Day 1 of Hoops Practice
September 24th, 2019 at 9:42 PM ^
Castleton adding 23 lbs of muscle and 3.5 inches to his vertical is promising.
September 24th, 2019 at 9:54 PM ^
The most important part of his game he needs to sort out now is the technical side of it. The "being a good basketball player" side of it. He seems to have the athleticism and weight now.
September 24th, 2019 at 11:04 PM ^
Simpson may have added 5 lbs just through his dreads
September 24th, 2019 at 11:11 PM ^
Those ain’t dreads lol
September 24th, 2019 at 11:13 PM ^
It's what girls do to their hair before they come home from a carnival Cruise to the Caribbean.
September 24th, 2019 at 11:28 PM ^
Would that be cornrows? Or just braids?
September 25th, 2019 at 12:25 AM ^
It’s braids. The beads are questionable but I guess he pulls them off. Looks like something lil yachty would do.
September 25th, 2019 at 6:20 AM ^
Fantastic to see Castleton bulking up but think he could still add a few more pounds.
X (or is it Z) got a new look and hopefully a new offensive weapon besides the sky hook.
Brandon Johns still didn’t look all that comfortable on the court in the video clip but time will tell.
Good luck to both JH...Go Blue!
September 24th, 2019 at 9:46 PM ^
IDK why anyone isn't high on this team. They could easily go 9 deep. I think they make a sweet 16 run. They're gonna be a tough out every night thats for sure.
September 24th, 2019 at 9:57 PM ^
I feel like Juwan being hands on during practice is gonna help a lot.
September 24th, 2019 at 9:57 PM ^
Easy. New coach who’s never been a HC before, and a new scheme.
That is not to say they can’t do well. There’s guys on this team who have won a ton of basketball games. Several of whom have played for a national championship. That counts for a lot. But I do think there will be some struggles, especially early on. Won’t be surprised to see the, lose a game or two that, on paper, they shouldn’t lose.
The talent is there to make that kind of run, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens.
September 24th, 2019 at 10:02 PM ^
Agreed.
Just like the football team, a new scheme will see some early struggles. Expect foe them to keep improving through out the season. Excited for basketball
September 24th, 2019 at 10:25 PM ^
I can see Wisconsin scoring 35 on us again.
September 25th, 2019 at 6:42 AM ^
Outstanding!
September 24th, 2019 at 10:01 PM ^
It has more to do with who we lost - namely our 3 leading scorers, and, of course, Beilein. But we’ve got some talent. Obviously Zavier, Teske and Livers will be counted on as our leaders, but I’m excited to see the progress from Johns, Castleton and DeJulius. Plus Eli Brooks, who struggled so much last year but really seemed to come on late. Not to mention Wagner the Younger, and Cole Bajema. We will really need someone to step up and give us some outside scoring, and it may be one of them. Livers can shoot it but everyone else on this roster struggled last year. Will the move back to the international line help us? How good is Nunez?
Can’t wait to find out!
September 24th, 2019 at 10:01 PM ^
It’s definitely a talented team with experience and leadership. They should be very good defensively again, but I think they’re still limited offensively. Who’s going to consistently create a shot for himself or for his teammates, especially in late shot clock situations? We struggled with that last season and lost our 3 top scorers to the NBA. I think they’ll need to lean on Teske/Castleton more in the post offensively.
September 24th, 2019 at 11:20 PM ^
Teske has no post up game. Maybe Juwan can help him there, but that's not where I'd look for scoring.
I expect more offensive rebounds, more baskets in transition and having one more 3 point threat on the floor to make up for what was lost. Having Simpson, Matthews and Teske on the floor together hurt the spacing.
September 24th, 2019 at 11:34 PM ^
Do we know that Teske has no post up game? We never gave the ball to the low post under Beilein. The "low post" position doesn't exist in Beilein's offense. It would go a long way for Teske to even develop a little jump hook. With his size, he can get that off on anyone and it be a more high-percentage shot than any rushed, off-the-dribble jumper with a hand in the face.
September 25th, 2019 at 12:39 AM ^
Yes, we absolutely know Teske has no post up game.
He struggled to score when he got the ball down low with a much smaller defender switched onto him. They did try to feed him the ball then. It was frustrating to watch.
