Lay off of Teske
Jon Teske didn't complain sitting as a freshman. Jon Teske didn't complain that JB went twins all of 37 seconds his entire sophmore year only getting real time when Moe was hurt or in foul trouble. Jon Teske didn't complain from the bench when Nova dominated us in the paint while Duncan put up a donut and played 'which Nova jersey can I pull completely out of an opponents drawers'. Jon Teske didn't complain last season when the "big three" completely ignored him in November and December. Jon Teske didn't complain that JB forced him to play stretch 4 when he's the quintessential pivot. Jon Teske didn't complain about having to high ball screen on offense and hedge onto opposing point guards on defense while our wings sat in the corner watching our seven footer be by far the most active player on the court. Doesn't stop there, after being the most active player on both ends, watch the film, they let him go one on four on the offensive glass. Teske has earned more hall passes than defensive specialist Billy King did for Duke. Fast forward to this season. Teske is finally in the role he was meant to play. He's spent three years of college under coach B practicing how not to foul on the block. Not learning how to play tough defense, pull a rug or draw an offensive foul but to make opponents work without contacting them. "stay on the floor" "two foul rule" etc etc. Teske has to figure out how to be more successful on post defense, I am sure he knows this. As a fan base, please realize Teske is the George Bailey (It's a Wonderful Life) of the Michigan Basketball program. He has sacrificed all selfishness for the team. The least we owe him is some time and space to work through this. If you want to throw some stones throw them at Beilein for neglecting the post for the three years.
January 13th, 2020 at 2:48 PM ^
Teske is a good player, he's also a good defender, but what he's not is a mobile defender. The centers that have been eating him up lately are all quicker than he is. Leaving him 1 on 1 in not doing him any favors.
January 13th, 2020 at 3:19 PM ^
I'll push back a little here. In previous years, Teske actually displayed rare mobility for a 7-footer. He was fantastic defending pick and rolls, mostly because of his ability to move laterally to pester the ball handler, then recover to his own man without giving up an open lay up. He also played great straight man-to-man defense against some skilled bigs, including NBA draft worthy players that were definitely more athletic than him. He has demonstrated excellent 1 on 1 defensive skills in the past, and did it while keeping out of frequent foul trouble.
I don't have any easy answer for the recent defensive drought. But Teske is capable of playing great 1 on 1 post defense with minimal help.
January 13th, 2020 at 3:20 PM ^
Scouting report = drop step baseline , slows the drop step baseline , and acts suprised he drop stepped baseline
January 13th, 2020 at 3:33 PM ^
and that's all he's got to say about John Teske
January 13th, 2020 at 4:05 PM ^
fucking Navarre...
January 13th, 2020 at 4:05 PM ^
I saw Teske around the Holidays, and he strangely yelled “Merry Christmas Emporium” at me.
January 13th, 2020 at 4:42 PM ^
I honestly did not realize that anyone was ragging on Teske
January 13th, 2020 at 4:46 PM ^
As a senior, we should know enough about our own players to scheme with their strengths and weaknesses in mind. Teske is a good player, and I'm glad we have him, but he could use some help defending the post from his coaches and teammates.
January 13th, 2020 at 5:04 PM ^
Teske wasnt bad last year so I'm pretty sure this falls mostly on Howard's defense
January 13th, 2020 at 6:08 PM ^
Michigan has played hardest/ #1 ranked schedule of offenses this year in CBB per Kenpom. Doesn't get any easier the next game either going up against an Iowa team #1 in OE in the Big Ten currently.
Michigan allowed a season high 91 points to Iowa in their 1st meeting this year with big man Luke Garza leading the way with 44 points in that game.
January 13th, 2020 at 6:17 PM ^
This is like June Cleaver telling Ward to "not be so hard on the Beaver" (Leave it to Beaver)
January 13th, 2020 at 8:20 PM ^
Wow! But I appreciate your coming to your son's defense Mr. Teske.
[though your perspective on history sucks]
January 13th, 2020 at 9:00 PM ^
You mis-spelled "Lay Up on Teske"
January 13th, 2020 at 9:17 PM ^
WTF with the uncalled for title. Where did this come from? Are people seriously on Teske?
January 13th, 2020 at 11:18 PM ^
Who is criticizing Teske? Anyone who is really paying attention knows that isolating him underneath is Juwan's strategy, and won't change until that strategy changes, and its not on him. Now.... I'd really like to see him slam down a few hard dunks with authority, just for the psychological effect...
I digress....still hard to believe we lost to Minnesota...we had that game won, and something happened.....maybe it was when Teske had to sit and they caught up, I don't remember now, but we were rolling, and the window opened ever so slightly and the loss snuck in....
January 13th, 2020 at 11:22 PM ^
You didn’t finish it:
Lay off Teske
Because I just laid off your mom.
January 14th, 2020 at 12:39 AM ^
I agree with your overall point that we should lay off Teske. The Big Ten centers are all legitimately good, and it’ll regress to the mean. He’s playing good ball.
But I disagree with your premise that Beilein did him dirty or something. He wasn’t used as a stretch 4. He was used as a stretch 5. He signed up for that. He developed a ton with Coach B. He’s an unselfish player and I’m glad he’s a senior on this team - but he wasn’t a martyr. He was an underclass man, and now he’s not, and he’s a focal point.
January 14th, 2020 at 10:39 PM ^
Without looking at the stats I would bet his percentage of three point attempts compared to attempts are way higher last year. He’s getting the ball on the block now and he’s also sloughing off the high screen. Much different game for him on both ends. He also could have flourished along side Moe, as DJ did, in a different way. He wasn’t afforded the opportunity.