Your All-Decade Michigan Basketball Team
I did an all-decade Michigan football team earlier and now I think it's only fair to do a Michigan basketball one (2010-2019). For this, I will do a starting 5 with a bench spot for each one. At the end are the players I barely left out. The criteria are based on what they accomplished at Michigan, not necessarily the NBA.
This one was much tougher as this decade had a lot of success.
Point Guard: Trey Burke
Guard: Nik Stauskas
Wing: Tim Hardaway Jr
Wing: Duncan Robinson
Center: Moritz Wagner
BN: Zavier Simpson
BN: MAAR
BN: Caris Levert
BN: Charles Matthews
BN: John Teske
Honorable Mention:
Derrick Walton Jr, GRIII, Zack Novak, DJ Wilson, Isaiah Livers, Jordan Morgan, Mitch McGary Manny Harris, Zak Irvin
My Rationale
Before you begin typing your comments ridiculing my choices, here is my rationale for some of my more questionable picks. I chose Simpson over Derrick Walton due to his all-around game, his Final Four appearance, and that he is on pace this year to end up 2nd all-time in assists for Michigan basketball. I placed Duncan Robinson in the starting lineup over Caris Levert because Levert realistically played one full year as a starter due to injuries. Because Levert was so good when he was playing, he still deserved to be on the team. I left DJ Wilson and Mitch McGary off the list for a similar reason as they really had one great year before leaving, but didn't contribute as much as Charles Matthews or other players before or after that. Jordan Morgan really deserves to be on this team, but Wagner and Teske have been so so so good for us.
Let me know what you would do differently on your list!
December 3rd, 2019 at 10:42 AM ^
Point Guard: Trey Burke
Guard: Nik Stauskas
Wing: Tim Hardaway Jr
Wing: Moritz Wagner
Center: John Teske
BN: Zavier Simpson
BN: Duncan Robinson
BN: Caris Levert
BN: Charles Matthews
BN: Mitch McGary
December 3rd, 2019 at 10:52 AM ^
I agree with leaving Mo out.
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:02 AM ^
I'm with you, move Mo to the wing and Teske to the 5.
MAAR over Duncan is a worthwhile debate. As is Walton over Simpson. DW's step-back was bigger threat, though hard to argue with Z's passing and baby-hook development.
I wish we'd had a healthy Levert, because then he may have replaced THJ as the other wing. Or a THC free McGary, who might have become a killer stretch 5.
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:43 AM ^
Walton was arguably on Burke level during the second half of his senior year, but before that he was strictly meh. Zavier has been much more consistent and has improved every single year.
December 3rd, 2019 at 12:08 PM ^
Walton was an elite offensive player for half a season.
Simpson has been an elite defender for three years now and was the unquestioned leader of teams that accomplished far more than Walton (Final Four and winningest class in UM history).
Simpson is closer to Burke than Walton is to Simpson.
December 3rd, 2019 at 2:44 PM ^
Whoever you think is better or more valuable, isn't great to be able to debate the greatness of these great recent/current PG's?
December 3rd, 2019 at 12:33 PM ^
imo, moving mo to the 4 crushes his value. ask isaac haas or ward.
December 3rd, 2019 at 2:31 PM ^
I disagree. Though it limits his driving abilities he still shoots better than most 4s and can post up any 4 but can’t defend the 5 as well as Teske. And Teske shoots better than almost any 5.
December 3rd, 2019 at 12:13 PM ^
Why does everyone have Tim Hardaway Jr 1st team? He averaged 42% shooting and 14 pts per game. LeVert did much better if you ignore his freshman season when he was like 100 lbs.
December 3rd, 2019 at 12:20 PM ^
injuries. THJ scored over 1500 pts in 3 yrs (17.2 ppg); Levert just over 1000 in 4 yrs (10.4 ppg).
