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2021-22 basketball preview

MGoPodcast 13.7: The 2021-'22 Basketball Preview Comment Count

Seth October 18th, 2021 at 4:49 PM

wsg Matt from Endless Motor. 2 hours and 24 minutes

The Sponsors

Thank you to Underground Printing for making this all possible. Rishi and Ryan have been our biggest supporters from the beginning. Check out their wide selection of officially licensed Michigan fan gear at their 3 store locations in Ann Arbor or learn about their custom apparel business at undergroundshirts.com.

And let’s not forget our associate sponsors: Peak Wealth Management, HomeSure Lending, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, The Phil Klein Insurance Group, SignalWire (use the code MUPPETS), Prentice 4M, where we recorded this, and introducing The View from the Cheap Seats podcast by the Sklars, who will now be joining us for the Hot Takes segments. Please go subscribe and like their podcast, and leave your hot takes about this game in the reviews.

1. The Frontcourt (Fours and Fives)

starts at 1:00

Hunter Dickinson was pretty good, awesome in fact, and then just plain awesome as they doubled him and took away his favorite shoulder. He can develop that and/or a three. Moussa Diabate is going to be an IMPACT defender, can play the four, might develop a shot, switchable nightmare. Versatility with Brandon Johns able to play 4 or 5. He was more commanding as a starter, team X factor. Terrance Williams is about to bust out. Will Tschetter: redshirt or instant Wisconsin center?

[The rest of the writeup and the player after THE JUMP]

2. The Backcourt: Wings and Guards

starts at 32:24

Caleb Houstan is like bringing in an NBA three-and-D dude. Not going to feel like a freshman, can shoot over anyone 6’5” and lower so he could be the new Chaundee shoots it guy. Backups: all the fours and twos. Eli Brooks is the most important player on the team (no hot take). Kobe Bufkin is going to outplay his rankings—this year he’s something in between freshman and sophomore Caris. Could see a jump from Zeb Jackson, or he could fall behind Isaiah Barnes. Not Jace’s turn yet. Could be Frankie’s turn soon but Devante Jones is your starting PG and could be an upgrade on Smith.

3. Big Ten Basketball Preview

starts at 1:06:53

Tier 1: Illinois gets back Kofi and Curbelo, Trent Frazier is a problem for Brooks, who else can play on this team? Purdue brings back everybody, can a sophomore breakout from Ivey and Edey and Newman and Gillis take them all the way? Ohio State replaced its backcourt, waiting to see if Seth Towns can take a big role. Maryland found a center and a PG to go with Ayala and Scott. Tier 2: Indiana is 2015 Michigan football. They’ll put four out so TJD can work alone inside, and brought in four transfers/recruits to do it. MSU has a few dudes but can’t figure out which and when to play. Iowa and Wisconsin suffered huge losses. Nebraska > Penn State and Northwestern. Are 200 teams better than Minnesota?

4. Hot Takes, and Around the Big Ten, wsg Jamie Mac

starts at 1:46:57

Signs of life from future opponents who looked like pushovers, signs of death from objects in the rearview mirror. Indiana has to be a frustrating follow, but not enough that we can wish Jamie luck on fixing that OL.

MUSIC:

  • “Silver Dollar”—Sierra Ferrell
  • “Proofs”—Mates of State
  • “In the Stone”—The Goon Sax
  • “Across 110th Street”
THE USUAL LINKS:

Castleton has been running for like 12 years. Nathan Fillion is also on that show.

Comments

tomer

October 19th, 2021 at 9:49 AM ^

I was literally cackling in my car listening to this preview. This team is deep and talented.

Hard to project any one team to be a National Champion with a brutal single elimination tournament...but this team has to be one of the top handful of contenders. 

Joined: 05/10/2011

MGoPoints: 4075

1VaBlue1

October 19th, 2021 at 12:33 PM ^

I listened to the first half this morning on the way in.  And from that, I am convinced that Michigan will run the table to the NC.  I mean, from what Brian, Matt, and Seth have told us there is no stopping this team!  It's filled with uber talent all across the roster.

Therefore, if we do not win the NC I will hold Brian, Matt, and Seth personally responsible for my expectations*.

 

(* - Not really, but it doesn't mean anything to them anyway...)

Joined: 01/31/2016

MGoPoints: 127087

jackfl33

October 19th, 2021 at 2:58 PM ^

Saying Barnes is going to have a quiet freshman year like Livers is a little ridiculous considering Livers started in the national title game as a freshman. 

Joined: 05/14/2011

MGoPoints: 473

njvictor

October 19th, 2021 at 7:51 PM ^

I completely disagree with the evaluation of Indiana in this podcast. Indiana is the most slept on team in the country right now and I think could win the B1G if everything comes together. TJD, Xavier Johnson, Miller Kopp, Kristian Lander, Tamar Bates is a very solid core that with, if Woodson is remotely competent, could make some noise in the B1G

Joined: 07/20/2017

MGoPoints: 65074

AC1997

October 21st, 2021 at 9:10 AM ^

This podcast was a marathon....took me a couple of days to finish.  Thus I'm late to the party with my responses but wanted to chime in on a few things:

  1. Someone made the comment that Hunter and Austin played together at times last year....that's not accurate.  The previous year we did play Teske/Davis lineups after injuries thinned out the bench but the two bigs never played together last year.  (I don't think it matters because Diabate isn't Davis)
  2. There was talk of BJJ at center this year.  First, I think he played fewer than 20 minutes at center last year and has reported he's only working at the 4 this year.  He's not guarding Kofi or anyone else unless there's extreme foul trouble.  He's a 4 now - and that's good.
  3. I was intrigued by the idea of our bigs getting more chances to finish as the roll man.  That's what made Teske and Morgan terrors.  The issue is....I don't know who the PnR facilitators are going to be on this team.  Jones is one, though his ball-screen proficiency is unclear.  
  4. I'm really wondering about our offense, particularly shooting.  Houstan will be great, but is a freshman.  Brooks will be good in low-volume.  No one else projects to be a plus shooter, unlike last year where we had four shooters out there at all times.  The door is open for Bufkin or Williams to play a lot if they can shoot.
  5. I agree with Brian on the Purdue upside take...though limited by their two bigs being unable to play together.
  6. I think you guys are underselling Illinois though. Losing Ayo's usage is big, but their top seven guys stack up against anyone (Curbelo, Frasier, Granderson, Williams, Kofi, Plummer, Payne).  Kurbelo is the key, but that's plenty of talent around a POY candidate. 
  7. I also think MSU has more upside than was implied, but that upside is going to come from having a true PG (if he can make the leap to this level) and giving usage to Akins & Christie as freshmen.  Those three guys replacing Watts, Loyer, Kithier, Langford, and Henry should be solid.  I actually think the smart move is to give Hauser minutes at the 5 next to Hall at the 4. 

 

Joined: 09/19/2008

MGoPoints: 13809

AC1997

October 21st, 2021 at 9:15 AM ^

I only expect Howard to play an 8-man rotation (starters plus Diabate, Williams, and Bufkin) but thinking about this team's depth is pretty wild.  Imagine they lineup for practice and these are your teams:

1st team:  Jones / Brooks / Houstan / Johns / Dickinson

2nd team:  Jackson / Bufkin / Barnes / Williams / Diabate

3rd team:  Collins / Nunez / Howard / Tschetter / Faulds

While I think Seth was hyperbolic about that third team, it would be interesting to see them play Minnesota and Northwestern.

Joined: 09/19/2008

MGoPoints: 13809