I don't see any similarity between Smith and Matthews.
And while Livers is on the roster, we still lack depth at the 4 spot. We also don't know how good Livers will be. The smart thing would be to take Smith and Livers and let practice sort out who starts and who comes off the bench in the future.
The roster also lacks ballhandling on the wing which makes ending the recruitment of Eastern baffling.
There isn't enough talent on the roster to pass on Smith or Cain for that matter, especially since attrition might have given the space anyways. Miss out on Wilkes and we are most likely a bubble team from 2016-2018. I don't think there is even a 1 percent chance at Bowen.
Irvin was moved to the 4 because he could not move well laterally and we had no other options.
Cain is 170 lbs....its highly unlikely he would ever see time at the 4. Smith is at least 200 lbs and very developed physically. Nothing can be said with certainty but it is a pretty good guess as to what both of them can and can't guard going forward.
His ability to rebound, finish at the rim, defend the post combined with his ball skills/vision would go a long way to address some of UM's roster weaknesses, especially if he continues to work on that jumper.
Walton, Irvin and LeVert were all making big shots and terrific passes. They looked like a Big 3 for the first time in 2 seasons IMO.
Wagner's emergence at the 5 is sent from heaven. He is by far a better finisher, rebounder than Doyle/Donnal. He can hit the 3 or face up and attack the rim. Kid just has great instincts.
I was a Duncan Robinson critic but he had a lights out game. He still isnt a guy who can shoot on the move or off the dribble but when he sets his feet then its going in. Also a really amazing passer. His defense needs work though as he gave up at least 4/5 threes to Texas as he closed out late on the weak side. It does seem like he is taking Aubrey's minutes and if not careful, Dawkins might be coming off the bench.
UM really misses Spike. No way does Texas' pressure give them issues with Spikes passing and ball handling. He will be an upgrade over MAAR.
Perimeter defense and a back up center are the biggest issues. Our guards are always scrambling to recover and getting beat. The drop off between Wagner and the next big is stark. Maybe Wilson will have an epiphany and recognize just how long, athletic and skilled he is and develop a mean streak?
Texas is not good, probably an NIT team, so I don't want to read into this too much. NC St is similar to Texas. I think the real barometer of how far this team is coming along will be SMU.
Wagner has tons of upside and is electric in transition. Think he will sit this year and learn the system and develop his half court offense.
I don't think Wilson is a 4. He looks awesome but I think JB will want more ball handling, shooting and I'm not sure Wilson can guard small ball 4s. I think Wilson starts over Doyle at the 5.
MAAR will push Spike for the backup PG role. If he can shoot the 3 at a reasonable rate, there is no way in hell that he isn't in the rotation.
I prefer Kam over DR, if he can hit his 3s. DR can knock down shots when he doesn't have to move but he had a few bad misses when he was forced to shoot on the fly. Kam gives you a rebounder, a transition and maybe PnR handler, passes just as well as DR and mid post game.
My 8 man rotation come March as of today:
C: Wilson - 20, Doyle- 15, Donnal - 5
PF: Irvin - 20, Chatman - 20
SF: Dawkins - 30, Irvin - 10
SG: LeVert - 35, Walton - 5
PG: Walton - 25, Albrecht or MAAR - 15
Of course, these various videos are just practice. I'm sure some guys are more gamers than others and will emerge even further and change my views on the rotation.
Walton and Irvin not knocking down catch and shoot opportunities stalled the offense in the non-conference. The ISOs were not the issue against Oregon or Villanova and were the only reason we won those games.
7 years with who? GR3 is the only one and he is in the NBA. It is dishonest to say that JB has had the type of talent at the 4 that he has now. First time he has had 6'8''-6'9'' guys like Kam, Wagner and Robinson at the wing positions, too. Dawkins has already been productive enough for heavy optimism. Its a numbers game and at least 1 of those 4 will be starter worthy in 2016.
KU and UK are fairly good at only taking one elite guy at each position on the perimeter.
Duke runs 7 man rotations.
I think its more likely there than beating 2 seniors at UM for perimeter spots.
If Langford wants to come then great but I don't see it at the moment with out a guy leaving to go pro or the remote possibility that none of our forwards develop into potential pros
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Have to agree.
I don't see any similarity between Smith and Matthews.
And while Livers is on the roster, we still lack depth at the 4 spot. We also don't know how good Livers will be. The smart thing would be to take Smith and Livers and let practice sort out who starts and who comes off the bench in the future.
The roster also lacks ballhandling on the wing which makes ending the recruitment of Eastern baffling.
There isn't enough talent on the roster to pass on Smith or Cain for that matter, especially since attrition might have given the space anyways. Miss out on Wilkes and we are most likely a bubble team from 2016-2018. I don't think there is even a 1 percent chance at Bowen.
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/103…
http://www.scout.com/player/143528-zak-irvin
http://www.umhoops.com/recruits/zak-irvin/
Zak was 190 coming out
Irvin was moved to the 4 because he could not move well laterally and we had no other options.
Cain is 170 lbs....its highly unlikely he would ever see time at the 4. Smith is at least 200 lbs and very developed physically. Nothing can be said with certainty but it is a pretty good guess as to what both of them can and can't guard going forward.
thats the point...........Cain is best defending 2/3s and Smith 3/4s. It isn't a fools errand.
Justin Smith doesn't have an offer and is a 4, not a 3.