December 3rd, 2019 at 10:53 AM ^
I'll just do a Starting 5:
PG: Trey Burke (no brainer)
Wing: Nik Stauskas (great shooter and playmaker)
Wing: Caris LeVert (great blend of shooting, playmaking, and rangy defending)
Wing: Isaiah Livers (great versatility, developing offensive threat, glue guy)
Center: Jon Teske (with 4 shooters out there, i think we can make a spot for his defense)
December 3rd, 2019 at 10:54 AM ^
Purely based on the talent/production they showed in their time in the maize and blue
1st team
PG: Burke
G: Stauskas
G: Hardaway Jr
F: Wilson
C: Wagner
2nd team
PG: Walton
G: MAAR
G: Levert
F: Robinson
C: Teske
3rd team
PG: Simpson
G: Matthews
G: Irvin
F: GRIII
C: McGary
December 3rd, 2019 at 10:54 AM ^
I would slide Wagner to PF, and start either Teske/Morgan/McGary at Center for defense/rebounding.
I think you're also forgetting how good Manny Harris and senior year Derrick Walton were. I'm definitely putting Manny Harris on the bench over Charles Matthews.
December 3rd, 2019 at 12:41 PM ^
+1 about Manny. He balled his senior year and didn't have much help.
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:16 AM ^
I'm coming from a "which group of players would make the best team" perspective.
PG: Burke, obvious.
SG: Stauskas, won B1G POY, obvious.
SF: LeVert, senior year LeVert was playing at an AA/B1G POY level before he got hurt. If healthy he's he only guy we've had this decade that was on the same level as the previous 2. Also a step above those 2 defensively.
PF: DJ Wilson, the 1-3 on this team are all guys who are ball dominant players. LeVert and Stauskas can definitely play off the ball and thrive as secondary creators, but you'll want the ball in the hands of one of those three every time. Give me Wilson at the 4 as a 3 and D guy who can play great D and rebound on the defensive end and shoot the ball and rebound on the offensive end. A perfect compliment to the first 3 as a highly efficient, low usage player.
C: Teske, same rationale as Wilson, give me the best defensive Center in school history who can also work well with Burke on offensive in the P&R.
Backups:
PG: Simpson, only other thought was Walton but with all the scoring we have at the Guard position on the first team give me a defensive stopper off the bench who can still come in an run an offensive at an elite level if necessary.
SG: Hardaway, 1st round pick as a backup SG is awesome, can come in and be instant offense off the bench.
SF: Matthews, defensive wing stopper off the bench who can work well as the 5th scoring piece in any given offensive lineup.
PF: Livers, this is definitely the biggest stretch of what they've accomplished but if he keeps playing like he has this year, he's another good defensive piece and an elite shooter to bring in off the bench. GR3 is the only other guy I would have considered but he seems too similar to Matthews and coming off the bench I like Matthew's defensive upside more.
C: Mo, it's either him or McGary but I like Mo's shooting ability more in the modern game so he gets the nod.
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:20 AM ^
"Of the decade" content is going to be rough in football, but it will be an absolute delight for basketball. What a great job by Beilein to rebuild the program.
PG: Burke
SG: Stauskas
Wing: THJ
Wing: Levert
C: M. Wagner
Backups:
Siimpson
Walton
MAAR
GRIII
Teske
Things that could change this year: Teske could take the 5. Livers could make himself indispensable. Yeah, I've got three PGs, but Michigan's run of PGs this decade has been fantastic and there's no way that Walton and Simpson don't both deserve recognition. To be honest, if I weren't actually trying to produce a mythical "starting 5," I'd probably put two PGs at the guard spots, move Stauskas to the 3, and drop THJ.
Player of the decade is Burke, obviously. second place? Leaning Simpson right now.
December 3rd, 2019 at 12:09 PM ^
burke was obviously the best player, but would you rather have the one great year from burke (or stauskus) or the 3 really good years from simpson? tough call.
