5 basketball practice takeaways from UMHoops
I know MGOBLOG is in full football mode right now but Dylan over at UMHOOPS has an article up with his takeaways from the Basktball Media day and open practice. It's worth checking out for those that love Basketball as much or almost as much as football.
Link:
http://www.umhoops.com/2016/10/04/five-takeaways-michigan-media-day/
October 4th, 2016 at 1:21 PM ^
do want to talk hoops and I have been hearing all kinds of differing opinions, but that one in particular seems like needless DOOM to me. Trey Burke was a middling recruit without any real offers and Caris Levert was literally nobody. To basically declare Watson a bust before he steps on the floor seems misguided.
October 4th, 2016 at 1:22 PM ^
http://247sports.com/Player/Trey-Burke-12253?PlayerInstitution=12746
Trey was the #93 recruit on the composite, homie.
October 4th, 2016 at 1:27 PM ^
can see he really had those blue-bloods knocking down his door also, huh.
October 4th, 2016 at 1:01 PM ^
other than I'm not really banking on anybody to contribute much this year besides Simpson.
October 4th, 2016 at 3:48 PM ^
their PT will come in 2017-18 (other than X) unless there is injury.
October 4th, 2016 at 1:51 PM ^
All of them. I know the bigs generally take more time, but one of them and Ibi could be ready to contibute. I choose to stay optimistic until I'm let down. I've found it to be much better than being pessimistic all of the time. Beilein didn't forget how to recruit and coach. Down years and misses in recruiting happen. There are very few coaches that have their teams consistently winning their conference. We don't have one of them, but the one we have is damn good.
October 4th, 2016 at 1:49 PM ^
The thing that bothers me with Irvin and Walton is that both players at one point in their careers were much better at certain things than they were last season.
Beilein even said before the season last year that Irvin wouldn't be back to normal until this season because of how much he lost from his back injury. I really think that halted his progression, and he was clearly a better shooter his freshman year. Showed some additional promise as "the guy" his sophomore year as the Big 10 Season went along.
Walton even more so I just don't get. The guy showed HUGE potential his freshman year and was extremely good driving the ball to the rim, making some big Burkesque shots, and was at the same time a terrific shooter. His shot came back last year, but I really think his injury to his toe really hampered his progression as well.
Do I expect either of these guys to all of a sudden play a huge step up from last season? No, I do not. But I also can't deny that there's potential for both to show huge improvements. Irvin moreso from an athleticism standpoint and getting his 3pt shot better, and Walton around the rim.
October 4th, 2016 at 12:21 PM ^
We were a tournament team that returned five starters. They may not get better by much, but they should get better. Wagner turned it on at the end of last year and might finally give us a rim protector that we really lacked last year. Speaking of things that we really lacked last year, we finally have a back up point guard, which will hopefully take some things off of Walton's plate. We also have some new members on the coaching staff which might refresh some things. It also sounds like they are committed to making changes on defense.
October 4th, 2016 at 1:58 PM ^
This is an honest and very good perspective. I have a hard time not seeing this team make the tournament this year mostly because we do return every starter and have the X factor as an additional PG. Even if there are some rough spots this season, we should also expect to see some entertaining success that gives us some more hope.
October 4th, 2016 at 12:22 PM ^
I'll give it a shot. If a healthy Irvin can combine the best flashes of his game from the last two seasons consistently, then we have a go to player.
If X can provide solid minutes at the , then Walton can play some of those minutes off the ball where his catch and shoot ability will be utilized better.
MAAR has shown flashes of being a solid 3rd option who can both get to the rim and has an improving jumpshot. As a Junior, he will hopefully add some consistency to those abilities.
Duncan is what he is, which is great as long as he is the 3-4th option. DJ still has tremendous upside at the 4 based on his athleticism.
Wagner showed flashes as a freshman of the potential to be a game changer as a sophmore, especially with the reports of his improved athleticim. Donnal is a low risk, solid contributor at the 5, especially as the backup.
Donlon may be a difference maker for this team on the defensive end which would be huge for a team that never struggles to be good to elite on the other end.
It will take a lot of things coming together (things that we can have reasonable hope will come together) but if it does, this could be a very good team.
