Gustavo Fring

November 4th, 2013 at 9:40 PM ^

But if he can bring a sweet stroke or offensive skill, that could mitigate it.  I phrased it incorrectly to begin with, but the point is right now it seems like our big's are McGary and JAG's (Morgan's defensive skills notwithstanding).  Would have been nice to see if the 4-star 6'9" shooter we got could provide a punch somewhere in the frontcourt. 

Joined: 09/29/2009

MGoPoints: 5175

Mr. Yost

November 4th, 2013 at 8:57 PM ^

1. Don't care about the score...but the play was too sloppy for my liking

2. We didn't run much offense in these two exhibition games. We really struggle in the halfcourt (but we're VERY dangerous on the break)

3. Morgan and Horford shouldn't play together...however, I'll let it go because this allowed GRIII to get time at the 3 and Stauskas time at the 2.

4. Spike needs to start until Walton Jr. can gets enough experience to become more assertive.

5. Irvin is going to be streaky...I see THJ 2.0 except he won't get as many shots and won't be relied on as the 2nd best player on the team.

6. We need to run more ISO and offense through Stauskas and GRIII when we're in the halfcourt. They're both more of a mismatch than we give them credit for.

7. Morgan and Horford still have hands of stone

8. GRIII still hasn't quite established himself as the leader, but it's clear he's trying

9. LeVert is much improved and plays the game at a MUCH better pace

10. We haven't found a "go to" lineup yet

Bonus - Our team defense isn't what it was last year or can be...but we've got the athletes to get it there.

Joined: 07/25/2011

MGoPoints: -9898220

snarling wolverine

November 4th, 2013 at 9:43 PM ^

We didn't run much offense in these two exhibition games. We really struggle in the halfcourt
I didn't see the Concordia game, but given that we scored 117 points in it, I can't imagine that we struggled much in the halfcourt game. (Yeah, Concordia is no good, but still, how often do college teams reach triple digits?)

Joined: 12/14/2011

MGoPoints: 98199

Saint_in_Blue

November 4th, 2013 at 8:58 PM ^

Without any real options inside, the only answer might be to jack up a bunch of 3s and hope for the best. And if we all remember, that is not a good answer. I am now afraid for this team and the possibility for a very long year. Without McGary, this team is a borderline top 25 squad.

Joined: 10/17/2011

MGoPoints: 16993

Gustavo Fring

November 4th, 2013 at 10:11 PM ^

Syracuse lost an exhibition to Le Moyne and ended up being the number 1 overall seed in the tournament (ended up losing to a Gordon Hayward-led Butler runner up).  Last year, Michigan lost to Penn State and ended up in the championship.  A bad game does not define a team. 

That said, rather than look at the score or surface trends, the only really disturbing thing was the play of the bigs.  Horford's hands are not very good and Bielfeldt is not exactly a world-beater.  I was impressed with Morgan, but McGary needs to come back. 

The rest of it I can chalk up to sluggishness.  This is not like the Akron or UConn football games (systemic failure that is a sign of impending doom).  This was just a young team that decided to coast.

Joined: 09/29/2009

MGoPoints: 5175

Mr. Yost

November 4th, 2013 at 9:04 PM ^

What a crock of crap...

This team is legit...they're just young. However, unlike football...they have PROVEN young talent.

This is still a top 25 team.

If we had to play without McGary, Coach B would just have to have a closed door meeting with GRIII and tell him sorry son, you're playing PF this year so we can get the best players on the floor.

Joined: 07/25/2011

MGoPoints: -9898220

Saint_in_Blue

November 4th, 2013 at 9:19 PM ^

ok, this team does have some proven young talent. but without consistent scoring (burke) or leadership (mcgary if out for extended periods of time) is going to hurt this team. talent can only take you so far. just ask Kentucky.

Joined: 10/17/2011

MGoPoints: 16993

Mr. Yost

November 4th, 2013 at 9:28 PM ^

But we have a much better coach. They just have a bigger program, a ton more history, great facilities and great recruiters.

