MBB: Player Development

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January 10th, 2011 at 2:12 PM
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Kilgore Trout
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MBB: Player Development

For something different...

I have been impressed with the way that Beilein has developed Darius Morris and Matt Vogrich.  Before the season started, I posted that I thought those two would end up being busts and didn't deserve their recruiting rankings.  Raoul called me out on that and he seems to have been right. 

The change in Morris is pretty obvious.  He's gone from a guy who was essentially phased out of the rotation last year to the unquestioned go to guy on the team.  I didn't see that coming at all.

Vogrich is a little more subtle, but to me is an even more impressive accomplishment for Beilein.  Last year, Vogrich looked completely outmatched physically.  His stat line is not overwhelming, but he has become a solid contributor in 10-15 minutes a game and is no longer a massive defensive liability. 

After Amaker's tenure, I got used to seeing what a player did in his freshman year and just accepting that it was what we had for four years.  The improvement of Morris and Vogrich from year one to year two, coupled with the fact that Novak and Douglass are solid Big Ten players given their recruiting profile has me excited about the future.  Anyway, when someone asks why Beilein isn't on the hot seat, I think "player development" has to be one of the first answers. 

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January 10th, 2011 at 3:34 PM | A lot of the cedit for player (Score:1)
FabFiver5
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Joined: 09/24/2008
MGoPoints: 815

A lot of the cedit for player development goes to the new assistant coaches. This staff has been AWESOME with the young guys this year.

"That's tremendous, Jim."
January 10th, 2011 at 3:47 PM | The Defense (Score:1)
Productive Swea...
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 276

Agreed, the difference in the defensive intensity and the rebounding has everything to do with the staff.

I love watching this team. I expect a nice leap next year to send Stu and Zack off on a high note.

productivesweatpants.com

@prodsweats

January 10th, 2011 at 7:46 PM | Bacari Alexander is doing (Score:1)
chris.mac
Joined: 08/01/2010
MGoPoints: 112

Bacari Alexander is doing great work with the bigs. I love watching Jordan Morgan play down low. He still isn't quite there as far as finishing when there is a lot of traffic and can be overmatched when playing truely large (6'10"+) players, but he knows what it takes and has great awareness.

Also, the whole squad plays hard and plays for keeps. It's a great attitude, and that's half the battle. If they continue to play with such passion, add in the new practice facility and we should continue getting good recruiting classes.

January 10th, 2011 at 10:42 PM | I agree 100%. Beilein is an excellent coach and he also (Score:1)
champswest
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Joined: 10/04/2009
MGoPoints: 2002

hit a home run with the assistant coach hires.  You can see individual players and the team improving from week to week.

"I hate losing more than I like winning." - Zack

January 10th, 2011 at 2:21 PM | equally as impressive as the (Score:1)
ish
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 7692

equally as impressive as the player improvement - which i agree is substantial - is how HARD these guys are playing.  it's impossible not to like this team.

January 10th, 2011 at 4:28 PM | Agreed (Score:1)
dchubbs24
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Joined: 08/16/2010
MGoPoints: 62

I couldn't agree more about how HARD these guys play.  It feels/looks like more of a team than last year.  However, the shooting woes are sometimes inexplicable even though Kansas's D had a lot to do with it yesterday.  They have to practice shooting all day long in his system and it just doesn't seem to translate to games very well.  Overall, though, I am content and a little surprised at how well the team is playing for now.

From the middle of everyone's favorite state... GO BLUE!

January 10th, 2011 at 2:24 PM | This man was given the time (Score:1)
His Dudeness
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Joined: 11/24/2008
MGoPoints: 13558

This man was given the time to succeed based on adjusted expectations.

I don't feel like puking.

Scratch that, reverse it.

or uh, Duder, or El Duderino if you're not into the whole brevity thing.

January 10th, 2011 at 4:08 PM | And that had more than a (Score:1)
jmblue
Joined: 11/07/2008
MGoPoints: 28970

And that had more than a little bit to do with the facts that 1) the program was severely limited, resource-wise, when he came in and 2) he posted the best season in the program's last decade in his second year. 

January 10th, 2011 at 4:55 PM | Not really (Score:1)
PurpleStuff
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MGoPoints: 10412

It's because no one really cares about Michigan basketball.  Amaker's last two teams won twenty games and went .500 in the league both years.  Taking over that while inheriting Harris and Sims would have been a recipe for UNACCEPTABLE! at a school where people actually attend basketball games.

At the end of the day though, it is probably a good thing for all of us.

It is spelled HOKEAMANIA.  Our coach is an ass-kicking American citizen, not one of the Beatles, for Christ's sake!

