Rick Pitino's Take on Michigan

Submitted by BursleyHall82 on November 14th, 2023 at 12:17 PM

St. John’s coach Rick Pitino had this to say about Michigan after last night’s game:

“I don't follow the Big Ten too much, but there's not too many teams better than Michigan. I can assure you of that. They score so well. They share the ball. They’ve got a dominating point guard. Their two guard is terrific. Their three man is terrific. Their subs coming in can all shoot. Whoever recruited them, they did a great job because they can really shoot and pass.”

He also needed to admit that Trey Burke's block was clean, but I guess we'll take it.

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goblu330

November 14th, 2023 at 12:27 PM ^

I know Michigan has really not played anybody yet, but it is not common in college basketball anymore for a team to completely annihilate opponents like this.  A road beat-down like last night simply doesn't happen.  Depending on Llewelyn's availability for depth at guard, this team may do things, not just be a pleasant surprise.

Joined: 01/07/2022

MGoPoints: 32123

nerv

November 14th, 2023 at 12:32 PM ^

I think this team looks far better than last year and early on looks like a tourney team.

But it is extremely common, in fact i would say its the norm, for major conference college basketball teams to annihilate smaller schools to start the year. Even bad teams start conference play with a good looking record and margin of victory typically.

Joined: 04/14/2009

MGoPoints: 14072

Blinkin

November 14th, 2023 at 3:55 PM ^

Asheville was also a tournament team last year that brought back 4 starters.  Vegas/Torvik actually had us as underdogs to SJU and Asheville.  I think KenPom had us as a 1 point favorite to SJU.  But yeah, I wouldn't say "ain't played nobody."  I gotta think SJU is a Quad 1 win since it was a true road game, right?

Joined: 08/17/2022

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Michuganer

November 14th, 2023 at 1:39 PM ^

If you've watched this team you can see that it is literally night and day from last year's.  Talent- wise, chemistry wise, and absolutely dominant pg wise.  i am personally stoked about this team that i was very ready to ignore. Thank you Juwan, Phil, Eisley, and the college basketball gods!

Joined: 01/25/2017

MGoPoints: 377

rice4114

November 14th, 2023 at 2:05 PM ^

We have improved 3pt shooting, team defense, transition, depth, and passing.

Dug is much better

Cheddar is much much better 

Burnett really takes the sting out of losing Bufkin

Twill is much better

Nkamhoua looks like a possible lottery pick (If you were an NBA exec who would you take him or Jace?)

Reed is still getting better 

Jackson, Cheddar, Jace, GW3, JLew look to be a very solid bench

 

Joined: 08/26/2010

MGoPoints: 47270

mfan_in_ohio

November 14th, 2023 at 2:05 PM ^

St. John’s isn’t a “smaller school.” They are in a power conference (the Big East) and finished between Villanova and Butler last year. In last year’s nonconference they beat Nebraska, Temple, Syracuse, and Florida State. This is not a school one would expect to annihilate.

Joined: 01/26/2009

MGoPoints: 18189

J. Redux

November 14th, 2023 at 3:12 PM ^

The only counterpoint I can think of is that this is a Year 0 for Pitino, who's using the Deion Sanders approach to roster building.  That might work a little better in basketball than it does in football, but there's still a cost.

I suspect it'll be harder to beat St. John's in March than it is in November -- kind of like Kentucky, actually.

Joined: 10/15/2020

MGoPoints: 21468

DetroitDan

November 14th, 2023 at 12:29 PM ^

I'm glad to see someone with more BB knowledge than me describe how good Michigan looks thus far.  With Tschetter and Jackson coming off the bench, we have four strong and skilled bigs.  Add Llewellyn and we've got depth in the backcourt too.  I don't see any weaknesses, and apparently Pitino doesn't either.

Joined: 01/14/2021

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nerv

November 14th, 2023 at 12:41 PM ^

The weakness is definitely depth and the 3 spot. We have 4 guards on the roster, one hasnt played yet while recovering from an ACL and one is a freshman who doesn't look quite ready yet. Dug in foul trouble or playing less than about 38 mpg will cripple this squad.

There is also only one 5 on the roster. Tschetter & Jackson will be playing out of position backing up Reed and there are definitely some teams on the schedule who can exploit that. 

To be frank I don't think this team has a 3 on its roster. TWill is a 4 playing out of position. When we need another ball handler this really becomes apparent. He also really doesn't have a backup. Khayat potentially perhaps but he doesnt look ready to contribute yet. Burnett is probably the most natural fit on the current roster but our backcourt needs him badly.

