Zavier Simpson appreciation thread
Zavier has come a long way since his first year, it’s tough for freshman PGs to grasp Beilein’s system. Simpson is the heart and soul of the squad and is one of the best on ball defenders we’ve had. He has a chance to break Trey Burke’s record for season assists
Most single-season assists in Michigan history: 1. Trey Burke, 260 (2013) 2. Zavier Simpson, 243 (2019) 3. Darius Morris, 235 (2011) 4. Gary Grant, 234 (1988)
Is there anyone on here that doesn't appreciate him?
Probably not. He's a hell of a player, one of the best defenders in the country and he plays the right way too. I never see him showboating or taunting or anything like that. He just seems like he's all business. As a Spartan, Simpson and Livers and Beilein make it hard to root against you guys sometimes.
March 25th, 2019 at 11:26 AM ^
Thanks for the compliment. And in contrast, it is never hard to root against you.
I even root against your rowing team.
They're silent right now but I guarantee you he's got haters. They'll pop up when he has a bad game, which no one is allowed to do ever.
March 25th, 2019 at 12:06 PM ^
There's a guy who posts on the freep comments who is a Michigan fan, but harps on and on and on about Simpson not being a scoring and good shooting point guard. For that guy, every loss in the last 2 seasons has been a result of Simpson not making outside shots. And, you're correct, there are still some haters who lurk around waiting for him to make a mistake. Heck, we saw it here when he had a few turnovers in the first half against Montana.
I'm a big Simpson fan, so seeing him get appreciated here and in the national media is nice.
March 25th, 2019 at 10:58 AM ^
Just the trolls but they appreciate him in a different kind of way.
I actually got in an argument last week with a coworker who is a Michigan fan and he said Simpson is terrible. He even criticized his defense. The MSU fan who was also in the conversation obviously threw his two cents in and agreed as well. As soon as they said Simpson wasn't even a good defender, I knew there was no use going on with the conversation. I was wasting my time and breath.
If he had any type of a jump shot, he would be a player of the year candidate, but he would also be an early entry into the draft. Pick your poison.
His jumper is still sketchy but his free throw percentage has improved.
....and he got the hook-up!
Yeah his FT% is way up from last year. Happy for him that his hard work has paid off.
Whenever he goes to the FT line, I no longer have to worry about him making it because he has been reliable since January. That's a sign of improvement.
March 25th, 2019 at 10:37 AM ^
I love Simpson but he's not an NBA player at his size, even with a jumper.
Spud Webb would like to have a word with you.
delete
Mentioned this in a thread the other day, but he is just so much in command of the offense when he has the ball in his hands. That’s just the best way I can describe him. He’s so much in command with the ball in his hands.
He may not be able to generate his own offense the way Burke could, but he more than makes up for it. His defensive ability speaks for itself, and he puts the rest of his team in position to succeed with his ability on the assist.
I imagine he’s coming back next year, so I’m looking forward to having him back to lead this team again next year.
This control is true both when the ball is in play and when it isn't. When I saw UM play earlier this year, the thing that stood out most to me, vs. TV, is how much X controls the pace in out of bounds plays. He simply won't get in position to take the ball out until the team is ready and knows what they're doing. And the refs totally defer to him. Recall past seasons when baseline out of bounds plays were frequently nightmares when we struggled to get the ball in. I can't remember a single time this has been an issue in the games I've watched this year.
Didn’t think about this but you’re right.
Did you notice in the game Saturday, the Ref handed him the ball and Z told him to get it wiped off, because there was some moisture on the ball. The look he gave Z was priceless, but he did it.
March 25th, 2019 at 10:22 AM ^
Not only that but he held put his hands to wipe them on the towel and scoffed when the ref didnt let him lol
Fans are what they are.
Zavier is an exceptional player-given his limitations...and do not even pretend for a fleeting second that there are not any significant ones. Here, the OP would have done well not to bring up Trey Burke for any comparisons...there, pretty much, are not any good ones. With Burke on this team Zavier is getting DeJulius minutes. This 2018-19 team with Burke is the top #1 seed...Michigan would be the "Duke" that everyone is now chasing.
XtaZ is not Trey Burke. He is a work of art in his own right. Every work of art is flawed, which simply brings out the quality of the work as a whole. FYI, I never saw Trey make a sky hook. What was wrong with him?