January 10th, 2011 at 2:24 PM | completely... (Score:1)
umichfutball
Joined: 11/16/2010
MGoPoints: 257

agree with you at this point. Although I hope we can get a second big man that plays like Jordan Morgan, because I dont know about you but watching McLimans on the floor yesterday was a horrific sight for me

January 10th, 2011 at 2:48 PM | Horford (Score:1)
Kilgore Trout
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Joined: 02/20/2009
MGoPoints: 1863

I think Horford will get there, sooner rather than later.  He has the instincts and the positioning.  As far as I can tell, he just needs experience and time in the weight room. 

January 10th, 2011 at 9:13 PM | Horford has looked good (Score:1)
Y0ST
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Joined: 02/25/2010
MGoPoints: 714

several times this year.  Once he bulks up he should be a force.  He's long and athletic.  I'm digging the future with Morris, Morgan and THJr.

"True loyalty is that quality of service that grows under adversity and expands in defeat. Any street urchin can shout applause in victory, but it takes character to stand fast in defeat. One is noise - the other, loyalty." — Yost

January 10th, 2011 at 2:49 PM | Morgan and Douglass (Score:1)
sboening
Joined: 10/31/2010
MGoPoints: 80

Morgan is certainly a pleasant surprise being a redshirt freshman.  I love his intensity.  Also, the improvement of Horford will be interesting to see, because all we hear is how that kid loves to work, work, work. 

Secondly, Douglass' improvement should be noted.  He has maximized his minutes in probably 85 to 90 % of our games so far.  His ability to get to the rim has improved as it went from zero to being able to do it versus Big Ten guards.  This team and it's work ethic certainly lend to a lot of promise for the future.

January 10th, 2011 at 3:06 PM | Stu showed so much promise his freshman year, lost it (Score:1)
MGlobules
Joined: 11/17/2008
MGoPoints: 5153

last year, and is slowly regaining it. He missed a few big shots down the stretch yesterday that I was tempted to attribute to lack of confidence, even now. Really would like to see him get a rhythm with his shot and beat out some of the newcomers next year. He runs the team quite ably when Morris is out. 

January 10th, 2011 at 3:07 PM | I agree on most of that, but (Score:1)
VictorsValiant09
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Joined: 04/05/2009
MGoPoints: 530

I agree on most of that, but to be fair, Douglass' shooting percentage was horrible yesterday, and has been, all year.  We could've pulled out the W, had he made some shots!

January 10th, 2011 at 3:13 PM | once again... (Score:1)
umichfutball
Joined: 11/16/2010
MGoPoints: 257

my exact thoughts during the game yesterday

January 10th, 2011 at 10:48 PM | Douglass wasn't the only guy missing shots yesterday (Score:1)
champswest
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Joined: 10/04/2009
MGoPoints: 2002

and he has had games where he carried us with his shooting.

"I hate losing more than I like winning." - Zack

January 10th, 2011 at 3:21 PM | Even after two poor shooting (Score:1)
UMpolo1985
Joined: 11/12/2010
MGoPoints: 60

Even after two poor shooting performances in a row, Douglass is still shooting 39% from 3 for the year.  I don't know many people who would consider that horrible.  Prior to those two games, he was up around 43% which is a great percentage from 3.

January 10th, 2011 at 7:54 PM | in fairness (Score:1)
RDubs
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Joined: 09/09/2008
MGoPoints: 310

in fairness to Stu Douglass, pretty much everyone on the team was clanking on open looks yesterday.  we could've pulled out the W if anyone had made some open shots.  his contributions are subtle, but they are still there. 

January 10th, 2011 at 2:27 PM | Good to see someone echoing (Score:1)
BraveWolverine730
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Joined: 09/21/2009
MGoPoints: 2743

Good to see someone echoing my exact sentiments about Vogrich.  My buddy and I have gone back and forth about him(he called him a wasted scholarship) and it was nice to see him as a solid contributor. Another example I would point to is that the same team in 08 that lost non-conference games to Harvard and Central later knocked off OSU in Big Ten play and gave 1 seed Wisconsin all it could handle in the Big Ten Tourney.  I really like the ceiling of this team next year because if Hardaway puts it together along with Morris, we can be as good as we've been since I started following MBB(Ellerbe years).

" I want to win Big 10 titles. Multiply. Consecutively. I just made that word up (multiply). I'm like that. I'm good at Scrabble."

January 10th, 2011 at 2:58 PM | Next Year (Score:1)
Kilgore Trout
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Joined: 02/20/2009
MGoPoints: 1863

I have the same feeling about next year.  Trey Burke is hitting over 50% of his shots this year.  Burke and Brundidge will add a lot to this team.  No disrespect to Novak and Douglass, but the 2013 Tourney is where this team will really be at its height. 

