MGoChippewa

April 24th, 2014 at 12:16 PM ^

Chatman is the third highest-ranked recruit in the Big Ten, behind D'Angelo Russell (OSU) and James Blackmon (IU). Wilson checks in 12th; a few guys for MSU, Purdue, IU and Maryland sprinkled in between Chatman and Wilson.  OSU and Maryland probably have the top two classes in the conference for 2014.  

MGoChippewa

April 24th, 2014 at 12:52 PM ^

even make the NIT this year, but I think that they fell well short of what their talent level should bring them.  Not aware of any recruits they're competing with us for, but they have #39, #55, #91 and #106 coming in this year on top  of a base of strong returning talent.  I think they'll finish somewhere in the top five in the B1G next year and make the tournament.  Only player (AFAIK) they lost off last year's team hardly contributed.  They also have Evan Smotrycz, who scored 11 PPG for them this year.  Also would recommend checking out Padog's preview up in the diaries.

alum96

April 24th, 2014 at 12:56 PM ^

Short version - they are pretty good.  This year's team is stocked with seniors and juniors and they bring in a loaded class (10th ranked in the nation) - they have a bunch of guys in the 30 to 100 ranking and two of them are 7 footers.  So think Tennessee from last year in terms of experience but adding a very high end recruiting class to it.   They played some good teams such as Duke Syracuse very close last year - I see them as a top 3 team in the Big 10.

Long version - yes see Padog diary (he is less bullish on them than I am). 

Artie

April 24th, 2014 at 12:20 PM ^

Not surprised by Wilson's movement. Kid has some serious potential and will likely be another in a long line of successful Beilein recruits.

Jobu

April 24th, 2014 at 12:22 PM ^

Just realized I never even visit Rivals anymore. Forgot all about it. Funny since it's the site that got in me into recruiting 7 years ago.

alum96

April 24th, 2014 at 12:31 PM ^

Overall even if Mitch leaves the more I think about this team  the more I am bullish that while not a Big 10 champion it should leave a mark on the conference and make some noise in the tourney.  Here is why - let's parallel 2012 (again I am in no way saying this team goes to the NC game as the 2012-2013  team had much more depth and a NPOY)

  • '12-13 Burke 35 mpg, 18 ppg --->  '14-15 Caris who last year 34 mpg, 13 ppg and will be option #1 on offense
  • Hardaway Jr 35 mpg, 14.5 ppg ---> '14-15 Irvin who last year 15 mpg, 7 ppg... you double his minutes next year and he can get you 13 ppg.
  • GR3 34 mpg, 11 ppg ---> '14-15 Chatman.  They are similar recruit pedigree (GR3 exploded in his senior year to be a 5 star from a 4 star) and Chatman is physically bigger already to play the 4.  He will be asked to soak up a ton of minutes
  • Nik 30 mpg, 11 ppg ---> '14-15 Walton Jr who had 27 mpg, and 8 ppg.  Not asking much from Walton to make 2 more baskets a game as option #3 in this offense
  • Mitch 20 mpg, 7.5 ppg ---> '14-15 Donnal.  Donnal should get 22 mpg forced into the 5 hole due to need, expecting 7-8 ppg is reasonable
  • Morgan 16 mpg, 4.6 ppg --> '14-15 Doyle.  I expect Doyle to be forced to play without Mitch at the 5, maybe 8-10 minutes a game, maybe 2-3 ppg.
  • LeVert 10 mpg, 2.3 ppg --> '14-'15 Max B, you can match that at the 4 when Chatman rests
  • Horford 9 mpg, 2.7 ppg ---> '14-'15 Spike who had 15 mpg and 3.3 ppg

From there we lose depth on the 2014-2015 squad but basically we played 8 deep last year and will do again unless you rip redshirt off Wilson.  Maybe you do.   And you have another 6'8-6'9 guy who takes Max's minutes.  I don't know.  MAAR will be a bit player taking 5-6 minutes a game behind Caris. And maybe Dawkins gets those backup minutes behind Irvin.

Guys we are going to be fine on offense next year - we will be sucky on defense and rebounding I get it but it will be a fun team to watch.  (as long as you dont watch the defense haha)  I assume Mitch is gone but I truly believe our starting 5 next year with him would be among the 5 best in the nation next year as we have 2 potential All Americans in LeVert and Mitch, an Irvin who was our 2nd best shooter, an experienced PG and Chatman who can be the freshman GR3 of next year's squad.  Which is freaking amazing considering we would lose 2 NBA picks off last year's squad.

Oh yea.... Beilein!