December 3rd, 2019 at 9:48 PM ^
The Athletic did their Team of the Decade last week. Your first team is the same as theirs (Baumgardner and Quinn). I agree with it.
Second team was similar. Maybe Wilson and McGary as well to make 12.
The question/teams really comes down to whether or not you get their whole career or them at their best. Stauskas best season was second to only Burke, but you only got it for one year. Wilson had flashes. McGary had flashes. Hardaway, Simpson, MAAR had better careers.
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:22 AM ^
livers will earn that 4 spot if he keeps it up
December 3rd, 2019 at 12:23 PM ^
he might be there already. he may be the best shooter we've had this decade.
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:41 AM ^
Kelvin Grady
Ant Wright
Kam Chatman
Ricky Doyle
Ben Cronin
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:47 AM ^
Teske should be the first team center!
I would put Matthews in the starting lineup as well. He had the ability to take it to the rack and had a good pivot-to-turnaround jump shot from the elbow. And his defense was PHENOMENAL. I think GRIII should be higher as well.
D. Robinson''s defense was very meh for much of his time at Michigan until he drastically improved under Yaklich so I wouldn't put him on the first team. And like many other shooters on those Beilein teams, he could go cold for long stretches.
I agree that Simpson should be behind Burke. Walton was good - but, like Robinson he wasn't a great player until late in his career. Simpson has been consistent and is still getting better in his senior year.
Can't wait to see what the next All-Decade team will look like!
December 3rd, 2019 at 12:03 PM ^
remember, a freshmen livers beat out robinson as the starter for a chunk of robinson's senior year. robinson had a really good final month or so, but come on. there are a lot of wing players i would take over him. livers is a much better player already.
December 3rd, 2019 at 12:19 PM ^
To be a little different, this is the lineup I would most want to see play together in a Beilein offense:
PG: Trey Burke
SG: Nik Stauskas
SF: Caris Levert
PF: DJ Wilson
C: Mo Wagner
All 5 guys can shoot as well as put the ball on the floor and get to the basket. All would have good positional size too. Would be incredibly fun to see what Beilein could do with that offensive skill. Of course, defense would be lacking, but so be it.
December 3rd, 2019 at 12:33 PM ^
Burke, Stauskas, LeVert, Livers, Teske.
i think this team would beat all others shown here so far because all 5 can score, shoot the three, and play great defense (with the exception of Stauskas). They would also be a very good ball handling team with good size.
December 3rd, 2019 at 12:45 PM ^
PG-Simpson
G-Brooks
W-F. Wagner
W-Livers
C-Teske
I'm anticipating an excellent remainder of the season.
December 3rd, 2019 at 1:19 PM ^
Starters:
Burke- PG
Stauskas - Guard
THJ - Wing
LeVert - Wing
Teske - Center
---
As for my bench, I'm probably taking Wagner and McGary as the first guys off my bench. Tough choice next between Simpson and Walton as my backup PG, but I'll have to go with Simpson just because of what he offers on defense, and then just seeing how much he's in control with the ball in his hands. Livers would have a spot, and then Novak whenever I need an Aneurysm of Leadership
December 3rd, 2019 at 1:22 PM ^
I'm sticking to using players at the positions they played at Michigan. So if I want Matthews on my team, and I do, he's at the 3. Same with Wagner at the 5. I'm also weighting career more than best season. I only listed a 3rd choice when they were very close. If I was projecting a little more, Livers would make my team.
1. Burke - Simpson
2. Stauskas - MAAR - Hardaway
3. Lavert - Matthews - Hardaway
4. Novak - G. Robinson - D. Robinson
5. Teske - Wagner
December 3rd, 2019 at 1:54 PM ^
What I would do differently is wait until this year--which is shaping up to be pretty special--is over before I go putting together a list
December 3rd, 2019 at 2:34 PM ^
Chris Webber
December 3rd, 2019 at 2:42 PM ^
Moe, DJ, Mitch, J-Mo, Big Sleep