NBA experts think Wagner definitely, and Wilson probably, should come back to UM for 1 more year
Obviously most people on the board wish both of them luck either way, but if both come back, with the players that'll be here next year, it could be really special.
There's not a lot of hype around Derrick, but he had an amazing year and there was this quote:
“Kudos to Derrick Walton. He had a monster season and he’s probably likely a D-League player. He shoots the absolute cover off the basketball and when you look at all the guys who are point guards in this draft after the first five, I just watched him give (Oklahoma State’s) Jawun Evans fits.
“Some people think Jawun Evans is a first-rounder and he could not guard Walton.”
Considering the skywall being built for next year in EL
look out ncaa's, here come the wolverines.
Though I've seen this picture many times, I am still struck by the divergence of emotions it portrays. One of the many reasons I love sports.
Please!
Lets hope this is what gets conveyed to our guys. Chad Ford had them both in the first round range and it pissed me right off.
You know what this means guys.... We gotta tweet at them enough so they stay.
I thought Ford got fired...
be drafted in the first round.
With Moe and DJ back, and the MAAR, X, Dunc, and the rest of the crew, we are going to be trouble for the B1G and in the NCAAs. As Norman Dale said in Hoosiers: "I'd appreciate if you would support who we are, and not who we are not. THIS is your team"
is one and done. I rather have Mo and DJ back. They know the system and if they can get better, it will benefit Michigan.
Not to say that JB should turn him away but given the choice between getting Mo but lose Moe and DJ and lose Mo but getting Moe and DJ, I'd chose the latter.
shown a whole lot yet and until he does, is a question mark. Other than that, we'd just have the freshman Brooks coming in who likely won't be able to run the team for awhile. Simmons brings a proven, experienced player to the team which reduces quite a bit the uncertainty.
I disagree.
I think they should stay for 2 more years.
Also, He shoots the absolute cover off the basketball.
Way to mix your metaphors, chief
Do-do-doo-doo-doo, do-do-do-doo-dooooooo...
It would be so disapointing if we turned away a top 5 player becuase we didn't have a spot. I highly doubt that is the case, but if so I would cry.
There is no chance we get Bamba and we all just need to realize that. Theres no experts who think its going to happen. We are clearly in 4th place out of his top 4 right now
signee
Well, based on that, I think I might be an NBA expert my own damned self.
That aside, I think it would be a mistake for both of them to enter the draft - they're both talented enough, but not polished enough. And players on the bubble don't usually break through in the NBA.
If they do go for the draft, I hope they get picked high and excel. I just don't think they're there yet.
And he's won almost 70% of his games. I wouldn't rush to judgment after his first losing season as a HC.
Rick Pitino at Louisville? Very similar havoc style of up tempo and pressing. I'd say it works quite well at the highest levels. Like any style, if you have really good players, you have a chance to be really good. Smart is on his way to getting really good players recruited by him. I'd actually be surprised if he wasn't regularly near the top of the Big 12 starting next year, especially if he gets Bamba.
Louisville has excelled because of their half court defense with their bigs who can block and alter shots and rebound, limiting opportunities. The Pitino Press isn't as prominent a part of Pitino's success as it once was. He has the talent to not have to use it all of the time.
Louisville's press isn't so much used like VCU's was to cause a lot of turnovers and easy baskets. UL will usually press the inbound and then start to sag, with the main benefit being that teams can't set up their offense as quickly as they would like.
1) Louisville's team this year was pretty different than any of their recent teams, mostly because of personnel. Didn't have any gnat-like pressing guards like Peyton Siva, Russ Smith, etc. So yes, they played less press and relied a lot less on TOs than usual and were slower than in years past.
Their best teams recently were their 2013 and 2014 teams when they pressed a lot more and forced the second most TOs in CBB by getting the 2nd most steals in CBB both years. They also played fast offensive possessions, largely the result of so many steals. It was very much a havoc style that forced a ton of TOs, and that obviously worked well enough in the ACC and NCAA tournaments that year. So that was my only point.
2) Smart has actually not played a havoc style at Texas either, probably because he doesn't have the personnel to do it. He's definitely going to need to get great players to be successful with any system, like I mentioned and like any coach needs. If he gets guys like Payton Siva and Russ Smith, I imagine he'll be able to press plenty in the Big12. Certainly won't be successful at the highest levels solely based on style - gotta have elite players too. And if he gets guys like Mo Bamba, he could be well on his way to playing a Pitino version of havoc with giant shot-blocking trees as the last line of defense if the pressuring guards get beat. It sort of remains to be seen what his style will be at Texas.
Also, his VCU record should be put in some perspective - they've been an excellent mid-major program for some time now and have sent a few coaches to bigger schools.
His Final Four run remains impressive though.
Texas has made one final four in the last 70 years. If they aren't a national title contender it won't be a reflection on Smart.
Winston, Langford, Ward and Bridges is a pretty good starting lineup. With that, I think they will be favored over us slightly because their PG situation seems to be more stable than ours right now. Only time will tell if Simpson is truly the answer at that position.
MSU will be a top 10 team no doubt but picking them to win it all is crazy. Bridges isn't Lebron James. He was a mid first round pick. Their guards aren't all that great and they were a 9 seed last year with all these guys. I'd guess we would be picked # 2 in the conference ahead of Purdue.
MSU is currently tied w/Kentucky & Duke on Bovada as favorite to win it all (+800). Michigan is 13th at +2800.
I wish I could short/take the field against MSU at those odds.
With him AND Simpson, we are probably as well off at PG as any team in the league.