UMHoops article highlighting reasons for optimism
This article was posted two weeks ago, but I didn't see it linked to here and it's a good read. http://www.umhoops.com/2010/10/24/the-blueprint/#more-10820
I'm not expecting a lot from the team this year, but it will be fun to watch this young team mature under one of the best coaches in the game. I could see us surprising some people and maybe even making a run at the NIT. People forget that while we're putting out 6 freshmen, all but Hardaway and Horford either redshirted or had an extra year in prep (or in McLimans' case both). Novak's moving to the 2, which means we'll no longer have the shortest 4 ever and I'm hoping some minor Ewing Theory effect with Harris and Sims leaving. Maybe I'm hoping for too much. Either way I think we're set up well for the future and it will be fun to watch us get there.
note: OMG not a football thread! I know deal with it.
November 4th, 2010 at 8:58 PM ^
Can I have some of that happy juice your taking?
November 4th, 2010 at 8:59 PM ^
HA! I can say with certainty that that's the first time anyone has ever said that to me on this board.
November 4th, 2010 at 8:58 PM ^
about our coach that he was able to get the sons of four ex-NBA players to commit to his program (yes Dumars was a transfer but still). That indicates a ship pointed in the right direction.
November 4th, 2010 at 9:14 PM ^
I dont think we're going to be that bad. Doesnt mean we're going to all that good, either. But there are plenty of OOC wins on the slate, that an NIT would probably come our way even if the best we day is flirt with .500. I dont about the Ewing Theory, or if this comment fits that concept, but I do think JB will have more options from 1-5 to put on the floor this season, which is a big plus despite no Peedi and Manny. I wouldnt underestimate that aspect.
November 4th, 2010 at 9:26 PM ^
I'm really looking forward to watching these guys play. There will be growing pains and it may be ugly at first. But I expect this team will compete. There's a llot of talent on that squad and we finally have some depth at the C/PF positions (3 Fs. competing for starting center). 2011 will be even better with the arrival of TB and CB...
P.S. Amir Williams visits this weekend...Could we be loved???
November 4th, 2010 at 9:28 PM ^
W's and L's will not be a good indicator of this team because these kids are going to get exposed this season in the Big Ten. After maturing as a team this season, M should be poised to send Novak and Douglass to the NCAA tourney as seniors, and be a perennial Top 25 team thereafter.
November 4th, 2010 at 9:43 PM ^
but i really don't see this team winning more than 5 games in the big 10 this year. we still lack the necessary beef to compete in the big 10 right now, and we will be missing the huge production from manny and peedi.
but it should get progressively better next year.
November 4th, 2010 at 10:31 PM ^
M is going to be much stronger at the point than last season with Darius and Stu having become acclimated with playing the point on the major college level. Last year Morris was a frosh and Stu was new to the point guard position. Stu struggled mightily at point last season but showed signs of "getting it" at the end of the season While we are very young, the one place we do return experience, is in the back-court, which in college can be a huge advantage.
Leadership is another area where M should be much better this season as well. Manny was many things, but a leader he wasn't. It was readily apparent from the onset last season that M had chemistry problems. Manny and M benefited from 2 senior guards with great leadership qualities when they made their run into the NCAA tourney. There was a leadership void all season long.
The ugly will be starting 3 freshman in the frontcourt with 3 freshman backing them up, there will be some growing pains, but like the point guard situation last season, the frontcourt will be all the better after a year of seasoning at the Big Ten level, leading to high hopes for the future.
November 4th, 2010 at 9:34 PM ^
You do realize that an NIT bid would mean improvement for the team after losing its two biggest contributors, right? I still have some hope in the John Beilein experiment, and I like this team's upside in the coming years, but I'm staying realistic here.
November 4th, 2010 at 9:55 PM ^
Yeah, I realize that. For some reason last year's team never seemed to click. I'm not expecting an NIT bid, but I think there's a good chance we end up about the same place as last year. Maybe not being so dependent on two players will aid our chemistry.
November 4th, 2010 at 10:08 PM ^
I really think this team is going to be a much improved version of JB's team from his 1st year. As in we will probably do a bit better in non-conference and we'll struggle mightily at the beginning of conference play, but we'll improve significantly as conference season progresses and upset one of the Big Boys late season(MSU over spring break plz?) en route to a solid 2nd round exit at the Big Ten tourney. Either way though, I'm excited to watch this team grow and compete and it's nice that the only way this team can surprise us is in the positive direction.
November 5th, 2010 at 12:24 AM ^
This team has a lot of young players, but those players are big enough to keep others from having to play out of position. They may not win more than fourteen or so, but they could end up surprising a lot of people if a few things go right. The matchups will be a lot more even now.