Cure for Michigan basketball woes
Simple.
The return of Isaiah Livers. I would estimate that is absence is costing us 10 points/game. Add that in and we win the 3 home games we have lost and we would 7-4 instead of 4-7.
Without Livers, Teske's weaknesses are magnified as teams feel confident in double or even triple teaming him on the block without fear of being punished by outside shooting. Livers would fix that
The guy behind me last night (OSU game) about Simpson and his lack of assists well into the game. At the time he was stuck on 3 assists. I pointed out to him that in order to have an assist a shot has to be made. Livers will improve that.
At present we really have nobody that can consistently drive the ball to the basket. Hence our offense is limited to postups and three point shots. With Livers we will have a player that can drive the ball.
Hopefully we will get him back and make a late season run and make some noise in Indy.
February 5th, 2020 at 11:31 AM ^
We should just run the picket fence on 'em. #NormanDale'd
Edit: after some reflection... hashtag change to #Shooter'd!
February 5th, 2020 at 11:49 AM ^
I bet we would still have guys getting caught watching the paint dry, though.
February 5th, 2020 at 12:34 PM ^
Livers is also our best defender and so our defense will improve as well.
February 5th, 2020 at 11:32 AM ^
The cure is more talented basketball players. That definitely includes Livers.
February 5th, 2020 at 11:33 AM ^
Sorry, but: #snowflake
Even worse, you're stating the obvious.
February 5th, 2020 at 11:33 AM ^
So when he returns, everyone will start making shots. The same guys who were missing these same shots when Livers was playing? OK, if you say so.
February 5th, 2020 at 11:37 AM ^
Actually brooks was shooting the lights out before livers went down.
February 5th, 2020 at 12:12 PM ^
Actually, not really. He shot well against bad teams. He couldn't throw the ball in the ocean against Louisville or Oregon, and was just OK against everyone else with the exception of Illinois the first time they played.
February 5th, 2020 at 12:39 PM ^
In games against Power 5 teams/Creighton with Livers, he was shooting 40% from 2 and 44% from 3.
I would say that is better than "just OK."
February 5th, 2020 at 1:27 PM ^
I said good teams. Oregon, shot like crap, Gonzaga, shot like crap, Louisville, shot like crap. My point being, any team that plays a modicum of defense makes him nervous and his shooting percentage shows it. MSU, Purdue, Iowa, OSU, do you want more?
February 5th, 2020 at 12:33 PM ^
The return of Livers will help our floor spacing, and this may in fact help some of his teammates' shooting percentages.
February 5th, 2020 at 12:36 PM ^
How many shots will Livers get playing 30-35 minutes?
A dozen give or take. Those are dozen shots being made at a higher percentage and a dozen fewer being taken by the other guys at a lower percentage.
February 5th, 2020 at 11:38 AM ^
Livers isn't going to make Wagner stop chucking up air-ball threes or help him make layups. He's not going to help Teske play to his fullest potential rather than being utterly useless on the court.
Let's face it, this team lacks overall talent. When Davis is arguably your best player, in probably the biggest game of the year for Michigan, you know you're in serious trouble.
February 5th, 2020 at 11:43 AM ^
Livers absolutely will prevent Wagner from missing [some] 3s and will help get more out of teske. He will be taking minutes and usage from Wagner and will be discouraging double teams on teske (and improve spacing -> lower traffic around the basket which should help teske and Wagner miss less layups).
February 5th, 2020 at 1:14 PM ^
Davis is "arguably" our best player? Only if you're a dumbass. LAMO!
February 5th, 2020 at 1:20 PM ^
Laugh ass my off?
February 5th, 2020 at 1:44 PM ^
Get out of my yard, LAMO!
February 5th, 2020 at 11:38 AM ^
Eh, fuck it. Let's just get shitty jerseys that rip. We'll be at the FT line all night!
But less sarcastically... I cannot wait for Livers to return.
February 5th, 2020 at 11:44 AM ^
Thanks captain obvious. I thought I was coming into an informative post......nope.
February 5th, 2020 at 11:47 AM ^
We're a baseball school...
JH should just 'rip up' the playbook and start over lmao
February 5th, 2020 at 11:57 AM ^
Juwan should stop calling the play that ends in a missed shot. Every cheap armchair coach knows you are supposed to draw up a made basket.
February 5th, 2020 at 12:02 PM ^
Right?! Come on, coach!!