Mr. Yost

April 24th, 2014 at 12:33 PM ^

With Stuaskas, GRIII and Mitch...this is a National Championship team. (#1-2 seed)

With just Mitch...this is a Round of 32/Elite 8 team (depends on the development of Zak Irvin). (#3-5 seed)

Without Mitch...this is a Round of 64/Round of 32 team. (#6-9 seed)

PurpleStuff

April 24th, 2014 at 12:38 PM ^

A team with Mitch McGary inside and three 40% three point shooters on the perimeter is a flat-out monster.  Not to mention two starters who can initiate offense and handle the ball with Caris and Walton.  Not to mention we'll have three top-100 guys competing for time at the 4. 

alum96

April 24th, 2014 at 1:00 PM ^

I agree

Not many teams can match Mitch inside in the tourney's first weekend.   It's a sweet 16 team at bottom end and I think competes with Wiscy for the Big 10 title with Mitch.  Mitch v Kaminsky, Caris v Dekker and I'll take our next 5 guys as pretty equal to Wisconsin's next 5 assuming Irvin can make a decent jump to a 12-13 ppg (which just from his minutes he will).  Mitch and Caris could both be All Americans next year.

Without Mitch it is a fun team on offense that doesn't play defense and gives up a lot of rebounds and has big men who foul out a lot since young big men tend to do get a lot of fouls.  Still a tourney team.

alum96

April 24th, 2014 at 1:03 PM ^

I see UK is bringing back a lot of their front court guys (talk about a logjam).  If Nik went and only GR3 and Mitch came back I think UK v UM would have been a good bet for next year's final (rematch) with UM and UK #1, #2 - Wiscy and Duke (Okafur!) both in top 5.

alum96

April 24th, 2014 at 12:29 PM ^

To put into perspective Wilson's rating Nik was around 71 and Valentine was around 82 in 2012.  I know people rip on Valentine for that stupid face and his stupid antics but I believe Valentine under Coach B would be considering the NBA draft this year ...or at worse next year with Caris- he is the only player on MSU who can create on his own.  And Beilein would have taught him not to be a bonehead and value the basketball.   But it puts Wilson's ranking in perspective - that is a solid level of basketball player.

Is it November yet?

 

los barcos

April 24th, 2014 at 12:40 PM ^

just clicked that link and didnt realize that larry brown at SMU got himself the second highest rated recruit in the country after apparently getting a five star last year.  good for him.  

alum96

April 24th, 2014 at 1:04 PM ^

Yes he is doing well - they got robbed this year by not getting an invite to the NCAAs.  That #2 guy is from Dallas, and is there a better coach in the country to be able to talk about both college and NBA experience than Brown?  He has done it all.  Wouldnt mind playing them non conf - would be fun.

Erik_in_Dayton

April 24th, 2014 at 12:45 PM ^

Sam Webb said the other day that he thinks Chatman is a guy who will play the one, two, and three but not the four.   He looked to me like a guy who could play the four in the Jordan game, but I assume Sam knows more about him than I do. 

PurpleStuff

April 24th, 2014 at 12:49 PM ^

The less I think Sam Webb knows about basketball.  Agree with you that Chatman looks like a 4, and he was playing the 4 at the JBC.  The guy is huge and would be a matchup nightmare at that spot.  It is also his easiest path to the court this year.

alum96

April 24th, 2014 at 1:08 PM ^

I think next year Chatman is a 4 due to need.  He needs to soak up 30 min a night there.

But the year after?  His dad even said Beilein could see him as a 1.  So is it outlandish to think of him as the 2 if Caris goes?  Depends on his handle but he seems like a great distributor from all the scouting reports - Nik was our best passer last year IMO and if Chatman has the same vision ... personally I'd love having a 6'8 SG.   That opens up the front court for Huff*, Wilson, Donnal, Irvin*, Doyle and 2015 super recruit SF/PF.

I don't know about his quickness in defending 2's but if he can...man what a matchup nightmare he could be down the road at a 2 if that is reality.

PurpleStuff

April 24th, 2014 at 3:01 PM ^

Just seeing him in the JBC, he looked a lot different from the guards who were out there.  Much bigger and not nearly as quick. 

He definitely has ball-handling and play-making skills, though.  I just think he'll be most effective (and get used here at UM) as a very highly skilled 4 (which is really just a 4 for defensive purposes). 

It will be interesting to see how many touches he gets next year and how teams guard him.  He looks like a dude who can blow by bigs and who can see over smaller players and make plays for other people.  If his outside shot is solid he can be scary good as a Beilein 4.