michchi85

July 11th, 2014 at 1:04 PM ^

But that title is incredibly misleading.  The QA isn't with Beilein, rather a mailbag with Brendan Quinn (who is a great asset to the bball beat BTW).  Still an excellent read.

Lucky Socks

July 12th, 2014 at 11:39 AM ^

Not trying to be a dick. Actually wondering why you think he's a great asset to the beat. This Q&A comes across as answers from a guy whose job is to follow the team. There's nothing wrong with that. But does Quinn have basketball credentials or depth in knowledge? I'm much more impressed by anything over at UMhoops.com, but I'll take hoops coverage where I can get it.



Michigan4Life

July 11th, 2014 at 1:29 PM ^

in particularly on his view of JB's offense. Yes, it has a big guy who set picks, rebound and play defense, but Jordan Morgan is very limited offensively.  Horford has better offensive game but is still limited.  Only McGary showed more diversity in his game as a 5 but weren't able to see it for the full season. 

If any, JB has shown willingness to evolve his offensive system while not losing the integrity of his system.  Doyle is a true post player who can shot midrange.  Donnal has range that extends to 3 pt line.  Only Beifeldt fits Quinn's description but apparently can shoot 3s.

I expect to see an evolution of the system and could see 2 bigs because of his desire to compete with B1G team's physicality down low while still having a stretch 4 aka Wilson.

There is a reason why JB targeted big guys who can bang down low but still has the ability to pop out and make shots.  He wants a big guy who can shoot. Yes, Morgan did well in the offense in his role, but if you have 5 players on court who is a threat to score at anywhere, it's a real weapon and should open up the driving lane for LeVert, Walton and Irvin to drive through.

umumum

July 11th, 2014 at 4:01 PM ^

Beilein simply has never really played two bigs together--here or at WVU.  Now a stretch 4 is a different animal (Smotrych and Pittsnoogle being examples)--and by all accounts Donnal may well end up there.  But this year he will be likely playing the 5 almost the whole time. 

Beilein has little interest in playing "2 bigs" with the stretch 4 caveat.  It simply doesn't fit his offense.

I am also a little more cautious about both Donnal and certainly Doyle.  If Donnal is as good as some believe here (and I suspect he will be fine), then it is unlikely he would have been red-shirted--as we needed another body at the 4 this past year..  And Doyle is an atypical Beilein player and strikes me as a project.  Slowish, played low level Florida basketball, has very little AAU experience and is rated between 125 and 150.  I trust the coaches see something they can work with.  But I'm thinking Horford.

Michigan4Life

July 11th, 2014 at 11:20 PM ^

not at PF.

 

JB has stated his desire to have 2 bigs at the same time. It was wiped out when McGary got hurt before the season started and had to play limited minutes. He does want to have 2 bigs for his offense, a true stretch 4 with a big body.  This is where DJ Wilson comes into play.

umumum

July 12th, 2014 at 12:18 AM ^

like Wilson, who does not and will not have a big body--he will provide 2-3 more inches than GRIII.  But you won't be seeing Donnal and Doyle on the court together--certainly not this year.

I agree that Beilein was trying to play Mitch some at the 4--in part, because he likely promised him he would do so, to prep him for the pros.  But it was clear that Beilein had already abandoned it even before Mitch got hurt.  If Mitch continued at the 4, who do you believe would have been benched--GRIII, Caris? And I don't belive for a second that Caris would have ended up at the point.

And Pittsnogle was a Beilein proto-type 4.  When you spend most of your time standing behind the 3 point line, you ain't a center, no matter what they  may call you.

Michigan4Life

July 12th, 2014 at 1:56 AM ^

Offense with Michigan that it will be the same next year. There will be an evolution and I'm betting he'll play more 2 bigs than in the past. Wilson has the frame to get bigger. To say he will never have the body to bang is silly at this point.

93Grad

July 11th, 2014 at 8:07 PM ^

But there simply isn't enough depth to play 2 "bigs" together at the same time. Not only is there not enough depth but there is almost no game experience amongst the bigs so there is just no advantage. Much better to play a tall skilled wing guy like Chatman or Wilson along with one of the bigs and keep that rotation through out.

LSAClassOf2000

July 11th, 2014 at 2:07 PM ^

All indications say Beilein & Co. are using these summer months as a clean slate. When I asked Beilein about this during his off-season press conference in early June, he quickly responded, “I think this is a great time to start at ground zero and build everything up.”

I know we've talked about how one of the neater facets of Beilein's system is how it seems to recombine and reinvent itself as players depart or experience injury, but it seems like there is a lot of raw statistical production to replace this season, particularly the absence of Nik Stauskas. I would imagine that "building everything up" is simply a way to describe this "morphing phenomenon", if you will, so I am intrigued to see who steps into the Stauskas, GRIII and McGary (or what a healthy McGary can bring) gaps.

UMfan21

July 11th, 2014 at 2:58 PM ^

I'm wondering (hoping?) that he might be implementing the 1-3-1 more. I think the past few seasons we lacked a long defender to play the point, and overall the team did t have the speed for zone in large stretches.



I think LaVert, Chatham, Wilson, etc give an upshot in length/speed.



I can't see Beilein scrapping the offense much. It was #1 in the country in efficiency 2 years in a row. The ball screen is popular in the NBA. Meanwhile our defense has been poor. I think they tweak the defense, perhaps with more zone, and try to develop a shot blocker.