January 10th, 2011 at 3:41 PM | ... (Score:1)
ypsituckyboy
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Joined: 06/22/2009
MGoPoints: 1462

That being said, I would caution anyone who is underestimating the value of Novak to this team. Remember when people were happy that CJ Lee and David Merritt were graduating? Yeah, the next year didn't work out so well, did it?

Guys like Lee, Merritt, and Novak know that they have to work hard. They push other people on the team, and in doing so create an atmostphere of mental/physical toughness and selflessness. I'll be very sad to see Novak graduate after next year.

January 10th, 2011 at 4:02 PM | I definitely agree. Would we (Score:1)
BraveWolverine730
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Joined: 09/21/2009
MGoPoints: 2743

I definitely agree. Would we have been close at all in that game yesterday if not for Novak? Hopefully some of the younger guys(I'm personally hoping for Morgan) step up and help maintain this new attitude that the team is developing after Novak and Douglass graduate

" I want to win Big 10 titles. Multiply. Consecutively. I just made that word up (multiply). I'm like that. I'm good at Scrabble."

January 10th, 2011 at 10:55 PM | Wish I could +1 you. (Score:1)
champswest
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Joined: 10/04/2009
MGoPoints: 2002

The team talent level may go up in 2 years, but when we lose Stu and Zack, we lose the heart and sole of this team.  Last year it was Manny's team and this year it is Zack's.  He is setting the work ethic and team play attitude.

"I hate losing more than I like winning." - Zack

January 10th, 2011 at 2:58 PM | Indeed (Score:1)
BiSB
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Joined: 08/15/2009
MGoPoints: 27915

It's good to see what a coach can do when given enough time to fully implement his system.

/re-reads previous sentence, sighs, drinks.

They no longer call me Bisbiño

January 10th, 2011 at 4:45 PM | Beilien (Score:1)
funkywolve
Joined: 10/08/2008
MGoPoints: 1948

bought himself some time with the ncaa tourney appearance in his second year.  Had UM not made the ncaa's that year, I'd guess his seat might be a little warm right now. 

Football is king at UM.  Everyone wants to see the bball do well, but the pressure and scrutiny to win on the bball coach is not nearly as great as that of the football coach.

January 10th, 2011 at 3:00 PM | Any talk of player (Score:1)
WojoRisin
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Joined: 10/03/2009
MGoPoints: 560

Any talk of player development has to include Jordan Morgan. I'm amazed at how far he's come as a player. It's nice to see guys like Morgan, Morris (can we please never, ever, EVER call him the butterfly?), Vogrich come into their own. I'd say it bodes quite well for the future of this program.

"That broke a lot of Irish hearts. Now isn't that too bad?" - Bo

January 10th, 2011 at 3:15 PM | I'm impressed that Novak (Score:1)
MGoPacquiao
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MGoPoints: 408

I'm impressed that Novak consistently gets double-doubles against strong competition.  He's our leading rebounder now at 7.2/game.

January 10th, 2011 at 3:26 PM | Novak is my favorite player (Score:1)
HttV Wolverine
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Joined: 08/02/2010
MGoPoints: 7360

Novak is my favorite player to watch on the team. I love the way he gets in there against anybody and scraps for the ball. He may not be the biggest kid but his heart is unquestionable. 

“What the mind can conceive, the mind can achieve and those who stay will be champions.” - Bo 

][V][

January 10th, 2011 at 3:55 PM | Novak is easily one of my (Score:1)
ken725
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Joined: 10/26/2008
MGoPoints: 4564

Novak is easily one of my favorite players.  His hard work and hustle are the reasons why he is able to play against opponents that are much bigger than him.  

Tim Hardaway Jr. is also one of my favorite players already.  I know he goes through some slumps and has freshman mistakes.  I think his ceiling is pretty high and it doesn’t hurt to have those bloodlines. 

Greetings from Bolivia.

"It's special how the real true people hang together. And if you don't support the program you're not a true Michigan guy. It's that simple."  - Gary Moeller

January 10th, 2011 at 4:08 PM | I would totally agree that (Score:1)
njv5352
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Joined: 06/28/2010
MGoPoints: 353

I would totally agree that Novak consistently plays 6 inches and 30 pounds heavier when he is on the court.  This guy hustles and hustles and hustles.  As a coach you can never have too many kids with a work ethic or nose for the ball like that. 

