Michigan Realist

April 7th, 2023 at 4:21 PM ^

I hope TWill doesn’t see the floor next year. Inconsistent and poor decision making are the majority of his game. 
 

Love is an ok addition but we need to recruit the best players in the country. Portal Band Aids ain’t gonna get it done. 

Joined: 02/01/2023

MGoPoints: -498

MaizeBlueA2

April 7th, 2023 at 12:34 PM ^

If we can't guard someone with that lineup, we're in trouble.

That lineup should be able to guard, force turnovers, and get out on the break.

But if we thought we were a streaky shooting team last year....hooo boy, get ready for a 7 for 14 first half from three and 1 for 11 second half.

Joined: 11/06/2018

MGoPoints: 49955

RobM_24

April 7th, 2023 at 12:52 PM ^

The other side of that, is that we had ZERO players who could drive, and we had a big who couldn't pick and roll. I'd trade defense, driving to the hoop, a big who can set high screens and roll, and below-avg 3pt shooting ... for bad defense, moderate 3pt shooting, and Hunter's post up game (which generated points but clogged the lane).

The wild card is rebounding. We rebounded like crap even with a 7 footer. It's possible we rebound better with Reed and some more mature/athletic players around him, despite having a shorter roster. 

Joined: 01/27/2014

MGoPoints: 63577

jwk899

April 7th, 2023 at 12:56 PM ^

If Baker is allowed to return, we could see him starting at the 3.  Burnett is more of a combo guard at 6'4".  

This certainly makes the coming season much more interesting.  Every starter and several bench players were either a 5* or 4* recruit.  Love was a 5* recruit and McDonalds AA.  Burnett was ranked #34 by 24/7, a few spots outside 5* territory.  There's no shortage of talent here.  Time for Juwan and the coaching staff to develop it.

Joined: 01/31/2011

MGoPoints: 2061

nerv

April 7th, 2023 at 2:13 PM ^

While Baker is more of a wing and has more height than Burnett, I would still say Burnett guarding an impact wing is a far better scenario for Michigan than Baker d'ing the same guy. The 2-3 inches of height Baker has doesn't really mean much when you consider the athletic difference between the two. I don't think there is a player that Baker would guard better than Burnett.

Joined: 04/14/2009

MGoPoints: 14072

Gustavo Fring

April 7th, 2023 at 12:24 PM ^

Caleb struggled with his decision making as a full time PG, but is big enough (and talented enough) to guard the 2, so I don’t think it affects Dug (though it does give us another PG option when he goes to the bench).

I think with Nimari he’s not guaranteed of a spot and will have to prove himself.  If he takes a leap, he’s strong enough where I could see them going with 3 guard lineups.  Otherwise, he likely plays a 20 mpg role as a bench scorer/defender

Joined: 09/29/2009

MGoPoints: 5175

Paps

April 7th, 2023 at 12:22 PM ^

Caleb Love is here to put shots up (ignoring efficiency or lack there of) and this team desperately needs anyone who can create so on the surface I like this just considering where the roster was and is now. Is he going to win us a title? no. But we need a body whos willing to shoot 

Joined: 09/29/2012

MGoPoints: 2239

MaizeBlueA2

April 7th, 2023 at 12:29 PM ^

If we had Caleb Love last year, we close games and we're in the tournament.

When you're winning by two possessions and you're stalling time late in games, you can't just run a pick-and-roll every time when you get late in the shot clock.

Put the ball in Love's hands, let him go iso. Or if you pick-and-roll, you have someone who can get a bucket and you're not just relying on the play design to create a shot for someone.

We had no closer because we had no one who could get his own shot.  Bufkin was the best area, but that's not his game.

Jordan Poole is another guy, put that sophomore version of Poole on our team and we're a 7-seed. Now that comes with headaches for the other 38 minutes...but that's why you have a TEAM, everyone plays a role.

 

I always felt like late in games when Michigan was up. Juwan and the coaching staff should've just run their normal stuff and lived with the poor clock management.  Having someone stand at half court until there is 12 seconds on the shot clock, before getting into something and getting a terrible shot is far worse than running your stuff and scoring "too early."

Joined: 11/06/2018

MGoPoints: 49955