Early Thoughts On Michigan Basketball?

Submitted by Mr. Yost on

Now that you've seen Michigan in 8 games, plus exhibition...what are your thoughts?

IMO, we're exactly where I thought we'd be. Still searching for our identity, but starting to find roles for guys.

 

robmorren2

December 4th, 2013 at 9:29 PM ^

I think people need to at least consider the fact that we may have seen the best of GR3 & Mitch (in a Michigan uniform). They are both guys that don't really create offense for themselves. They were at maximum efficiency when they were playing with the best player/PG in the country. It's not like Mitch is going to start being a beast on the block all the sudden. It's not his game, and he plays below the rim. GR3 can't create for himself, he's too upright when he dribbles, he doesn't have very good handles, and he's got a slow release. GR3 looks like a watered down Loul Deng. With Burke we saw those guys at their absolute best. We might not see that ever again.

gwkrlghl

December 4th, 2013 at 9:52 PM ^

Doesnt look like GRIII is taking the preverbial 'leap' and we lost two 1st rounders. Things are going about as you'd expect given that, maybe more disappointing than that. Looks like we'll be a 7-9 seed type team.

Though I wouldn't be surprised to see us improve dramatically as the year goes on

MGoRossGrad

December 4th, 2013 at 10:08 PM ^

I can't disagree with a lot that's been said here.  After eight games we look like a B1G bubble team a la Minnesota or Illinois last year.  Just too many problems and too many questions after a decent sample size.  

They very much have the talent and, believe it or not, experience to turn it around, but I'm keeping my expectations low.  

B1G play is gonna be brutal.  Not necessarily in the sense that we're going to get spanked, but in the sense that every game is going to be a nailbiter.  No longer will NW, Purdue, Nebraska, Penn State, etc be nice easy wins.  It's going to be very difficult to even split MSU, Indiana, Wisconsin, OSU.  

 

Gustavo Fring

December 4th, 2013 at 10:08 PM ^

Give to me a plausible scenario in which we beat Arizona?

Look, Michigan has talent and will adjust.  Having a freshman point guard is like having a freshman qb; it takes time for everyone to adjust.  Remember Darius Morris' freshman year?  Trey Burke was very much the exception not the rule.  Walton has looked better than Morris did as a freshman and worse than Trey did, but you can see the potential is there.

That said, it's pure arrogance to confidently predict victory over the #2 team in the country at this point.  Arizona beat that same Duke team that handled us pretty easily yesterday.  They are loaded at all positions, with shooters, size and athleticism (like a better version of Florida State).

I am looking for Michigan to shoot well and put up a fight at home.  But to "expect" to beat the #2 team in the country is asinine right now

BJNavarre

December 4th, 2013 at 10:08 PM ^

I am surprised by the calls to start Spike. I do like his offensive game, but his defense is epically bad. If Beilein decides Walton can't get the job done, I think Caris will become the starting PG, or at least the one getting the most minutes at point.

MGoRossGrad

December 4th, 2013 at 10:17 PM ^

I think the majority of people calling for Spike to start is because he runs the offense much more smoothly than Walton.  One of the biggest problems in our losses is how sleepy our offense looks in the first half.  After that, we're fighting from behind the entire game and it puts more pressure on our scorers.

If we were to start Spike, we might be risking some defensive collapses early, but it may get us in rhythm enough to jump out ahead and actually dictate the game.  

I like Walton playing more minutes though.  He just needs more time to get comfortable on offense.

AlwaysBlue

December 4th, 2013 at 10:41 PM ^

Caris would be the choice too. JB needs to get his offense in order and Caris seems to be the guy who can see the floor well along with create his own shot. Beilein likes his intelligence.
Regardless, Michigan needs a floor general. And I think they need to be worried about presenting a balanced attack, not getting Stauskas 20+. That's fools gold and as we saw last night (and plenty last season) he can be completely shut down.

pb1234

December 4th, 2013 at 10:20 PM ^

How quickly Stauskas has been forgotten. All he's done so far this season is produce like a conference player of the year. 18 PPG on 50% shooting, and that's with the Duke game outlier. The idea I've seen expressed several times is that teams "figured us out": when you take away Stauskas, we're screwed. They only played him like they did because he was hobbled. Denying a perimeter player the ball for the length of a game isn't a realistic or feasible strategy. He couldn't shake his guy because he sprained his ankle. Beilein didn't even know if he was ok to go until Monday.

