Hunter Dickinson named First-Team All-B1G by the media

Submitted by Cousin Larry on March 7th, 2023 at 12:16 PM

A rough year for the team, but Hunter had some great games down the stretch.  Congratulations to the big guy!

Rico

March 7th, 2023 at 12:32 PM ^

That's shocking, a lot of Michigan "fans" were saying Hunter was awful this season and can't wait for him to leave because he didn't average 30 & 20 while being constantly double and triple teamed.

trueblueintexas

March 7th, 2023 at 6:27 PM ^

It's not really fair to compare Hunter's production vs. any post player from the Beilein era because the offense was run completely differently...and let's not speak of the before Beilein era unless you want to go all the way back to before the mid 90's. 

Hunter is a mixed bag for me. He's put up legitimately good numbers this season but still had a handful of games where he was not as big a presence as he probably should have been. 

Yes he is a character, but when the lights shine brightest, he has delivered some pretty big performances. 

My biggest frustration is that he has clearly put the work in to have good stamina, but he has some of the weakest hands I have ever seen for a big. Because of this, he loses a ton of rebounds and has the ball knocked away too often. I know it's weird to knock a guy who averages 9 boards a game, but every game I could find 3 - 5 rebounds he should have secured and couldn't. Part of that is his half-hearted box outs, but part of it is his inability to secure the ball. This has also lead to some very untimely turnovers from the post late in games. So frustrating, because so many times he is an automatic bucket in the post. Just clean up that little bit and he would have been truly dominant and the team would have a much better record. 

jdraman

March 7th, 2023 at 1:10 PM ^

He really picked up his play down the stretch this season, but early on in the season he was definitely up and down with his performances. Of course it probably has to be considered that he was playing with essentially three true freshman trying to work with him in the offense; that presented real difficulties in getting him the ball in his best spots. Also his off-court manner cannot be ignored when discussing how his season overall has been perceived. If he didn't act like a jackass off the court at all times, I guarantee there would be fewer people saying he was "worse" this year. 

Kevin14

March 7th, 2023 at 1:13 PM ^

For real.  I get that it was somewhat disappointing since he didn't improve from last year, but he basically had the same season as last year.  

I think in a recent game preview, Seth wrote that he was nowhere near an all conference level this year, which was absurd to me.

goblu330

March 7th, 2023 at 1:16 PM ^

Michigan goes through long stretches where they don't even try to get him the ball.  He scores or gets fouled at a clip that there should never be three straight possessions where does not get a touch.  Sometimes he doesn't have the absolute best position but that is on the entry passer to create a better angle as well.

BTB grad

March 7th, 2023 at 2:30 PM ^

I’d be screaming “let’s get Hunter a post touch” on every possession when things were going stale on offense and we’d just go 2-3 mins without doing so. Felt a lot like in football saying “throw it deep to Nico” in 2018 & 19 and the coaching staff refusing to do it more than once a game. 

bluebyyou

March 7th, 2023 at 4:26 PM ^

Unless Michigan engineering is working on something bionic there is only so much you can expect from a player, particularly a very large one often working inside and exerting lots of energy.  

This team had played the equivalent of 2 3/4 games between Thursday and Sunday.  It's not like we had Duncan Robinson coming off the bench to shoot threes as a sixth man.  Our bench was weak all year.  Even Reed, who progressed mightily this season, can be a liability as often as he is an asset. Jett has missed as much time as he has played over the last few weeks and has been inconsistent all season.

This season has been a major disappointment, but with the constant NBA departures and with an injury to our early season point guard, at least its been close.  Having said that, losing the way we have all year in very close games truly does suck.

TrueBlue2003

March 8th, 2023 at 12:27 AM ^

But his two point percentage is down 2% and he takes 5x the number of twos so he amazingly has the exact same 58.8 eFG% this season as he had in 2021-22.  His FT% is down 7% so his true shooting percent is ever so slightly down.

Even his turnover rate is the exact same 14.0% as last year.

ashwood35

March 7th, 2023 at 3:40 PM ^

I think people probably got more tired of his silly schtick and antics when the team is barely an outside looking in bubble team. He's obviously one of the best to play ever play here, but the extra curriculars are only fun when the team is successful. He seemed to lack a little awareness on that front this year. With that said, I hope he comes back next year and the team is positioned for a more promising season

MgoBlueprint

March 7th, 2023 at 6:03 PM ^

One of the best ever? Seriously? 

He's the best big of the Howard era for sure.