Simpson is a special college talent in his own right. He is unconventional for his time, but still a rare talent nonetheless. I don't agree that Simpson would be relegated to some spare bench minutes if college Burke were on this team. Burke and Simpson would spend a lot of time on the court together. Simpson is too good of a defender not to have on the floor a lot, and he can guard bigger guards as well. Simpson is also a really gifted penetrator and passer. Trey Burke does not make that pass to Livers in transition the other night for the dunk. Hell, Trey Burke does not even get that idea.
I think you are selling him short if you don't think he would play a big role pretty much anywhere on any one of these college teams you are watching. He is an incredible competitor and his work ethic is that of a pure winner. He may not play 35 minutes but he would play quite a bit.
outsidethebox has been on this bizarre anti-Simpson crusade since day one. For a long time his complaint was that Brooks wasn't starting over him. That's no longer a tenable position so he's now apparently complaining that Simpson isn't the NPOY like Trey Burke.
Why some people just can't give up a dumb internet argument is beyond me.
I did not bring Burke to this conversation...and FYI, Grant would do a very similar thing for this team. The "dumb internet argument" here is on you and your compatriots. If you wish to discuss something "dumb" take up your buddy who claims that Burke only has a slight offensive advantage over Zavier...and that Zavier evens things out with a defensive advantage over Burke...now that is special! If y'all knew anything about the game you would understand that Zavier benefits much more from his teammates, offensively, than his teammates do from him. The fact here is that Zavier's opportunities are greatly enhanced by Poole, Iggy, Matthews and Livers. And here you would also understand that this is not necessarily a criticism. Basketball is a wonderfully nuanced team sport-the best to play in my world view. If anyone of you could/would make this anything other than a fallacious ad hominem attack on me there would be validity to your criticism-but you cannot...and for good reason. Here, I know the game and the position very well-and have to assume that, because there are no substantive points being made, your position is more rooted in an idolized ignorance...have at it but don't call me out for bringing reason to the discussion.
Zavier is a sacred cow like no other-to the mindless partisans. I admire the kid a great deal-and the effort he has made to maximize his game. But there remain aspects to his skillset that are very limiting. And just because you do not wish to hear this does not mean it is not true...there certainly are aspects of "Ignorance is bliss" that are true...go for it.
“Compatriots?” Wtf? I don’t even think I was replying to you or him?
Honestly though man, if you think the rest of the team “benefits” Simpson more than he benefits them you are out of your fricking mind and you don’t know shit about basketball. These are not all world players around him. They are good, but they are Hardaway, GR3, Stauskus and McGary good. Not a single chance in hell.
They are 2 different types of PG, Both are great leaders and facilitators. Trey has the edge on O and Zavier has the edge on D. You can’t deny that Z is etching his name in Michigan lore.
March 25th, 2019 at 10:11 AM ^
Z might be my favorite Michigan basketball player ever. I really only started watching during the Beilein era, but there are still a lot of awesome players to choose from.
This 2018-19 team with Burke is the top #1 seed
Well, we'll just have to make do with winning 30 games and being a #2 seed. Oh no, the horror.
March 25th, 2019 at 12:32 PM ^
Since Zavier has become the starting PG Michigan is/has:
63-14 overall
28-10 in conference.
Two 30-win seasons.
Won the B1G tourney title last year
Lost in the B1G tourney final this year
Was National Runner-Up last year.
Is currently playing in the Sweet 16.
The team also reached the Sweet 16 and won the B1G tourney title his Freshman year.
Those are some pretty lofty team accomplishments in his three years in Ann Arbor.
Zavier Simpson, upon his graduation next year, will go down as the UM player who has:
- played in the most Final Fours games
- tied for the most Championship games played
- tied for the most Championship banners won
- most assists in a season
- best defensive player in UM history
But greater than all this, will have created this program in his image more than any other player (debatable with the Fab Five members).
He will be legend if he isn't already.
Hear, hear!
Don't jinx the final four stuff bro, but true on all accounts, plus the Fab Five have a stain on their legacy, unfortunately.