His ability to rebound, finish at the rim, defend the post combined with his ball skills/vision would go a long way to address some of UM's roster weaknesses, especially if he continues to work on that jumper.
Everyone should follow https://twitter.com/endless_motor for the latest on UM hoops recruiting tbh
Hopefully Tillman and Smith are next
wayyyyyyyyy better handles than DR and he can shoot off the bounce.
But planning a second visit is meaningful.
Yup. Spike is 23 and will have a degree. Time for the young guys to have their shot.
Good post
So why didnt anyone other than LeVert/Walton get rebounds if Kam was simply bigger? He had a great rebound rate last year too.
Robinson is by far the worst defender on the team and he can only hit shots if they are wide open. Keep him out of the rotation.
8 man rotation: Walton/LeVert/Dawkins/Irvin/Doyle/Spike/MAAR/DJ
lol the team was involved early and got shots....they just bricked everything
"Burke and Stauskas had ice in their veins and would not let the team lose."
no they'd still lose
Alex has the best 1-3 but Ace's depth is insane.
This team will be a good team that doesn't make it to the second weekend unless Kam, DJ and Moe step up.
No offense to Duncan Robinson but the rotation already has 5 shooters. Need a rebounder and/or rim protector.
Not just about scoring. Need him to drive + dish. Love that mid range pull up of his.
1. Wilson needs to be at center
2. Walton is great in transition but way to passive in the halfcourt
3. MAAR and Kam need to penetrate more and a few ballscreens would be nice
JB has said he won't be running much 2 PG lineup this year. Its MAAR or Spike IMO not both.
Wagner has tons of upside and is electric in transition. Think he will sit this year and learn the system and develop his half court offense.
I don't think Wilson is a 4. He looks awesome but I think JB will want more ball handling, shooting and I'm not sure Wilson can guard small ball 4s. I think Wilson starts over Doyle at the 5.
MAAR will push Spike for the backup PG role. If he can shoot the 3 at a reasonable rate, there is no way in hell that he isn't in the rotation.
I prefer Kam over DR, if he can hit his 3s. DR can knock down shots when he doesn't have to move but he had a few bad misses when he was forced to shoot on the fly. Kam gives you a rebounder, a transition and maybe PnR handler, passes just as well as DR and mid post game.
My 8 man rotation come March as of today:
MAAR is also 2 years older. Kam has more potential.
JB says he doesn't want Walton and Spike on the floor together a lot. Really hard to pencil Spike in at 20 mpg or more.
C: Doyle -
"he gets passed by younger players"
What wings on the roster are younger than Kam?
Great post Lanknows
Walton and Irvin not knocking down catch and shoot opportunities stalled the offense in the non-conference. The ISOs were not the issue against Oregon or Villanova and were the only reason we won those games.
Reminds me of Lenzelle Smith
Winston is more skilled than Walton at the same age.
Winston is farther as a passer, has a floater, better footwork, etc. You don't lead the EYBL in scoring on great efficiency ifyou are not good.
Much better athlete than Nik.
Trey, THJR, McGary, Nik, GR3, Walton, Irvin, Dawkins, MAAR, Doyle....all did fine.
Gary Battle said he would veto any school Tyus chose that he did not like for the past year. Not buying this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fiNP35JBOU&list=LLrlX-XRSHblNwUma7nNo7…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u5bOQ6hea0&list=LLrlX-XRSHblNwUma7nNo7…
Looks plenty athletic to me
The USA camp actually measaures these guys...those sites merely go by what AAU teams tell them.
Smote played tons of center. Sims was a good player and would start over freshmen as a junior.
7 years with who? GR3 is the only one and he is in the NBA. It is dishonest to say that JB has had the type of talent at the 4 that he has now. First time he has had 6'8''-6'9'' guys like Kam, Wagner and Robinson at the wing positions, too. Dawkins has already been productive enough for heavy optimism. Its a numbers game and at least 1 of those 4 will be starter worthy in 2016.
Not according to the mocks and you would have to hope Langford would wait til next April to commit somewhere to see if Irvin declared for the draft
JB has never had forwards with this kind of talent barring GR3 so I don't think using the past to gauge these guys ceilings is wise
KU and UK are fairly good at only taking one elite guy at each position on the perimeter.
Duke runs 7 man rotations.
I think its more likely there than beating 2 seniors at UM for perimeter spots.
If Langford wants to come then great but I don't see it at the moment with out a guy leaving to go pro or the remote possibility that none of our forwards develop into potential pros
Michigan isn't a blueblood where potential one and dones will sit, especially since Langford can go to UK, Duke and KU and start.
I'll bet on Beilein turning one of those 4 guys into a star.
Michigan would take
Spot on.
Michigan would take Langford but Langford would probably not choose Michigan given the roster.
"Wilson and Doyle won't compete for minutes that season"
LOL
I'm fairly certain we will have a center starting that year
And Bacari just said DJ is 6'11'' he is a center
Langford is not going to a program "to learn"
He is going to a program to get minutes and shots
Walton will start
Irvin will start
Battle will start
1 of Wilson or Doyle will start
I have to believe 1 of Chatman, Wagner, Robinson or Dawkins will be a potential pro and start
I do not see how to fit him in unless Walton or Irvin goes pro
Walton will be here in 2016 and Langford isn't going to a place where he comes off the bench.