so much for that
Is there any player on Michigan basketball more important than..
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Ben Cronin?
Atleast for me, Ben Cronin is going to be a huge measuring stick for the success of this team. His preformance could determine whether we see a season ofbaby steps or a season of significant improvement.
Cronin is the most important incoming freshman that will have playing time this year. We are extremely shallow on the bench in terms of bigmen with the transfer of Ekpe Udoh. Cronin needs to be able to step in and be a very good presence inside.
Manny Harris and the rest of the Wolverines will continue to improve individually, but the guys won't improve as a team unless somebody steps up their game inside.
I want to get your thoughts -- Who is the most important player for Michigan basketball this year? Who is the most important incoming freshman?
July 1st, 2008 at 2:14 PM | 
Manny being Manny
Manny being Manny
July 1st, 2008 at 2:16 PM |
I looked at Manny
I looked at Manny
when thinking about this and just said, I'm pretty confident that Manny is going to be Manny this year. He'll get better and become more consistent, but he can explode and become the best player in the Big Ten and I still don't think we'd have a good team.
Getcha Happy On.
July 1st, 2008 at 2:16 PM |
I don't think Cronin is all that important
I don't think Cronin is all that important
Beilein's system, when run properly, can make up for a deficiency of size at both ends of the floor. I'm more concerned about the 3PT % which was last in the B10 last season. To that end, Novak, Douglass and LLP are all more important. I'm not expecting much from Cronin this season, but would be pleasantly surprised if he contributed meaningfully. If, by some miracle, Benzig is available this season, he might help as a weak side defender on the inside. Given his build, I don't really see him banging inside on the ball too effectively any time soon.
Give me piss troughs or give me death.
July 1st, 2008 at 2:39 PM |
I lost count of
I lost count of
how many extra possessions we gave teams last year because of rebounding. Its that important in the Big Ten to get defensive rebounds.
Getcha Happy On.
July 1st, 2008 at 2:50 PM |
WVU consistently got murdered...
WVU consistently got murdered...
...on the offensive glass, but they still made the tourney with regularity. They compensated defensively by forcing turnovers. I guess we could argue whether offensive rebounds are more or less important in the Big 10 vs the Big East, but WVU often played their best during the non-con and in tourneys.
Give me piss troughs or give me death.
July 1st, 2008 at 3:00 PM |
And you must
And you must
regularly run the ball with 3 yards and a cloud of dust to be good in the Big10 football conference. Do you doubt RichRod's system as much as you do Beileins?
July 1st, 2008 at 2:19 PM |
Arizona Transfer
Arizona Transfer
What about the Lucas kid from Flint who played 1/2 a year at Arizona? He will be very important come Big Ten season.
July 1st, 2008 at 2:22 PM |
Ben Cronin may be the most
Ben Cronin may be the most
Ben Cronin may be the most important incoming freshman (it's a fairly weak class) but he is certainly not the most important player. I think that DeShawn Sims and Manny Harris are the two best and the expectations placed on them to lead the team will be great, but the most important player will be Kelvin Grady. If he can improve upon his freshman year and turn into a true point guard who can get the ball into the scorers' hands, we could be a contender with the players we have. Ben Cronin will not be a starter, btw.
July 1st, 2008 at 2:26 PM |
Fairly or unfairly...
Fairly or unfairly...
...I've kind of written Grady off (probably unfairly). I think come December he'll be passed by LLP. He's a fine back up, but not a starting caliber B10 PG. I hope he proves me wrong.
Give me piss troughs or give me death.
July 1st, 2008 at 3:01 PM |
I like Grady a lot
I like Grady a lot
Not because he had a good season by any means last year, but
because he was the only one who didn't make me nervous handling the
ball against any kind of pressure and whose speed helped him create
space. He should be spending the off-season shooting 15 foot pull-up
jumpers until his arms fall off. I'm hesitant about LLP simply because for me he's a complete unknown.
July 1st, 2008 at 3:03 PM |
Shooting
Shooting
If they don't shoot any better I don't care who you bring in. I couldn't believe how poorly this team shot as a whole. If you continue to make shots at a 30-35% on a regular basis it will be reflected in the standings, big men or no big men.
July 1st, 2008 at 5:07 PM |
IMO, effective point guard
IMO, effective point guard
IMO, effective point guard play is key in college basketball. With that in mind, LLP's arrival and subsequent play is the most critical aspect of M basketball in '08. I'm sorry, but Kelvin Grady isn't the answer. If LLP can manage our offense in the halfcourt, limit turnovers and penetrate like a point guard should, it will create open shots and opportunities for Manny, Ant and everyone else. If he can't, I think it might be a repeat of last year. I'm still trying to get over the loss of Ekpe. That really hurts.
I miss Keith Jackson.
July 1st, 2008 at 5:52 PM |
Peedie will be the measuring stick for me...
Peedie will be the measuring stick for me...
...he will have to become more of a consist player in terms of rebounding and scoring. As a matter of fact, Peedie will have to be the force up front being that Michigan will be young(Croin) and Manny not really being able to mix it up under the boards. Would be nice if he come to play forty minutes also. On a whole...I would like for the team shooting % to asccend atleast ten points higher. Scoring & shooting a must!
Lucky enough to have my own JT wristband!!
July 3rd, 2008 at 5:24 PM |
I'd have to say that Gibson
I'd have to say that Gibson
I'd have to say that Gibson is even more important than Cronin, given that he'll be starting and expected to be a leader. He started to come around over the second half of the season and show some offense, but he's got to toughen up, hit the weights and become more of a force on the glass.
November 24th, 2009 at 9:00 PM |
What are you talking about!!!!
What are you talking about!!!!
You guys don't know what your talking about.If we didn't have Manny it would be over.What were we before Manny,NOWHERE!!!I know are coach was bad but Manny would've done just fine with him.Manny shoots 3's and dunks,fades,you name it he does it.Don't start a blog on crap okay.Manny is the most important!!!How hard is that to see.Sims is the second most important.Heck Douglas is better than Gibson.So don't talk about U of M basketball unless you mention Manny Harris in a GREAT WAY!!!!!!!!
GO BLUE!