He would not have even started on the 2013 team during the tournament. McGary was our best player that March. It's tough between dick and Morgan. Morgan was extremely solid and consistent all season. Morgan was a better defender and rebounder, but hunter is a better offensive player. Morgan was definitely more physical. 

dickinson is not starting over Mo. I'll give hunter the benefit of the doubt against D.J. Wilson just because we never saw D.J. as the guy and the pressure that comes with it. DeShawn Sims is forgotten because he was on weak teams, but he was definitely better. He and Manny Harris were kind of like Brandon Graham on the '08 football team. That's just the big men in the Beilin era.

Fisher had Chris and Juwan, Maceo Baston, Mo Taylor, and THE Tractor Traylor. I'm sure there are others like Terry Mills and Roy Tarpley. I'll even put Lavell Blanchard from the dark ages in there.

MgoBlueprint

March 7th, 2023 at 7:44 PM ^

I absolutely do not think that hunter is one of the best players in Michigan history. I think he’s good offensively not good defensively and not good with contested rebounds. I think the player I see on the stat sheet is better than the player I see on the court.

I don’t mind being wrong though. So I looked at the all-time Michigan stat leaders and I was surprised at his efficiency. It was a lot better than I thought.  He’s nowhere to be found on the defensive lists. I also forgot how good Epke Udoh was. But looking at the stats alone you’d think that 2018-19 Teske was one of the best bigs in Michigan history. 2018-19 Teske is actually close to 2021-22 hunter statistically. Obviously none of us would put Teske up there on our list though.
 

He’s good. He’s not one of the best ever. It’s not nearly as ridiculous as people calling cade a Michigan legend though.

MgoBlueprint

March 7th, 2023 at 8:28 PM ^

I’m good with my unpopular opinions. I got ripped way back when I said Denard over Tate the summer between their freshman and sophomore seasons. I got ripped when I said JJ over cade going into this season, then when I said not so fast on the leader narrative.

On the other, there’s people like you who think that JJ hasn’t done enough yet. That discourse makes this forum great 

TrueBlue2003

March 8th, 2023 at 12:46 AM ^

Dude, I'm as critical of Hunter as they come but he's better than JMo, significantly.

He's also a better college player than Wagner was.  Wagner was similarly a significant defensive liability (which is why he couldn't stick in the NBA) and while he could move his feet a little better than Hunter, he was an even worse rim protector (a terrible 2.0% compared to Hunter's 5.5%).  Hunter is a better passer and has better Otrg's than Wagner.

During the stretch of the 2016 season when Beilein finally put DJ at center, he was the best of the bunch, similar to McGary's stretch in 2013.  His Ortg that entire year was 122, better than any year for Mo or Hunter and he was vastly superior defensively as a big that could switch everything (which is what made him a first rounder and why he's still getting NBA contracts).  Centers don't need to be the guy, on offense.  First and foremost, they need to be great defensively.  DJ was during that 2016 run.

MgoBlueprint

March 8th, 2023 at 10:23 AM ^

I should be more clear. I’m looking at it from a few ways, but all with respect to the big man role. Hunter is better than Teske and Morgan and definitely more talented. I wasn’t clear enough about that. 
 

Morgan had his limitations and hit his ceiling. He held his own, did his job, played within his role. I don’t remember feeling like he left a ton of rebounds on the table. I feel like Hunter leaves too many rebounds on the table. It’s subjective, maybe it’s a heart thing. He can’t hold on to a contested rebound.

I mentioned Teske because, like Hunter, his stats exceed the eye test. Not many of us would put hunter and Teske in the same tier. But Teske’s overall numbers from 2018-19 are very close to Hunter’s 2021-22 numbers. Hunter’s numbers are crazy on offense and Teske’s are equally bonkers on defense. I think their win shares and +/- are almost identical. Hunter’s a better overall player, but I felt more comfortable with Teske doing big man things. Same with Morgan, he progressed significantly and reached his potential. It’s subjective, but that’s part of my frustration with Hunter. He hasn’t progressed and his shortcomings are easily controllable. Work harder on defense, be more physical, and hold onto the ball.

Hunter has more on his shoulders than DJ. He had another big in Mo and he wasn’t asked to take 3’s to win games in the closing seconds. Mo was almost as annoying as Hunter, but he backed it up and was the face of the 2018 team just like Hunter is the face of this years team.

100% agree with you. That’s my overall issue with Hunter. He could be great defensively and he’s not. That should be his primary focus. It’s not. The rebounds flat out grind my gears. 


