MBB News and Notes from UMHoops.com
Coach Beilein conducted a Q&A today after practice. Video available at UMHoops.com.
- Lots of emphasis on fast break in practice today. Given the 25 second clock they'll face in Europe, this is especially important.
- Stu "very solid" over the past eight days. Not up and down, consistently good.
- Colton Christian re-injured his hamstring and is questionable to play during the EuroTour (but will go). Everyone else is healthy.
- Looking to get more folks attacking the basket. Manny's gone - need more to take on this responsibility.
- Will only play man during the EuroTour. Haven't had time to put in any other defenses.
- Really pleased with the team's progress along the learning curve after a week of practice, likes team's attitude.
Extensive observations on today's practice are now available at UMHoops.com.
Go there for the whole scoop, but here's the teaser:
The teams looked to be divided into two groups: In maize, those who looked to be in the regular rotation. In blue, those who aren’t there yet. The maize side consisted of: Tim Hardaway Jr., Blake McLimans, Jordan Morgan, Darius Morris, Zack Novak, Stu Douglass, Evan Smotrycz, and Matt Vogrich. The non-rotation guys: Jon Horford, Corey Person, Eso Akunne, Jordan Dumars, Josh Bartelstein.
Positive reviews: Darius Morris, Stu Douglass, Tim Hardaway, Jr., team chemistry
Then there's this:
One last side note: Laval Lucas-Perry, who was dismissed from the team in June, will transfer to Oakland. He’ll have one year of eligibility remaining after sitting out for a year.
Finally, UMHoops.com is reporting that the Big Dog's son, Glenn Robinson, III (2012 recruit) now has a Michigan offer. His current offer list is Missouri State, IUPUI, Indiana State and Valparaiso, but it's early. If he does end up at Michigan, the team will include the sons of four NBA players in Robinson, Hardaway, Jordan Dumars and Jon Horford.
When people hear your name they’re going to automatically think of your dad, but can you describe your own game? Is it different? Yeah, he was a little bit bigger, more of a forward and I’m more of a 2 or a 3. I play more on the outside but I still have his shot. I think a lot of people say that I have the same form and everything as him, the midrange game is the same, and I got his outside shot, too. We’re a little bit different because he was a forward but other than that — I can probably dribble better than he could — we’re kind of the same player a little bit.
August 15th, 2010 at 9:48 PM ^
Probably not. Maybe one or two, if we're lucky.
August 15th, 2010 at 10:12 PM ^
Hardaway crying about a charge; wonder where he picked that up?
That was one ugly one on one game going on in the background.
We need Dickey V calling a game from Europe talkin bout Michigan's diaper dandies and calling out Stu to be a PTPer; a prime time performer BABBY.
August 15th, 2010 at 10:44 PM ^
The ugy 1-on-1 game was a little kid and one of the managers just screwing around, I believe.
August 15th, 2010 at 10:15 PM ^
Wonder how Smotrycz is doing. I'm excited to see him play but haven't heard much on how he's been doing.
August 15th, 2010 at 10:20 PM ^
Smotrycz is a natural, except in whiffle ball.
Belien did mention a week or so ago, that Smotrycz was picking things up quickly and so was Hardaway.
August 15th, 2010 at 10:25 PM ^
...wearing Maize means he's likely to be in the rotation. That's enough to indicate to me he's doing just fine.
August 16th, 2010 at 12:00 AM ^
With all these sons of former NBA players suddenly joining the UM hoops team, I have been wondering if there are any NCAA rules that would prevent them from turning down their scholarships and having their parents pay their tuition and expenses instead, thereby freeing up those scholarships for other players. I am not saying UM should pressure any parents to do this, but I can certainly imagine situations in which the extremely well off parents of some athletes might be willing to do it to help the team.
August 16th, 2010 at 12:07 AM ^
Dumars is a walk-on, I believe.
August 16th, 2010 at 8:49 AM ^
Can someone sell me on Michigan being a .500 basketball team this year? I am thinking 12 wins and that kills me. Losing our best 2 players last year, the only two guys that were locks to score more than 10 or 12 points a game. The recruiting does not seem to be getting any better as each year passes. We will never be a tourney team if we are competing with MAC teams for guys. Sorry to be sour, I am looking for optimism but having a difficult time.
August 16th, 2010 at 9:26 AM ^
For the class of 09 Coach B picked up 1 top 100 player(Morris), for the class of 10 we have 2 top 100 players(Hardaway and Smotrcyz) , and for the class of 11 we already have 1 top 100 player(Brundidge), with a distant shot at Amir Williams since his opportunities to go elsewhere seem to be limited considering that MSU is out of scholarships, Kentucky just picked up Anthony Davis, Plumlee went with Duke, and Zeller is probably going to UNC. Combine that with the fact that we have offers out to Dom Pointer and GR III, I'd say we're likely to end up with a decent recruiting class(not stellar) but certainly in the upper half of the Big 10. That makes at least 4 top 100 players in 3 years, but none of them will be upperclassmen until next year, that's when things will start to shape up. The reality is that Coach B has managed to pick up 4 top 100 players while having a sub .500 record in the span of 3 years, that's an accomplishment within itself, but those players are all freshman/sophmores, so it takes time. You have to put this in context, if your recruiting class exceeds your record on the court, to me you've done your job. In light of the fact that we were 15-17 last year, and managed to pull in a class that was very much on par with the lower tier top 25 classes, I'd say Coach B has improved recruiting.
August 16th, 2010 at 3:46 PM ^
People are probably going to get their names mixed up all the time over the next four years (and maybe beyond). Hopefully it's because they both turn out to be good players.