September 24th, 2019 at 10:28 PM ^
well they dont have many natural scorers, guys that have proven they can consistently get tough buckets. thats the main thing that jumps out other than a new staff. they have some experienced leaders who take pride in defense and playing hard so thats a great starting point - just need to find some shot makers. ill be rooting for a couple of those dudes to step up, hopefully they can make it happen
September 24th, 2019 at 10:43 PM ^
People aren't high on this team because they were a poor shooting and overall mediocre offensive team and they lost their 3 best offensive players.
Who's going to score the points?
Non slappies are also concerned that lost the best coach in Michigan's history for an NBA assistant who's never been a head coach or coached in college at any capacity.
September 25th, 2019 at 4:48 AM ^
Easily 9 deep? Who are the 7th, 8th, and 9th players on this team who are surely going to be really good? They could definitely be very good, but it's hardly guaranteed.
September 25th, 2019 at 6:48 AM ^
"Easily 9 deep."
You missed the first two words in that sentence - "They could" - and so you missed the entire intent of what was said. This is why context means so much...
Original quote: "They could easily go 9 deep."
That's very different from what you stated...
September 25th, 2019 at 10:38 AM ^
“They could easily...” is a classic non-committal statement that means nothing.
September 24th, 2019 at 10:07 PM ^
Here's Coach Howard's tweet from earlier today (if someone could imbed for me---posting from my phone):
"I am HO〽️E"
https://twitter.com/JuwanHoward/status/1176519056599289856?s=09
If that doesn't get you excited about what the future holds for Michigan Basketball, please have someone check you for a pulse.
September 24th, 2019 at 10:40 PM ^
I have a pulse. I just checked it, but after hearing SPEED IN SPACE all summer and being disappointed, I'll just wait for actual game results. I mean NO disrespect to this team. Love JH and kids on our team, but I'm waiting for results after the letdown of the football team.
Go Blue!
September 24th, 2019 at 10:08 PM ^
that's a very basic drill..... which I think is a good sign, it's one you use in elementary and middle school....
I think this all comes down to recruiting(thanks captain obvious), seems like he knows how to coach....
not that it matters. I was a freshman when the fab 5 were freshmen, used to see this dude every Mon, Wed and Fri walking across the bridge by the ROTC building due to a coincidence of class schedule... he was always the classiest and most polished of the fab 5.... Webber got all the press, but on that team Jalen Rose was by far the MVP... Howard was the most consistent
September 24th, 2019 at 10:28 PM ^
Very excited about the year. Think we have a solid team. If we get A level coaching, which we may given Howard’s background, then we will be in great shape for the tournament. If Wagner and/or Bajema can come in and score then we will be in great shape.
September 24th, 2019 at 10:32 PM ^
It's interesting. I'm having a hard time picking an adjective to describe how I'm feeling about this upcoming season. So far, it's mostly:
- Intrigued
- Cautious
- Optimistic
- Terrified
Whatever is the combination of those 4, that's about where I am.
September 24th, 2019 at 10:42 PM ^
don't say BPONE'd.... thats a football only condition
September 24th, 2019 at 11:35 PM ^
Smart man. Easier to go with that and not be let down than buy in to offseason hype after what we've gone through with football team.
I feel dumb for buying in to everything I heard this football offseason.
September 24th, 2019 at 10:31 PM ^
Basketball season is almost upon us.I am so excited
September 24th, 2019 at 10:41 PM ^
Get it Done JH.
Do it X.
September 24th, 2019 at 10:45 PM ^
crap I just noticed the JH thing, bet you guys on here already pointed out the two JH's
September 25th, 2019 at 6:51 AM ^
Dude...
September 24th, 2019 at 11:12 PM ^
Great to see coach howard on the court!
really will be interesting to see how the kids respond to him and the new staff and system
September 24th, 2019 at 11:19 PM ^
Thank God!
Finally... A Michigan sports season to get excited about!
September 24th, 2019 at 11:59 PM ^
Simpsons hair keeps getting crazier every season, and I love it. I wish he had 4 more years here.
September 25th, 2019 at 12:48 AM ^
1st practice defense and REBOUNDING?!
September 25th, 2019 at 2:03 AM ^
The hair was the real eye opening highlight. Wow. That is going to make some sort of award show. Best hairstyle by a point guard?
September 25th, 2019 at 11:22 AM ^
Man as a WVU fan I love Coach B. He is just a fantastic teacher of the game will always have my respect.
I gotta say though the energy that Howard brings is massive! I think he is going to recruit at an Elite level(without cheating *cough* kansas* cough*) and while you can never be sure until you see the product he puts out for a few year....I think he will win a NC
September 25th, 2019 at 11:47 AM ^
That Martelli hire was so smart