I also agree about the ceiling with Hardaway Jr.  He makes some very freshman mistakes, but he has a quick first step and the ability to take it to the bucket under control.  If he can learn to shoot a higher percentage shot instead of bombing from behind the arc he will increase greatly.

As for Morris, I am not as high on this kid as everyone else is.  He is much better than he was last year at this time and has definitely grown into his ability.  He still has a way to go.  He needs to learn to move the ball around more effectively and quit taking poor quality shots.  He often picks his dribble up long before he has a pass in mind or a shot in mind.  he also is quick to get airborne with no outlet pass or shot available.  Don't get me wrong, he is going to be good.....but he is not great yet.  He could use another summer of growing mentally in the game where he learns to create shots for himself rather than just throwing the ball at the rim. 

January 10th, 2011 at 3:32 PM | Credit Belien's willingness to change (Score:1)
Wolverine In Exile
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Joined: 11/08/2008
MGoPoints: 2147

coaches <drink heavily> to improve the team. If Bacari Alexander has made this much of a difference in helping our post players, DAMN did we miss out on him working with Sims last year.

"So I come out of Ohio Stadium after we beat the Buckeyes, and right there on the hood of my friend's car, some one took a dump, in the shape of an 'O'. no shit. Oh, sorry, bad pun."

January 10th, 2011 at 4:13 PM | Sims had a really good senior (Score:1)
jmblue
Joined: 11/07/2008
MGoPoints: 28970

Sims had a really good senior year; he wasn't the problem.  The bigger issue was that we had almost no other tall bodies on the team (and that Douglass/Novak couldn't hit the broad side of a barn). 

January 10th, 2011 at 4:34 PM | That and the total leadership (Score:1)
CWoodson
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Joined: 09/15/2009
MGoPoints: 1338

That and the total leadership vacuum.  I love Peedi, but dude's a headcase, and when the guy trying to keep you focused is Manny Harris you've got a real problem.  The fact that he was our only legitimate C and PF obviously didn't help matters.

Miss those guys despite the inconsistency, but this team is about 100 times more fun to watch than last year's.

IGotARashMan

January 10th, 2011 at 11:01 PM | I would argue that last year's team (Score:1)
champswest
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Joined: 10/04/2009
MGoPoints: 2002

was not a team.

"I hate losing more than I like winning." - Zack

January 10th, 2011 at 3:32 PM | Beilein the Lepidopterist (Score:1)
might and main
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Joined: 11/18/2008
MGoPoints: 950

I am a huge fan.


January 10th, 2011 at 3:37 PM | Is there any better picture (Score:1)
BlueintheLou
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Joined: 09/13/2008
MGoPoints: 3472

Is there any better picture to describe Zach Novak. Novak's got the ball on the ground as a bigger, stronger opponent lies on the ground in pain wondering, "How in the hell does he keep getting the ball away from me?" (HT: UMHoops)

"Those who stay will be champions."
"As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1."
January 10th, 2011 at 3:52 PM | The only way to improve the (Score:1)
seegoblu
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Joined: 08/10/2009
MGoPoints: 379

The only way to improve the picture is to show 3rd degree floor burns on his knees and elbows...

January 10th, 2011 at 4:03 PM | improving shooting (Score:1)
bballblues
Joined: 12/02/2009
MGoPoints: 5

The New york times had an interesting article on a new gadget that measures a shooter's arc. Finding the right arc improves the chances of the ball going in. This combines a video element so the shooter can review the tape and make adjustments. The guys take a lot of 3s but no one would be complaining if they made more.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/27/sports/basketball/27lab.html

January 10th, 2011 at 4:37 PM | Derrick Rose and Mike Conley (Score:1)
funkywolve
Joined: 10/08/2008
MGoPoints: 1948

I'd throw those two out as point guards who excelled as freshman, but in general I agree with your take on point guards. 

January 10th, 2011 at 4:53 PM | eh... (Score:1)
Kilgore Trout
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Joined: 02/20/2009
MGoPoints: 1863

Despite your belittling tone...

I'm well aware that PG is the relative equivalent to QB.  My point was that we haven't seen that development in quite a while around here.  The last decent recruit UM had that could reasonably be considered a point guard was Daniel Horton.  He was terrific his freshman year and only managed to match that performance in his senior year after two off years.  

January 10th, 2011 at 4:18 PM | defense (Score:1)
michfan4borw
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Joined: 12/11/2009
MGoPoints: 711

under Coach Bee seems to have improved each additional year he's been in charge.  I like that we started out 1-3-1 mostly in his first year and now only use it as a "switch-up" to our main defenses (man-to-man and 2-3 zone). 