 

 

TrueBlue2003

March 8th, 2023 at 1:59 PM ^

Hunter couldn't be great defensively.  If he could, the NBA would have interest because the NBA drafts on potential.  He doesn't have the potential to be a good defender.  He's simply too slow and unathletic.  And I used to be frustrated with his seeming lack of effort but I don't think that's the problem.  He just knows his limitations and doesn't try to do things he can't.  So he doesn't go for some loose balls he can't get and he doesn't go for blocks he can't get (which helps him stay out of foul trouble).

He's like a 40 year old in a pickup game.  He can't get to balls most other guys can so he doesn't even waste the effort trying. 

Like I said, Hunter has more offensively on his shoulders than DJ but DJ had far more on his shoulders defensively.  When you're a legit rim protector as DJ was at the end of the 2016 season, you have a lot on your shoulders.  You have to switch screens, you have to protect the rim from anything that comes within 10 feet of the hoop.  You are the guy on defense like Hunter is on offense.

MgoBlueprint

March 7th, 2023 at 12:33 PM ^

My initial reaction was “how?”. But the media selection makes much more sense than coaches. 
kobe was consistently most impactful player throughout the season. Reed was the most impactful per minute since the state game

Rico

March 7th, 2023 at 1:02 PM ^

Yeah, no. Kobe had a good season but had way more off games than Hunter. Reed was big down the stretch showing a lot of promise, but he also had some of the biggest mistakes late in those close losses at the end of the season. Also easy to have a big impact when just being serviceable is a big improvement over the other guys at your position. Tschetter plays his heart out but is still a negative on both O and D, TWill was out of sorts all season and the injury didn't help at all.

TrueBlue2003

March 7th, 2023 at 1:16 PM ^

Kobe started slow and wasn't great in November but since about the beginning of December they've both been mostly great on offense with just a few off games each. 

But Kobe is a plus defender whereas Hunter is a minus defender so Kobe is easily the more balanced, better overall player.  That's why he's projected to be a first rounder now and Hunter will once again...not show up on any draft boards.

I did go through Hunter's numbers last night on some post here and he's largely been as good as last year.  He's a really good college player, dominant on offense.

TrueBlue2003

March 7th, 2023 at 1:21 PM ^

His defensive impact in the paint is merely to invite teams to drive because he's not a rim protector. 

That's why Illinois (and lots of other teams) relentlessly attacked the paint.  There's no help defense and little rim protection from Hunter.  It's like taking candy from a baby.

His lack of defense allowed TJD to dominate him so badly that Michigan had to double, which Juwan's hates to do.

He's the reason Michigan has been been in the basement of college basketball defending the pick and roll.  He can't hedge or he'll get blown by, so we have to play drop coverage and even in a drop he doesn't do much to protect the rim or prevent passes to the roller.

Hunter is an amazing offensive player in college.   He's a minus defender.

TrueBlue2003

March 7th, 2023 at 8:01 PM ^

Illinois doesn't have any bigs to keep in check.  So his job was to help on drives and he can't and didn't do that.

TJD destroyed Hunter.  It was the most he's scored since...checks notes...oh the last time they played Michigan.  He's only scored more than he scored in both Michigan games four times this season.  There's a reason Michigan switched Reed onto him late in the game.

Agree that Edey didn't totally dominate him.  Edey and Purdue are a good matchup for him because Edey is a similar traditional big that wins with size, not athleticism so Hunter can hold his own against guys like that.  Also Purdue runs pick and roll less than any team in the conference so they spare him a bit there.

Look, the numbers don't lie.  Michigan is atrocious against pick and roll because of him.

And NBA scouts don't lie. He's an outstanding offensive player, so just ask yourself why the NBA isn't interested.

yoyo

March 7th, 2023 at 1:56 PM ^

TJD is one of the best players in college basketball. You have to double team him or he will dominate. He's not a great rim protector but he offers some some rim protection. He blocked Wisconsin on a key play at the of the game in Madison as well as TJD in that last game. 

MgoBlueprint

March 7th, 2023 at 1:19 PM ^

Not a scapegoat. Just not one of the top 5-7 players in the conference. We’d have three more B1G wins if he was a top 5 player. Yes, he puts up big numbers. His scoring is a product of the offense. He is not a shot creator. He does not take advantage of his height advantage and does not win contested battles. More importantly, he’s given up big plays in crucial minutes.

- Both Indiana games (their game plan was to isolate him and let tjd go one on one against him.

       - he gave up over 70 points in those two games. His primary matchup scored 15 points over his season average against him despite being 4” shorter than hunter.

-Illinois 

- Wisconsin is a wash. 
     - He hit the huge 3. He also struggled on the boards and gave up huge rebounds towards the end of both games. Great example is when he missed three straight shots at the rim and Tarris eventually grabbed it and got the and 1.