Can Michigan MBB win a National Title?
JB has been a fringe contender for years, with the exception of 2013. He is a solid coach but winning the natty Men's College Basketball National Championship is hard enough, even for the elite programs. So here is my opinion on where we are. What do you say?
Wagner is showing flashes, especially of late, of one of the best players in the country. He had a slowish start to the season, and an ankle injury, but he is coming on and is no doubt one of the best at his position in the country.
Livers is a major step up from Robinson and is going to be a special player. He has the size, athleticism, scoring ability and defense at times to help Michigan win its toughest games. Can he grow up fast enough?
Matthews can dominate the right match ups and take over a game. Great scorer, great rebounder. Not elite yet, but does have potential to be elite. Can he turn into a trusted go-to guy by the end of the season?
MAAR is one of best, if not the best roll players in the country. He is a consistent scorer, defender, free throw shooter, assist man, turned into a pretty good slasher, and most trusted guy on the team.
Simpson has greatly improved but is still a bit of a wild card. Needs to be a more consistent scorer, but the pressure is off since the rest of the starting line up can score. Can he solidify fast enough like Walton did?
Bench - robinson is where he needs to be, but still a productive player. Poole has been a terrific spark and Brookes is not a liability. Teske has been solid for the most part.
This team just beat and hung with (should have beat) two likely/potential 1 seeds (2 Seeds at worst). Overall, I think they are definitely good enough to win the B1G title. My gut feeling is this team is good enough win it all, but may need another year. Unfortunately that is not going to happen since Wagner may go, Matthews may go and MAAR is gone.
What say you? Does this team have what it takes?
edit: clarifification for those confused about what we are trying to win.
January 17th, 2018 at 5:03 PM ^
I think we could win it all, but not without some improvement from the free throw line. Thinking back at a lot of our key tourney wins over the past few years, the ability to knock down free throws in key moments has been crucial.
January 17th, 2018 at 5:03 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 5:06 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 5:56 PM ^
it is technically impossible for them to win a national title in 2017.
2018? Certainly possible. This is the section where I predict the same thing kenpom does: 2-3 percent chance.
January 17th, 2018 at 5:08 PM ^
While I love this year's team, they're prone to long offensive lapses (such as first half ucla and maryland), and while they are able to swing themselves back into games with their great defense, I just can't see how they win 6 consecutive games against great teams. I started this year thinking the sweet 16 was their ceiling, now I think a final 4 run is possible, but a title is in my mind unlikely. Next year though, they're going to be a legitimate contender, especially if both wagner and matthews return.
January 17th, 2018 at 5:19 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 5:20 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 5:21 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 5:22 PM ^
With their ability to shoot 3s, and an increasingly solid defense, they absolutely can win. If the team gets hot from behind the line, they can make a run. They won't be a betting favorite, but they're the kind of team makeup that can win with a few breaks. The fact they held up well against the size of Purdue, State, and the UT Fightin' Mo Bambas bodes well for tournament time. That said, there's also the unfortunate possibility of a random untimely 19% from 3 night, and they're not set up to handle a cold shooting night (unlike teams that more rely on pounding the paint and getting ugly wins). They're going to be a relatively high variance team come tournament time, but they've got all the pieces to make a run, and will be a serious threat to anybody in the country.
January 17th, 2018 at 5:25 PM ^
Since it's happened before in the past but statistically would need to see two or three championships to make a pattern.
January 17th, 2018 at 5:35 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 5:36 PM ^
My historical eye test results are exquisite. I knew the 12-13 team was special in Dec that year. I said the same about this team albeit a little later. The parts are there. Love the toughness and leadership. Offense will only improve. I am issuing the Jack Hammer Lock of the Year. This team will be in the Final Four.
January 17th, 2018 at 11:48 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 5:49 PM ^
Any team that has any many 3-point shooters as we do has a chance.
Is it likely? Hell no. But if the team gets hot for 3 weeks, they play good defense and can shoot with anyone. The odds of them shooting great 6 games in a row is low, but not impossible.
More likely we eventually run into some officials that call a bunch of phantom fouls on Wagner that puts us in a terrible situation that is nearly impossible to recover from. But who knows?
January 17th, 2018 at 5:55 PM ^
You really can't beat Hawaiian rolls when it comes to rolls, playa!
January 17th, 2018 at 8:06 PM ^
Was he talking about pick and roll? I was confused.
The Wolverines must be really good if a "role/roll" player is the most trusted man on the team and does just about everything.
January 17th, 2018 at 9:52 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 5:57 PM ^
Could they? Sure. Get into the tournament and its a whole new season from there. Get hot in the tournament and you can beat anyone.
I wouldn't say it's likely, though. It's so damn hard to get to the Final Four, much less win it all. If this team drew a good seed and got hot at the right time, then sure it could happen. But I wouldn't hold your breath.
Beilein's next realistic shot may be in 2-3 years when this incoming recruiting class is in the system for a year and assuming there aren't any mass departures. It'll be a very talented team next year, but unless Wagner miraculously comes back it won't be like 2013 where they have a POTY candidate to facilitate the offense and for all the younger guys to follow the lead of.
January 17th, 2018 at 6:04 PM ^
Half this board wanted to can Beilein a year ago this time.
Don't get too high, Don't get too low.
Win at Neb. Go Blue.
January 17th, 2018 at 6:10 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 6:11 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 6:13 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 6:14 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 6:30 PM ^
Compare our talent level this year to the other teams we've taken to the NC game. Not even close. Sweet 16 is probably our limit.
January 17th, 2018 at 6:31 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 6:34 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 6:32 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 6:38 PM ^
Probably not. Remember that UNC game?
January 17th, 2018 at 6:52 PM ^
National championship team MSU at Home? The best college team ever!!!!???
January 17th, 2018 at 7:03 PM ^
Yeah that was pretty cool.
January 17th, 2018 at 6:39 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 7:08 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 7:22 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 7:55 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 8:49 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 11:12 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 7:22 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 7:36 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 7:45 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 7:53 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 7:44 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 7:49 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 7:50 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 7:54 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 7:57 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 8:10 PM ^
Why on earth would Matthews go to the NBA after this year?
January 17th, 2018 at 8:37 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 8:16 PM ^