Jon Horford's Performance

I grow to like this team more and more.  I know it is very early, but I like the way they are playing.

Go Blue!

folks were complaining about him wasting a red shirt when he was hurt...

Go Blue! 

We are a force from downtown.  The better defensive teams will key on that more, so to have that viable big man down low is a giant difference.  With improved offense from Jon, teams will respect him.  If he takes pressure off our guards, we should be able to have more chances from three point land and if that's the case, we can beat anyone on a great shooting night.  If Horford continues to develop, we'll be an even scarier team to play!

Plus, if Jon becomes a dominant big man, we will certainly get attention from talented PF/C recruits........

Radio announcers were talking about how "coachable" Horford is. Seems like the kind of player who really wants to improve his game, and the results are beginning to show.

It was also good to see Smotrycz end his slump. He had 10 points on 3-7 shooting (2-5 on 3-pointers), along with 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and only 1 turnover.

Also noteworthy: only 5 turnovers for the whole team.

Horford reminds me of a young Dennis Rodman.  At the beginning of his NBA career (before he turned weird), Rodman was rail-thin but threw his body all over the place and made a ton of hustle plays, and always gave the team a lift when he was out there.  Horford brings that.  And he's even showing some touch on the perimeter! 

It seems as if he's pased McLimans. Horford + Morgan down low... I know, I know, Beilein doesn't have enough bigs to afford risking foul trouble or too much fatigue by playing two of the three at once, and yes, Gibson and Sims never played together, Smotrycz could possibly count as a big but yeah. That combo of Horford and Morgan could be really good. Great rebounding if Novak and Morris are out there too.

Big night in Michigan for the Horfords all around.  Al looks to have had a good game for the Hawks in their lose to the Pistons (17 points, 12 rebounds).  I think the future is very bright with Morgan and Horford in U-M's frontcourt.

JHorford- Loy Vaught or Courtney Sims?

Will Horford be the next:

Loy Vaught and get better every year?

OR

Will he be the next Courtney Simms?

Remember Simms as a frosh?  He showed so much promise.

I hope he like Loy!

...and he could be a star.   He's got the genes that is for sure.  

Horford looks to me like he has already passed McLimans.  He's defending better and has been a beast on the boards at both ends.  I don't see McLimans holding him off for consistent playing time unless he (McLimans) can start shooting better.

Horford is growing up before our eyes, Morgan is playing really well, Hardaway and Smotrycz are showing exciting flashes, and Morris is weaving it all together.  They'll take their lumps in the Big Ten this year but this is a fun team to watch. 

Some good quotes about/from Horford in Rothstein's annarbor.com game story:

After scoring nine points with nine rebounds on Tuesday -- including team-high totals of six points and five rebounds at halftime -- Horford emerged as a legitimate option to back up Jordan Morgan at center.

"You just never can predict that," Michigan coach John Beilein said. "Sometimes it just happens overnight and all of a sudden you just go ‘Wow, he’s becoming a player.’"

...

Michigan needed Horford on a night Morgan was in foul trouble and scored four points, matching his lowest scoring output of the season.

"I feel like I’m improving pretty quickly," Horford said. "But that’s just because my teammates are helping me out a lot.

"I didn’t come in with any expectations for how quick I would develop. I was just thinking, 'Work hard and listen to what coach says.'"

I'm pretty sure thats what President Obama looked like a couple decades ago. The ears and all. 

I'm really excited about Horford and the rest
of the really young team have here!

This team could make a run for the either tournament this year and make some upsets. The team in general has improved itself. They show desire to win as a team and not as individuals, ala Manny and Sims. Team effort combined with increased passing and movement on the floor, a lot less of Manny iso's this year, will create some havoc for Big Ten defenses especially since the bigs have improved. 

Watching some of their performance against NCCU, they showed grit and determination every possession no matter what side of the floor. They fought for every rebound and point. Smotrycz's tap back to Novak and Stew's vollyball swat to Timmy Jr. are big examples of this. They don't care who scores or has the most points. They care about the W's and playing as a team.

Interestingly enough is that outside of the early tournament, they could go undefeated in the non-conference section of their schedule up to the start of conference play, barring Kansas because they are after the start of conference play. Oakland is the biggest non-conference test, other than Kansas. And because they just beat Tennessee, it could be a big confidence builder for this young team to beat such a squad. 

Michigan needs to start consistently shooting and hitting those wide open looks. With that they can use a more varied approach on D, implementing mid-offense switches, i.e. 2-3 zone to the 1-3-1. I think Michigan will surprise the doubters this year and reach at least the NIT and maybe even hit the bracket with enough quality wins over conference opponents, i.e. Northwestern, Wisky, Minnesota, or Illinois.

The team in general has lots of talent as well.

They will continue to get better, this year through the big ten, we may see some growing pains, but next year and beyond should be pretty good

Jon Horford has a ton of potential, which he recruiting profile sure did not show. He is still very raw and will get torn up in the Big Ten. However, I think he and Morgan can put on a few pounds over the next few summers and become dominant forces down low. If Smotryz(ill never be able to spell his name right) puts on some weight as well, i think he will be a great 4 with inside and outside presence. The future is bright.

Best start that John Beilein has had at Michigan. The team really looks like they complement each other very well. Tremendous potential going forward for this basketball program

I'm liking how our guys are progressing...when the offense works...we look really good.  Sound familiar?

I have watched more Michigan basketball this year than the last 10 years combined...but all of our games have been on tv right? 

Go Blue