I Dig Dug

Submitted by Steve Breaston… on November 13th, 2023 at 10:24 PM

Great game tonight with a balanced team riding the hot hands, excellent second half adjustments, and a lot of good offensive sets. Really think this team, already, has a much different vibe and is gonna win some big games this year.

Dug looked AWESOME tonight in almost every facet of the game. He reminds me of a shorter Tyrese Maxey (not at that level of shooter yet) and just moves so fluidly and plays like a much bigger dude than he is. Michigan is universally more fun when we have a true court general PG and hoping Dug continues to build that confidence all season.

What’s your hot take tonight?

Basketball

RobM_24

November 13th, 2023 at 10:28 PM ^

Maxey and Immanuel Quickley are good guys for him to mold his game to. Hopefully he can develop a floater like those guys. It's a small sample size, but Dug's handles are some of the best I've ever seen. 

Joined: 01/27/2014

MGoPoints: 63628

bdneely4

November 13th, 2023 at 10:30 PM ^

Love Dug’s confidence. We have also had a lot of spread on our offense. The key this year so far is we can defend. My hawt take…….this team will finish in the Top 20 at year’s end (3rd in the B1G)

Joined: 01/06/2009

MGoPoints: 13935

Michigan4Life

November 13th, 2023 at 11:57 PM ^

Not a hot take when Michigan dominated the first 3 games. They're already the 2nd best team in KenPom and jumped to 23rd. That's with preseason expectations built into it. They're top 15 without the preseason expectations. 

Michigan was projected absurdly low and I knew that 11th would be underrated. 

Joined: 07/29/2010

MGoPoints: 25306

Hail to the Vi…

November 13th, 2023 at 10:38 PM ^

Dug is a straight up baller. I was really impressed how quickly he went from deer-in-th-headlights freshman, to a guy that could be sensational at times, but still showed his (naturally) lack of experience as a freshman.

3 games in this year it looks like he's maintained his explosive playmaking ability, but also looks much more composed and consistent over the course of a game. 

My hawt take: Dug will be the best point guard in the league this year, and this Michigan team will be much better than last despite losing 2 first rounders and an All-American center. This will be a case study on why team chemistry can be as equally important to individual player talent.

Joined: 09/13/2010

MGoPoints: 12888

Bill Brasky

November 14th, 2023 at 3:01 AM ^

I came here to write a similar take. Maybe Jett shooting everytime he got the ball was detrimental to our current “team” approach. Now, Hunter, I can’t explain. Maybe his play was holding these other active young bigs on the bench too long.

 

Either way, go blue. Enjoying this team this year. Expectations were low. But my interest is piqued.

Joined: 06/28/2018

MGoPoints: 6226

EJG

November 14th, 2023 at 7:06 AM ^

There is a very pleasing aesthetic difference without Hunter.  Hunter forced a halfcourt game on both ends as he ran the floor poorly.  For his size, he  was a below average rim protector because of his lack of mobility.  Last year, the inside out game was less effective because we didn't have enough guys on the floor at the same time capable of consistently knocking down threes.  They could sag a guy or two on Hunter in the post while laying off the two or three guys we ran out there who weren't consistent from three. It was frustrating to watch. 

Dug's hard work to improve his ability to finish at the hole and hit the three makes him a dynamic point guard and major threat with the ball in his hands (so far in three games).  That was not the case last year. Tschetter is playing under control and within the offense. HIs energy off the bench was always great, but it is controlled this year (so far).  Love his improvement. The three transfers are much more athletic than the guys they replaced and they can all handle the ball and finish on the break.  I believe Reed is a better rim protector than Hunter as he can move his feet to disrupt shots.  Nearly every guy outside of Reed is an average or better threat from three.

This team has been, and will be, fun to watch!!!

JMHO

Joined: 04/04/2011

MGoPoints: 1249

bighouseinmate

November 14th, 2023 at 9:17 AM ^

Jett wasn’t a cancer on the team and I think hunter just simply showed up last season. Neither, imo, along with houstan, looked to be a team player first, and superstar second, and as a result they never gelled with the other players and never got the opportunity to really show up and out in any of the ganes. 
 

As the poster above said, this season could/will be a case study of team chemistry vs the one and done team makeup and how it just makes everyone a better player.

Joined: 12/19/2008

MGoPoints: 4969

ohaijoe

November 14th, 2023 at 10:33 AM ^

To add what’s maybe an unpopular opinion these days: if I were 19 years old and had a legitimate shot at the NBA, it would be very difficult for me to reject the siren song of “hero ball” in favor of a team-first approach. As a fan, I much prefer the ball this team is playing. As Jett/Caleb/Hunter/Kobe, I’d almost certainly choose to get mine. So no shade to them.
 

What I think we’ve seen repeatedly is the best college teams have a mix of selfless stars and veteran leadership. Guys in the top 100 recruits but not at the very top are some of the most attractive. With Nimari (38) and Tarris (40), we have a couple of those guys. A bunch of other guys were just outside the top 100. Let’s hope the good times keep rolling.

Joined: 06/27/2013

MGoPoints: 857

Indy Pete - Go Blue

November 13th, 2023 at 10:39 PM ^

All 8 rotation players play hard and bring consistent defensive effort.  It helps that most of them are talented athletes on D - and those that aren't still give what they can.  Completely different team than last year.  Much less first round NBA talent, but much more sweet 16 looking team talent.  Going to be yet another Michigan team that vastly exceeds preseason expectations.  I have been enjoying that kind of energy from the bball program for over a decade now.

Joined: 01/23/2018

MGoPoints: 157226