Joined: 04/14/2009

MGoPoints: 14072

DetroitDan

November 14th, 2023 at 2:55 PM ^

Responding to nerv:

Pitino also noted that Michigan’s bench minutes are particularly dangerous because of the shooting on the floor at different positions. When the Wolverines move Olivier Nkmahoua to the five and play Will Tschetter or Tray Jackson next to him, they have five shooters on the floor.

“They shoot it sometimes at four and even five positions when they sub,” he said. “And that’s a difficult team to guard when they get by you.”

We seem to have some big bodies who can shoot, along with a purely athletic big man and a more typical wing in Williams.  We've got 5 good players for the 3, 4, and 5 positions which is good depth, plus YoYo in reserve. You might rather have a smaller, quicker wing as a reserve than 6'10" Tray Jackson, But Jackson's size alleviates the other potential problem you mention (the 5 spot).  Most importantly, Michigan has interchangeable parts which makes for tough defense along with, as Pitino points out, being a difficult team to guard.  

Of course we'd be better with Kevin Durant, but this is not the NBA. We supposedly beat the #4 team in the country (Marquette) already, so it's theoretical weaknesses against the facts to date.

 

Joined: 01/14/2021

MGoPoints: 4058

nerv

November 14th, 2023 at 3:55 PM ^

Jackson seems like a stretch 4 who is going to buy us minutes at the 5 rather than alleviate a roster issue. Im still glad hes on the team as hes definitely a better option than we had and will help out. We were still recruiting transfer big men throughout the summer and ended up losing one to admissions so I think the staff was a bit worried about the 5 too. Also when teams roll 3 guards out on us, which is pretty common, I dont know about the interchangeability of Jackson/Cheddar/Nkamhoua/TWill stopping penetration on the perimeter. 

These are nitpicks based on the start to the season though; but the original notion was this team doesnt have any weaknesses. If Dug stays on the court well ultimately be pretty good.

Joined: 04/14/2009

MGoPoints: 14072

kejamder

November 14th, 2023 at 12:42 PM ^

No weaknesses?!?

I feel like I'm taking crazy pills a bit. We have weaknesses. Our PG is tiny, doesn't see the whole floor, and doesn't use screens effectively. He's got an amazing handle and speed and finishing ability, and with a new 3pt shot, he will be deadly, but if Big Ten teams don't body him and slow the game down, I will eat my shorts. He will struggle at some point.

Last night reminded me of playing VCU in the tourney and demolishing them - it was just the perfect opponent for us, a disciplined, unselfish team with good ballhandling. If St Johns had just played halfcourt defense, they may have had more success.

Joined: 11/05/2016

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trueblueintexas

November 14th, 2023 at 1:23 PM ^

B1G teams will find a way to use Dug's size against him, but I also think a little perspective is needed.

Casius Winston was 6'1", 185 lbs as a Senior. 

Dug is 5'11:, 175 lbs as a Sophomore. 

Winston held his own against the B1G. Dug is a much quicker athlete and so far has shown great awareness of how to penetrate to score. If he can add the penetrate to dish capability, it won't matter how teams adjust to him. 

Agreed about foul trouble being a concern for Dug until Llewellyn can get healthy enough to provide back up minutes. If that happens before February, this team looks really good.

I'm not as worried about the three spot because NKamhoua, Williams II, & Jackson all look to be fairly versatile athletes with enough outside game to keep offensive spacing. They are also long enough to create problems on D even if they do get blown by periodically. That's where having Reed instead of Dickinson makes this a better team. 

Joined: 11/10/2008

MGoPoints: 36653

rice4114

November 14th, 2023 at 2:12 PM ^

NKamhoua, Williams II, & Jackson all look to be fairly versatile athletes with enough outside game to keep offensive spacing

Exactly. The 3 position isnt specialized. Any of those guys can play it and do just fine. One of my favorite teams had 6'6" Jordan Morgan at center and 6'4" Zack Novak at the 4. We will be just fine.

Nobody is stopping Eddy either way. 

Joined: 08/26/2010

MGoPoints: 47270

mrlmichael

November 14th, 2023 at 12:31 PM ^

While I am not saying he's wrong or that Michigan's team hasn't been surprisingly ahead of expectations, coaches kind of have incentive to say stuff like this.

"Yeah I know we got our faces kicked in but I am telling you right now, that's one of the best teams in the country so really it's not that bad of a loss."

Joined: 09/22/2009

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