Most Important Mid-season Improvement/Development?
The ways in which the Michigan basketball team developed over the course of the year are very impressive, and are obviously a huge reason that Michigan is currently in position to at worst get a three seed, likely get a two seed, and still has a puncher's chance at a one seed. Oh, and not to mention that Michigan won the B1G by three games.
My question, up for discussion, is which mid-season improvement/development was the most important, not just in terms of immediate results, but also heading into the tournaments?
I think the revitalization of Nik will be a big emphasis, but I'm going to go a bit different direction. While Michigan still struggles a bit on defense (the start of the Indiana game was nauseating), I think the improvement and development of the 1-3-1 zone has directly lead to 2-3 wins in the second half of B1G play. Early in the B1G, it seemed like every time they went zone it was free buckets for the other team. But MSU and Indiana I remember off hand really struggling against it and that allowing Michigan to get big stops at big times.
For a team that sometimes struggles to get stops, but doesn't necessarily need a ton of stops to be successful, I think the development of that different look and little extra thing for opposing teams to have to prepare for on short notice is a huge benefit going into the tournament, and I think may be the biggest and overlooked development this year.
So what say you guys? Nik's reemergence? Morgan's improved low-post play and patience when he gets the ball in his hands? GRIII turning the corner? The two-headed PG monster and their continued development?
March 10th, 2014 at 11:50 AM ^
I think we first need to establish that the change happened earlier than "mid season" since we went from 6-4 to have a 15-3 run in a tough conference. I honestly think that the McGary thing played a big role. I suspect that the lip service Beilein payed in the fall to making McGary a 4 and GR3 a 3 was fairly accurate and that they were planning to go into the season running a lot of offense through McGary and have LeVert come off the bench. Once McGary's back flared up to the point where they realized he was an unknown, I think Beilein went back to his roots. He starting running the offense mostly through Stauskas, LeVert stepped up and became the secondary scorer, GR3's role gradually went back to being what it was last year, and the centers went back to what they did with the Morris offense. I think it took a while to work out the kinks with everyone's role and once McGary wasn't an option it focused their efforts.
March 10th, 2014 at 11:59 AM ^
March 10th, 2014 at 12:02 PM ^
Personally, I think its too tough to point at one thing, and for that.....I think Bo would be proud. I think its a combination of a lot of things. At the beginning of the season I felt like the team lacked an identitiy. This should not surprise anyone as the backbone of the team was essentially taken away. Replacing Trey Burke,I thought, would be impossibe. Walton started out slow but REALLY grew up fast. Initially I thought he lacked confidence (he probably did...we forget a lot fo these guys just turned 18). To me the turning point for him was the MSU game in Lansing. Knocking down a few big shots and icing the game with his free throws. Impressive.
Or, perhaps the obvious answer.....Nik Stauskas. He grabbed the bull by the horns and stepped up. We all knew Nik could shoot but his ability to be aggressive with the ball, drive to the basket, dunk,etc. really, really surprised me this year. Just past the midway point it seemed as though teams had him figured out. However, he fought through it and with the help of some great coahing he willed himself to be the leader and scorer that this young team needed.
Fianlly, you cant forget Caris LeVert. When our team has not been clicking he seems to be the catalyst that gets things going again. He's aggressive, he hussles, and has become a true offensive threat. I also think his defense has improved throughout the year. (He's the one guy too that gives me hope for next year if everyone bolts for the $ in the NBA).
Combine the above with great character guys like Jordan Morgan and role players like Spike and Horford and what does that remind me of? "The Team, The Team, The Team". A cheesy mgoblog cliche` you might say?? Maybe. But all of the above combined with GREAT coaching, a system that works, player development and team chemistry gave us a season to remember.
Michigan Basketball is back!! (((GO BLUE!)))
March 10th, 2014 at 12:57 PM ^
I like your assessment of the improvement of the 1-3-1 zone leading to some B1G wins. We are still relatively young and those young players still have to execute a Beilein system. So I am not taking away from your vote, however adding that without the steady improvement and functionality of Morford allowed Stauskas, LaVert, GRIII, Walton to make their improvements. Without Morford, IMO, too much pressure on those players does not allow for them to make the improvements they made?
Go Blue!