate this blog.
If, hypothetically, one is here to see topless photos of basketball players (based upon the patently misleading thread title), now what?
March 27th, 2017 at 10:30 AM ^
If he can live up to his abilities and we don't have any early departures, Matthews, Wilson, and Wagner looks like quite a combo at the 3, 4, and 5.
March 27th, 2017 at 10:52 AM ^
thinking... oh man, what's been posted about him?
Perfect GIF
March 27th, 2017 at 11:27 AM ^
It's a Tuesday afternoon and Matthews is on the first floor of the Ross Academic Center at the University of Michigan. He's in a cubicle in the back of the room, laptop open, getting some work done.
That academic stuff has to be quite a shock to the system, coming from Kentucky.
Somebody should pull him aside and ask him what it is really like to be a one-and-done recruit at Kentucky. I would be fascinated to hear that insight.
March 27th, 2017 at 11:32 AM ^
Beilein on Matthews:
He's probably a combination of Hardaway and Glenn Robinson III. That's a good combination to have."Let's hope he is not just channeling his inner Fred Jackson.
That Fred Jackson reinvented himself as our basketball coach
He's a combo of THJ and GRIII but faster, jumpier and shootier
March 27th, 2017 at 11:09 PM ^
No, Jackson was doing that his whole career. I remember him saying about someone in the late '90s or thereabouts, "He's a fast Emmitt Smith."
March 27th, 2017 at 11:45 AM ^
March 27th, 2017 at 12:56 PM ^
March 27th, 2017 at 12:04 PM ^
This actually happens during basketball season, and even when a player isn't on the official roster as an eligible player? Seems like the perfect opportunity to slack off. Or not, if you know what you want and what it takes to get there.
I read the coach's view of Matthews game, as a combination of Hardaway and Robinson. Timmy was a great three point shooter and Robinson was a slasher and rim riser. I am hoping his game is more like Caris LeVert, a guy who can create his own shot and defend like a demon while unafraid to take over the offense and take the big shot at the end of the shot clock or when tthe game is on the line. Having Mo and Wilson available for that role too makes this concern less worrisome.
Michigan needs to become not just an offensive juggernaut fueled by precise shooting and a team that can run others off the the three-point line forcing a lot of twos. It needs to rebound its own shots better and get easier baskets down low, so that when it runs into teams like South Carolina and Oregon, ir'a motion offense doesn't go into the tank.
There are plenty of candidates for this growth Of course, I think replacing Derrick Walton is a big deal, but if you have guys like MAAR, whose game I love, Matthews and Livers, the incoming freshman with a huge ceiling, Teske and Davis, gives you a lot potential inside scoring and rebounding.
Michigan despire losing Derrick, Zak and Donnal, seems poised to return a potentially solid tourney team. Simpson's growth at point will be huge. And so is whatever Michigan does in adding another big man or point guard to go along with its incoming guards.
March 27th, 2017 at 12:47 PM ^
March 27th, 2017 at 12:50 PM ^
March 27th, 2017 at 12:59 PM ^
He is not like Caris. Caris is one of those rare guys who can create his own shot - we've had very few of those, and there is a reason; they are not easy to find.
March 27th, 2017 at 12:40 PM ^
"Feels" is GR3 without the outside shot but a bit of an upgrade of a defender over him. A very non Beilein recruit in terms of outside shooting but maybe a year of practice helped with that as well. Certainly he has helped MAAR's outside shot over time - he came in with the same reputation of "not a shooter" and has become decent.
If he is a plug and play starter who can average 9-11 ppg this would be a nice pull and equivalent of getting a 4 star recruit who is 20 years old. Adding a veteran guy is always nice on what is going to be a relatively young team next year once you get past the top 3-4 guys.
I enjoyed this more the first time it was posted on here
In the long run, his experience at KY and transfer to Michigan will be much better for him and his development. The whole "one and done" college career path is sold to a lot of good young players early on and they end up thinking that's their best option. In reality I'd think most players will benefit from more years of college. Hopefully, that will be the case with Charles. There are different paths to get to the NBA and he can still live his dream.
I completely forgot about him.....but am really looking forward to his addition to the team next year.
I read this the first time, and was very happy then. Glad to read it again, and to know that we have someone who can potentially fill Irvin's shoes.
There is one brief quip that I am very happy about:
Matthews' old high school coach, St. Rita's Gary DeCesare, reached out to Beilein. The two basketball lifers have known each other for nearly 20 years.
Beilein and Michigan have not done a great job recruiting in Chicago and Detroit. I am very glad to hear that Beilein has a relationship with DeCesare. If Matthews does well at Michigan, this could bode very well for the future. We want some of the 5 star talent in the Midwest to consider Michigan. Ultimately, we want some of those 5 stars to actually, you know, come to Michigan, instead of having us come in second place. Matthews and DeCesare could help us in recruiting other 5 star talent in Chicago. Getting that door cracked open is important.
March 27th, 2017 at 11:05 PM ^