Tidbits on Michigan Basketball from Sam Webb WTKA Radio
Someone from UMHoops brought this info up in the forum which can be found here: http://forum.umhoops.com/discussion/1054/tidbits-from-michigan-assistant-coaches-on-wtka-with-webb
Interesting that DJ Wilson may see time at the wing and center. Good to see him gain 35 lbs since HS which is a ton, but good to fill out his skinny frame. That's a lot of weight gain in less than one year.
Duncan Robinson on the radar to break Nik Stauskas shooting drill record. If true, he could be a huge weapon coming off the bench as a shooter for 2015-2016 season.
The future for Michigan basketball is indeed bright. My expectation is top 3 in B1G and Sweet 16 run which shouldn't be unrealistic IMO.
October 8th, 2014 at 8:02 PM ^
October 8th, 2014 at 8:31 PM ^
I think anything less than Sweet 16 will be a big disappointment this year.Guard play is generally more crucial to success than forward play, and we have the guards. The bigs should be adequate.
Also, I've been expecting big things from Robinson (next season, alas) for a while now. Very excited about Chatman too, for this year. That kid strikes me as big-time.
Also looking forward to the coaching. How awesome would it be if Beilein came out for the first game wearing a headset? I mean, actually not awesome, kinda mean. I don't really want him to do it. But it would be kinda funny.
October 8th, 2014 at 8:32 PM ^
I think this team surprises a lot of people this season... Walton and Irvin take HUGE steps, and I think Irvin has the ability to be a more versatile player than GR3. GR3 disappeared at many key points last season and couldn't hit key jump shots. Not only is Irvin a better shooter than GR3 but I think he can make huge strides driving and being a presence under the basket. That being said, I think we can expect huge strides to be made by Walton in scoring, dishing, and on defense. We know what we can expect from Caris, and I think Donnal and Doyle will be able to hold their own under the basket.
The beginning of the season will definitely indicate growing pains, and I think we will definitely come out of nonconference play with three losses (SMU, Cuse, and one in the preseason tourney), and I doubt we have anywhere near the start of conference play that we had last season. However, I think we turn it up around late January and early February and begin to look unstoppable. There is so much talent and potential with this team, and I think their ceiling can be even higher than it was last season.
October 9th, 2014 at 5:23 AM ^
IMO he's going to shock many people with his improvement. I don't think he's an All American or anything, but I think he can be the best true PG in the league.
October 8th, 2014 at 9:48 PM ^
October 9th, 2014 at 5:18 AM ^
You shouldn't be shocked if we're a sweet 16 team, heck no. But that's not where the bar should be set for this team.
The bar right now is 7 or 8-seed/Round of 32.
Get over that, good year, get way over that, GREAT year.
But if end up an 8 seed and get knocked out in the Round of 32 by a 1 seed, that's not a terrible year for this year. In fact, it's spot on.
The bar should be attainable with room to surpass the expecation.
October 9th, 2014 at 10:09 AM ^
Michigan is 7-8 seed and lose in 2nd round. That means Michigan would be 6th place in B1G. I expect Michigan to be 2nd/3rd and get a 4 seed with a Sweet 16 appearance.
October 10th, 2014 at 4:27 PM ^
Previous success and a coach doesn't always mean success.
Otherwise MSU/Duke/Carolina/Kentucky would ALWAYS be good.
All 4 of those teams have had down years.
I'm not even predicting a down year, I'm thinking we can certainly be a Sweet 16 team, but Round of 32 as of today is a solid over/under.
October 9th, 2014 at 7:57 AM ^
FIRE DAVID BRANDON!
Sorry, wrong sport.