We haven't played a single game with a healthy Stauskas and non-rusty McGary. Until that happens, panic seems premature. If LeVert can be as aggressive as he was against Duke, that's another good sign. 

It's also time to chill on Glenn. I think we get it: he hasn't been playing up to the hype. He's being trashed because he's not living up to expectations the internet set for him. He was barely recruited when he committed here, and now he's a solid player who does some awesome things in transition and off cuts. Yeah, it's a shame he hasn't improved much. But you'd be hard-pressed to find a Michigan basketball post, on this forum or any other, that doesn't contain a mini-tsunami of GR3 agnst. At some point can we just get over it instead of dedicating 300 posts per game thread to it? He is who he is. 

Senator

December 4th, 2013 at 10:34 PM ^

Has anyone given serous consideration to the idea that GRIII might play his way out of the draft, while Nick plays himself into it? 

ESPN's mock draft not long ago had Stauskas in the first round. But if GRIII doesn't show up, we could see this lineup next year:

Walton - so

Levert - jr

Irvin - so

GRIII - jr

Horford - sr

And Chatman...somewhere. 

That seems...good?

bronxblue

December 4th, 2013 at 11:46 PM ^

They are still trying to figure out life without Burke.  He clearly covered up for some issues last year, and GRIII has simply not been as polished a player without Burke setting him up.  I think Mitch is playing decently considering his injury, and Stauskas is a dangerous player when he isn't lining up against Duke when nobody else is hitting shots.  Personally, I'm loving Caris and his maturation this year; I think he'll be a all-conference player by the end of his career.  As for the freshman, I'm still not sure.  They look good at times, but Walton has struggled offensively and Irvin hasn't really lit it up.  

This is a 4/5 seed given the conference; I will take that after losing Burke and Hardaway.

trueblueintexas

December 5th, 2013 at 12:20 AM ^

A couple thoughts:
1) most important, there are individuals who have serious issues playing man defense. This early in the year the team is still working on help defense with the new players. Improvement in the help defense and rotation will help, but Michigan's man defense will be exploited all year by teams who have the ability to do so.
2) I really like what I have seen from Walton. As the year progresses, fans will really like having him run this team.
3) Beilein still needs to figure out what he wants to do with the 3, 4, 5 positions on this team. He has tried many different options and nothing is jelling yet. If that can not get solidified, the offense will have awkward stretches reminiscent of two years ago.
4) I believe all the hype about LeVert being able to get to any spot on the floor now. The rest of the team will need to learn how to play off of that. Stauskas and McGary especially could develop a deadly three man game with LeVert. This is something which can (and I think will) develop over the course of the season.
5) sadly, I don't see GRIII's role changing much, and I would anticipate a little frustration on his behalf over the course of the season.

SFBlue

December 5th, 2013 at 3:58 AM ^

20 or 21 wins seems likely based on the remaining schedule, which may get M a 6 or 7 seed. 

But I could seem an improvement on this prediction, considering injuries to McGary and Stauskus have hurt so far.  There have been vast stretches of games this year, especially the UNC-C and Duke games, where the offense just looked so lost that I can just as well see a bubble year. 

MGoManBall

December 5th, 2013 at 8:32 AM ^

Losing Burke is going to make Michigan an up and down team and you'll never know what team shows up each night until they start the game. I see a lot of teams being that way since most of the top tier teams are loaded with YOUNG talent. 

Hell, look at UNC. They jumped all over MSU... but they've also lost to Belmont and UAB.

UofM Die Hard …

December 5th, 2013 at 12:05 PM ^

we would be 1 win better by now but Charlotte looks like a solid squad.

 

We will definately be battled tested before B1G which is huge. Walton is a bit timid and needs to realize he can play with anyone, once that clicks in we will have that drive and dish we need that Trey did SOOO well. But like someone said above, you lose the POY and NBA starter, you will feel it.

 

Just gotta grind through these until we find our right combo....my opinon,  we have the best coach and coaches in the land, so I have complete faith in them.

 

My sleeper who I think will catch on soon is Irvin.