Every man at some point is gonna lose a battle. He's gonna fight and he's gonna lose. But what makes him a man, is that in the midst of that battle he does not lose himself. This game is not over, this battle is not over. So let's hear it .

January 10th, 2011 at 4:26 PM | You thought Morris was going (Score:1)
Bb011
Joined: 09/02/2010
MGoPoints: 1745

You thought Morris was going to be a bust? I actually never thought that, I thought he was a for sure star in the making. One of our first true good PG in a while. He worked with John Wall over the summer and has improved his game greatly.

 

I do agree with vogrich though. I thought he was going to be a bust, and he still may be. He's gotten better but still not to the point where I can eliminate him from being a bust. He still doesn't contribute that much to the team, but he is only a sophomore, hopefully he'll continue to get better.

January 10th, 2011 at 4:55 PM | Morris (Score:1)
Kilgore Trout
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Joined: 02/20/2009
MGoPoints: 1863

You were more optimistic than me, which is a good thing.  Bust was probably an overstatement, but seeing his shot last year and how he looked a bit lost in the offense didn't scream top 100 guy to me.  Like I've said, I'm more than happy to be wrong about him.  

January 10th, 2011 at 11:07 PM | I disagree with you about Vogrich. (Score:1)
champswest
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Joined: 10/04/2009
MGoPoints: 2002

I think that he is becoming a mini-Novak.  He has gone from just being a shooter and a turnover waiting to happen to a hustle guy diving for loose balls, playing defense and rebounding.  He needs to add strength, but should continue to develope quite nicely.

"I hate losing more than I like winning." - Zack

January 11th, 2011 at 7:09 AM | Hey does have one of the (Score:1)
Xerxes
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Joined: 10/05/2010
MGoPoints: 129

Hey does have one of the nicest shots I've ever seen. I've got to see him in-person this year and the TV doesn't do him justice. He needs something though (maybe it's that strength) to warrant additional PT, and hopefully he can blossom into that pure shooter he can potentially be.

January 10th, 2011 at 4:36 PM | more bigs (Score:1)
dahblue
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Joined: 11/09/2009
MGoPoints: 1477

JB is certainly head and shoulders above the "mock turtle" when it comes to player development.  He's got a surprisingly competitive team on the floor this season, with Morris and Morgan leading the "wow are they improved" brigade.  Going forward, JB needs to put heavy focus on bringing in a true center.  I know he's tried and missed (and had some bad luck in the process), but the incoming class of guards and swings won't cut it long term.  I know he's trying, but I keep my fingers crossed that JB comes through with a big man recruit.

January 10th, 2011 at 4:50 PM | Are there that many out there? (Score:1)
PurpleStuff
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Joined: 04/21/2009
MGoPoints: 10412

It just seems like the "true center" guys are few and far between, or they have no skill like that guy Foster at Utah.  Izzo seems to win with just a bunch of swoll 6'8"-6'10" guys who bang inside.  Hopefully adding weight to the three young guys will help but I'd settle for a group of tough, hard-nosed guys who don't get pushed around and let the outside guys shine before I worry about landing an elite big man (not that getting one wouldn't be super swell).

It is spelled HOKEAMANIA.  Our coach is an ass-kicking American citizen, not one of the Beatles, for Christ's sake!

January 10th, 2011 at 5:39 PM | well... (Score:1)
dahblue
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Joined: 11/09/2009
MGoPoints: 1477

They are hard to find, but he had a good one in Benzig (who wasn't eligible).  He had a giant one in Cronin (who got hurt).  Morgan is miles beyond expectations (I can tell you that the coaching staff didn't expect much at all from him, especially after the injuries) but we need more.  

We are going to be crowded in the backcourt...now having Hardaway and Morris, soon to be joined by Brundidge and Burke.  We missed, unfortunately, on our big man targets (Williams, Plumlee).  Morgan is going to need some help and it isn't going to come from McLimans or Horford (at least not anytime soon).  It's reassuring, however, to know that JB is well aware of his need for more size and is working to address the issue.  You're right that we don't need a "true" center and a "swoll" banger would indeed be great. 

January 10th, 2011 at 6:00 PM | I actually think we have the (Score:1)
BigBlue02
Joined: 06/29/2009
MGoPoints: 1853

I actually think we have the big bodies, they are just not big enough......yet. if mclimans or horford can put on some much needed beef, they will do just fine backing up Morgan. And both being freshmen helps tremendously in that they haven't been in a strength and conditioning program very long. Let's not kid ourselves, the strength of this team is the guards, so as long as we get serviceable big men who like to do dirty work, this team should be just fine. Morgan is doing great at that, but we definitely need someone else. I personally think horford is best fit for that position.

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