February 5th, 2020 at 12:09 PM ^
Not sure on how much better they can get this season. It's a clunky team that needs an injection of athleticism and talent. They have to rely on players like Johns, Wagner or Brooks having above average games to win. If like last night and no one really has a good game, it's probably a loss. Teske and Simpson are not capable of carrying the team.
I look forward to next year.
February 5th, 2020 at 12:12 PM ^
Can we please have the refs come back from last night when Livers returns? I’m sure that’ll cure all what ails us.
February 5th, 2020 at 12:20 PM ^
Next year.
It will be another first year for Juwan as he will have another set of adjustments to make-but he will have talent to work with. Crystal balls come in for a reason-expect Christopher to join. Greg Brown will be in this WE to take a look-it would not be a shocker if he if he decided to enlist as well. And at the snap of a finger Juwan would go from nobody who can create their own shot to 4 who can-plus a big man who has a much higher ceiling than Teske.
Juwan takes a ton of negative insinuations and shots from fans making ridiculous claims of how this team would somehow be better under Beilein. The fact is that nobody knows. Additionally, the reality is that every coach has a different philosophy and preference in talent and roster make up. Juwan is stuck with Beilein's roster-and it is a very weak one...there are no magic wand cures for the issues here-and there would not have been for Beilein either.
February 5th, 2020 at 1:00 PM ^
This year has been frustrating as hell but one has to give Juwan benefit of the doubt he isn't basketball Brady Hoke just because of the missing pieces.
If Poole & Iggy stayed the starting 5 is Simpson, Poole, Livers, Iggy, Teske. Brooks, Wagner, DDJ, Davis, and John's come off the bench.
February 5th, 2020 at 12:30 PM ^
Fire Martelli and bring in Beilein as an assistant. He has to be sick of that NBA gig by now.
February 5th, 2020 at 12:34 PM ^
Stop playing like they’re waiting for someone else to take over the game
February 5th, 2020 at 12:45 PM ^
The actual cure is having a top 5 recruiting class coming in with momentum to add another 5-star who is the "I can go get a bucket when needed" kind of player.
February 5th, 2020 at 12:47 PM ^
Another suggestion, stop shooting floaters.
February 5th, 2020 at 3:57 PM ^
Floaters... those things I leave in my porcelain thrown that never sink to the bottom and go down the hole.
February 5th, 2020 at 12:50 PM ^
Yes, Livers would make a huge difference but nobody else is stepping up. The rest of starters are very inconsistent. We get every other good game from Franz, 1 in 3 games from Teske and maybe 2 of 3 from Simpson. So, that's not a winning combination.
February 5th, 2020 at 12:52 PM ^
You said that Livers can drive the ball, but I really think of him more as a big man that can shoot 3s. I don’t really see dribbling and driving as being a major part of his skillset, but I may not have watched him play enough to get the full picture.
As far as the overall teams woes, I’m not sure what to think, I thought Howard was supposed to be the big man developer, but Teske seems to have regressed.
February 5th, 2020 at 1:06 PM ^
I think it is more that he is being asked to play like a big man and he can’t do it. Davis looks miles better under Howard. Davis actually looks like a legit college forward right now. Not sure I approve of him getting a handshake at the end of this year.
February 5th, 2020 at 12:58 PM ^
Simple. The Red Panda. Terrific halftime show as always.
February 5th, 2020 at 1:01 PM ^
I agree about LIvers. But Jon Teske and Xavier Simpson look like they have regressed from last year.
February 5th, 2020 at 1:03 PM ^
The banner on page is responsible for the majority of the bad luck with this team. I'm positive or this.
February 5th, 2020 at 1:04 PM ^
We have to slap the floor at the beginning of important defensive possessions.
February 5th, 2020 at 1:17 PM ^
Livers definitely helps, but him coming back doesn't cure the fact that this team just can't make open shots
February 5th, 2020 at 1:39 PM ^
Making wide open shots will cure most of what ails us.
February 5th, 2020 at 1:42 PM ^
The 2020 - 2021 season.
February 5th, 2020 at 5:02 PM ^
or perhaps a Coach whose teams IMPROVES game by game not worsens
February 5th, 2020 at 6:26 PM ^
Brilliant
February 5th, 2020 at 6:34 PM ^
I agree!
February 7th, 2020 at 12:27 PM ^
Booze?