If you could add one former Michigan basketball player to the current roster...

Submitted by UMFanatic96 on January 8th, 2019 at 1:03 PM

In these hard times (thank you Al Washington), I am proposing a question about our amazing basketball team. If you could take any one former Michigan basketball player and add them to the current team to make them even better, who would you choose?

Note that in this scenario the player would obviously be in their prime, so feel free to include players from the 20th century.

For me, I would pick Nik Stauskas to better our outside shooting and free throw shooting. 

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N. Campus Tech

January 8th, 2019 at 2:12 PM ^

Trey Burke or Chris Webber.

Trey is a slight down grade in man defense from X, but a huge upgrade in offense. 

Webber was also a great passer. Lose little to nothing on defense, but what is the opposing team going to do? He can take anyone one-on-one. Any double team and he's hitting the open guy. Teams want to play us zone? Put Chris in the middle. Just don't let him call time-outs. 

Joined: 09/10/2015

MGoPoints: 6192

harmon40

January 8th, 2019 at 2:19 PM ^

Let's not complicate things - Chris Webber, hands down.

Can you IMAGINE Webber playing on a Beilein team?? Apart from dominating the post, his passing skills, ability to trigger, run, or finish the fast break, and pick and roll ability would make him a perfect and deadly fit for Beilein's style of play.

Cazzie and Rudy T would also have to be in the discussion but I never saw either of them play so I'll just go with the best M player I've ever seen.

Joined: 05/02/2009

MGoPoints: 5743

JamieH

January 8th, 2019 at 2:26 PM ^

Yeah, as many have already said, the answer to this is always Glen Rice, though Chris Webber would also be an acceptable answer.  

Rice set records back when shooting 3's was still a new thing.  He shot nearly 52% from 3 his senior year (yes the line was marginally shorter).  In comparison, Stauskas topped out at 44%.  Not dinging Stauskas--he was awesome.  Just pointing out how incredible 52% is.  

He'd be shooting 6-10 3's a game under Beilein.  

Joined: 09/05/2009

MGoPoints: 28331

JamieH

January 8th, 2019 at 2:42 PM ^

IMO Teske is not the place this team most needs an upgrade.  Teske's defense and rebounding are crucial to the team's success.  

Of course Webber is better than Teske because he's one of the best players in history, but honestly if you had Webber on the team, you could probably play Webber at the 4 and Teske at the 5 and have them on the floor together.  You would be giving up shooting for sure, but Webber could guard the perimeter just fine as a stretch 4, and can you imagine the offensive rebounding you would have with both of them out there?

That's why I'd rather have Rice, since Rice would give you a guy at the 4 to just bomb away and put up 25-30 points with.  But Webber would of course play insane defense and give you 10 rebounds a night.  So, yeah, of course he'd be awesome too.  

Joined: 09/05/2009

MGoPoints: 28331

mfan15

January 8th, 2019 at 3:10 PM ^

Honestly I would take Mo Wagner.  He knows the coaches and system and most of the players. Wagner with another year with Yaklich and Beilein would be deadly on the current roster.

Joined: 01/11/2013

MGoPoints: 1

Saludo a los v…

January 8th, 2019 at 3:27 PM ^

A million people have already said it but it has to be Rice. First if you add Rice you are getting the best shooter the school has ever had on a team that needs shooting more than anything else. Second you get the lineup flexibility of Rice playing the 4 or even the 3 if you want to go bigger on a team that has no backup wing other than Livers.

Starting lineup of Teske, Rice, Iggy, Matthews, and Z. Poole as a super sixth man  when one of Rice, Iggy, or Matthews sits. Livers as the backup 5 and maybe a few minutes here and there for Brooks. Hell with Rice on the team pushing Poole to the bench I might consider using Poole as a backup point guard too. He has a nice handle and a lineup with him at the point and Livers at center could play position-less basketball and play 5 out and just kill teams.

Joined: 04/14/2011

MGoPoints: 2458

UMinSF

January 8th, 2019 at 3:42 PM ^

Glen Rice. No doubt in my mind.

Adding his deadly shooting and length would make this team unstoppable. He would have positional flexibility, and he could run the floor, too. 

And that shot...

Webber is a strong #2, but for this team I'd say Rice for sure.

Joined: 04/06/2009

MGoPoints: 18204

Perkis-Size Me

January 8th, 2019 at 4:03 PM ^

Burke. I love Simpson and he is a far better defender than Burke ever was. But what Burke would bring to the table instead would be worth the trade-off. 

The absolute master floor general, and an offensive threat anywhere on the floor. Knew Beilein’s offense to a T, was a perfect fit for it, was money from behind the three point line, and he just had the “it” factor. You can’t really describe it but you know it when you see it. He could will you to victory and take over games by himself. You got behind him because you knew he could win you the game. 

The whole 2012-13 team was talented and special, but no debate that Burke was the straw that stirred that drink. Almost beat the #1 team in America by himself, and arguably should have if not for the call that shall not be named. 

Joined: 11/30/2011

MGoPoints: 105865

MRJ2di

January 8th, 2019 at 4:09 PM ^

I think this team would benefit most from adding a backcourt player that can nail the three and maybe, but not necessarily, play point guard.  Louis Bullock (Ed Martin malfeasance duly noted) comes to mind.

Joined: 09/24/2010

MGoPoints: 104

sbeck04

January 8th, 2019 at 4:17 PM ^

This is tough.  Stauskas was my first thought.  I think my second choice would be a name I didn’t see but would be interesting.  Epke Udoh’s junior year at Baylor was fierce.  

Joined: 09/20/2010

MGoPoints: 1686