March 25th, 2019 at 10:10 AM ^
There was a lot of negativity here initially on Simpson due to some of his weaknesses. There were many, if not most, who were ready to give up on him in his first year. After watching his high school tapes, I never really understood this type of thinking. He's always been ultra quick with elite ballhandling and passing. He had shown the ability to be an extremely prolific scorer in high school despite his limitations offensively. He seemed to be very high energy with an elite competitiveness and work ethic. The odds seemed to favor him becoming a great player here.
Then again, this same type of irrational negativity seems to be applied here to other Michigan players. It's the rule rather than the exception.
Kudos and appreciation for Z and the rest of the team, all of whom are responsible for a great season thus far.
March 25th, 2019 at 10:21 AM ^
Then again, this same type of irrational negativity seems to be applied here to other Michigan players. It's the rule rather than the exception.
Also coaches. If our beloved message board had gotten its way, Beilein would have been fired about 5 times already.
March 25th, 2019 at 10:41 AM ^
Players are not allowed to develop in the internet era. That's my hot take. They either arrive on campus as bona-fide contributors (some uber-vocal critics require them to be stars, not mere contributors) or they are DOA to the internet posse. Simpson and Teske were written off by so many people on this board two years ago, yet they now form the nucleus of a 30-win team with a defensive identity we haven't enjoyed since the 1970's.
i never wrote those two off, but i was pretty damn worried. the effort those two put in with JB and sanderson and their results this past year or so is nothing short of remarkable.
March 25th, 2019 at 10:30 AM ^
Z hook for the win. Congrats Zavier for really stepping up and showing everyone what’s what these past two seasons.
March 25th, 2019 at 10:40 AM ^
At the beginning of last year he was coming off the bench in favor of Eli Brooks. Now he's two wins away from starting in his second straight Final Four run. Tough as nails and resilient as fuck. That's what I want in my point guard
March 25th, 2019 at 10:40 AM ^
I believe it was after our 2nd loss to MSU, I heard multiple posters criticizing Z and his lack of offensive firepower. How we will never get far with him as our PG because it is too easy for defenses to guard him since he is no scoring threat. Although I think some of the criticism is justified since he is not your typical scoring PG, his control and execution of John B's offense has probably been the most undervalued point of topic this entire year. He has also improved on his finishing at the rim with the mastering of the hook shot, has seemed to hit more 3's this year which has kept defenses a little more honest, and most importantly has improved on his FT shooting. I am very excited to see where he as a leader takes this team this year and next year we will just be with a senior PG in Beilein's system.
Go Blue!
March 25th, 2019 at 11:07 AM ^
I heard multiple posters criticizing Z and his lack of offensive firepower. How we will never get far with him as our PG
They were saying this even though last year he was the starting PG on a team that went to the national title game.
Great point! Why does every fanbase have to have those fans where nothing is ever good enough. I bet Villanova fans are complaining today about their performance in the tournament.
March 25th, 2019 at 10:48 AM ^
The improvement of Beilein coached PGs is pretty awesome. I feel like I remember Walton and Z both looking so lost in their back-up roles early in their careers, then a few years later they are giant slayers. I have to remind myself that when I'll see Brook or DDJ struggle, that one of the two of them will probably be become a badass in 1-2 years
March 25th, 2019 at 11:01 AM ^
Same thing applies to DJ Wilson, his freshman year did not lead me to believe he would be a first round draft pick.
hell, i can't believe DIII transfer duncan robinson is in the nba, let alone starting a game as a rookie.
We should expect to see DDJ to play a bigger role next year with a year of experience under his belt and a summer of Camp Sanderson. He's too talented not to play much next year. He gives the offense a different dimension than X at PG which is his ability to score and score off the dribble. Right now, he's rushing into his shot but I liked the fact that he has been aggressive when he's on the floor. He'll be fine
Walton was a 4-year starter. Morris and Simpson came off the bench as freshmen, though.
March 25th, 2019 at 10:49 AM ^
He's the platonic opposite of a Beilein PG in so many ways but has been amazing in the role.
March 25th, 2019 at 10:52 AM ^
Gritty player on a gritty team. Would love Harbaugh to focus The Team on the high level of improvement made by each member of the B-Ball team during their time with the program. And emulate it.
March 25th, 2019 at 11:15 AM ^
U the man X