X's and O's I'll take Beilein over most anyone in the country. Not to throw football under the bus, but you can't say that about Hoke.

We didn't have the most talented team last year and look where we got. And look where we got without Burke playing like the player of the year and THJ struggling for most of the tournament.

I'll take Beilein and this team without McGary and watch it be a more than decent team. Hell, I'd say it would be better than say an NC St of last year.

It still has 1 NBA lottery player and 2-4 other guys that may play in the league to go with a great coach.

Don't get me wrong, we NEED McGary if we want to do anything. But it's not like where we'd be without Burke in previous years.

Joined: 07/25/2011

MGoPoints: -9898220

Gustavo Fring

November 4th, 2013 at 9:43 PM ^

Compare this team to Morris' sophomore season (Duke last-second shot) and the talent difference is striking.  Morris is the only player on that team who would start on this team (I think sophomre Stauskas would start over freshman THJr., but even if you disagree that's only two starters).

Without McGary, this looks like a sweet 16 team.

With McGary...well the sky's the limit

Joined: 09/29/2009

MGoPoints: 5175

goblue16

November 4th, 2013 at 9:28 PM ^

Oh relax everyone freaked out when Morris left early especially since we had no backup with experience. Well be fine let the team gel the first couple games and remember we're missing arguably our best player. And honestly it's the big ten that counts in the end

Joined: 03/28/2010

MGoPoints: 17468

goblue16

November 4th, 2013 at 9:30 PM ^

It's an exhibition RELAX! Good game played a whole buncha lineups plus I've learned not to under estimate beilein he knows wht he's doing. Plus unlike football, his players actually develop over time

Joined: 03/28/2010

MGoPoints: 17468

mistersuits

November 4th, 2013 at 9:38 PM ^

Best five-man line-up sans McGary, expect to see these guys get the vast majority of minutes against ISU and in Puerto Rico:

Walton
LeVert
Stauskas
GR3
Horford

Those 5 were all at least +15 +/- tonight and no one else on Michigan's roster was positive. Beilein was experimenting with a lot of stuff but that's the way it's going to work out when the chips are down in a couple of weeks.

But this team can be a whole other beast swapping McGary for Horford.

Also for the poo-poo-ers. This is an exhibition: see #1 Kentucky "scraping" by Montevallo (lol?) in a similar game tonight as well.

Joined: 01/27/2010

MGoPoints: 4522

Gustavo Fring

November 4th, 2013 at 9:50 PM ^

  • Walton needs to control the game more.  Too often I would see him pass the ball as soon as he got to half-court.  He's still figuring out how to pick his spots and that's okay, but right now he's erring on the side of deferrence.  It's nice that Michigan has plenty of guys who can create offense and Walton should not have Trey Burke usage, but there is a reason he is the PG.  At times, the offense devolved into too much one-on-one and stagnation.  As the floor general, Walton is the one who needs to facilitate that.  He'll improve in this regard as the season progresses.  Everything else looks to be in place for him
  • Fast break game was sloppy tonight.  Guys were lazy with passes, made a couple of bad reads...chalk it up to rust and energy level.
  • Bigs besides McGary appear to be JAG's.  Morgan's defensive skills are very good, but if McGary is out, I think the two-post lineup is a poor idea.  For one, it exposes your bigs to foul trouble (risking putting Bielfeldt out there for significant minutes).  For another, it really submarines the offense. 
  • Stauskas has been very, very impressive.  Shot looks pure again and he has improved as a finisher.
  • Then again, so has LeVert.  He reminds me a lot of Jamal Crawford.  That crossover is filthy.
  • Irvin looked better tonight as well.  THJr. 2.0 is not a bad comparison.  Considering he's arguably our 4th-best wing, it tels you how much depth this team has in the backcourt.
  • Which is why as long as McGary is out, there is no reason to play two posts.  Get your best players on the floor

Joined: 09/29/2009

MGoPoints: 5175