March 23rd, 2022 at 10:47 AM ^
March 23rd, 2022 at 10:51 AM ^
He needs to keep a hockey helmet on while practicing.
Shit, he needs all the hockey gear on lol
March 23rd, 2022 at 10:51 AM ^
You can't keep a bulldog out of a fight.
March 23rd, 2022 at 10:53 AM ^
Definitely a positive. And I am happy for DJ the person to get to experience this in his uniform on the court playing
But honestly, I think they need Frankie in the game as a regular rotation piece and put him on Gillespie, as he has the speed and tenacity to stay on Gillespie and make his night miserable
After the last 2 games, I would be comfortable with Frankie as the PG....Jones is another great option though as well... never hurts to have depth.
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:04 AM ^
Agreed on Frankie needing to play a solid chunk of minutes.
Which is something I would have NEVER said a month ago, but he has really progressed.
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:20 AM ^
It honestly all depends on which Jones it is. Jones has been a mess since halftime of the Indiana game and was completely out of it in the first half against Tennessee even before his "wrist injury/head injury/undisclosed illness" kept him out of the second. If Jones is RIGHT, like good to go, he should again get the bulk of the minutes. There is just so much going on there I don't know anybody knows what to think.
Unless Jones is 100%, there is no need for him to be on the floor. I'll go further: I don't think there is any way to know if he's 100%, and I see no need to take the risk. I'd start Collins and he should get 30 minutes, minimum. Jones at his best is a better offensive player, but it's not like he's lights out better, and IMO, he doesn't create for his teammates as well as Collins.
Defensively, it's not close. Not even close to close. End of the season Collins is a top notch Big 10 point guard defender. Jones has improved to being average.
Also, Collins doesn't seem to have the delusion that Jones had in the last 5 games, that he's the main offensive weapon on this team. When Jones plays like that, he's a liability.
Rob
March 24th, 2022 at 10:40 AM ^
I know it can't be quantified, but to me, the team transitioned from Jones as the PG to Collins as their PG during the Tenn game. He spent the CSU game proving that he could rise to the challenge and, once Jones was knocked out of Tenn, he spent the rest of the game becoming the team's leader, and the results were there for everyone to see. I'm glad Jones got a chance to start in a tourney game, and maybe he can start against Villanova, but I have to believe it will be a difficult choice for Howard not to give Collins the bulk of the minutes. A good coach can recognize those chemistry issues.
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:33 PM ^
He was only out of it for the last four or so minutes of the half when they put him back in after knocking heads with Moussa. I'm shocked they did that and that was on the level of Brady Hoke putting Morris back in.
He was actually very good for the first ten or so minutes of the game (see the diaries).
Eyeball test says otherwise.
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:20 AM ^
I think we’re overreacting a bit based on a game against a potential NBA lottery pick in Kennedy Chandler because while Gillespie is terrific, he’s not on the same level as Chandler in terms of NBA iso or blow by ability. Villanova’s offense is based around sets & screens instead of iso which is how Gillespie gets his buckets. We’ve seen DeVante really be able to get going against traditional college teams who don’t have a NBA 1st rounder at the PG position.
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:39 AM ^
I thought the offense was based on an Italian shooting 95% from three with a minimum of 20 attempts.
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:44 AM ^
134%, but yeah, that.
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:48 AM ^
In my memory, he shot 180% from 3 on 50 attempts, half of which were from mid-court.
Donte was like a one man reincarnation of 1990 Loyola Marymount
March 23rd, 2022 at 12:25 PM ^
That Loyola game was an example of coaching malpractice. Michigan was a better team and should have planned better for LMU.
The Loyola team debuted what became known as "Showtime" when Westhead coached the Lakers. It was a style of play that was soooooo seductive to the inner playground player in even the most disciplined team. I had the un-happy circumstance to be in attendance in Long Beach that day, and you could just feel the Michigan players trying to buy into pass-pass-shoot (just about that fast too), and not comprehending that since that was all that Loyola did they were going to get run out of the gym, and that is exactly what happened.
Huh? The Showtime Lakers played in the 1980s. That game was in 1990.
Yes, you read it right. True story.
I have a vague recollection that the players convinced Fisher that they could run and score with LMU so I guess it is poor coaching
Bo Kimble was playing for Hank Gathers. They were a team possessed.
March 23rd, 2022 at 12:19 PM ^
DeVincenzo's hellfire has caused significant amounts of bball PTSD around these parts. Thanks for bringing back the momory...
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:52 AM ^
On the offensive end, Jones (if healthy) can get his against most teams, and probably more than Collins since he has a much more functional shot. But defensively, Collins is an upgrade. He has the quickness to pester opposing guards in a way that none of our other guards can.
Juwan has an interesting dilemma here.
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:53 AM ^
I agree with this. Gillespie has two primary ways he scores, he shoots the three and he backs his defender down and scored over them. Gillespie isn’t as quick as he was prior to his injuries. This will be a game where Jones, if healthy, might be the better option on Gillespie. That said, Frankie needs some good minutes to harass the shit out of him. Gillespie won’t be able to consistently stay in front of either one. I’m more worried about Moore lighting it up than I am Gillespie.
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:39 AM ^
This. We are better without DJ than with. DJ is fairly steady but Frankie is a game breaker potentially. It's kind of like the McNamara and McCarthy thing.
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:52 AM ^
To say this is like a McNamara and McCarthy thing is so dumb considering Frankie cannot shoot 3s or FTs to save his life. So Frankie went off against the 91st ranked KemPom defense but then was blanketed against the 2nd ranked KenPom defense for 2 points? Jay Wright is a smart guy, he’s going to go under on Frankie to prevent him from driving and dare him to shoot the 3. We’re going to need DeVante for our ball screen offense because of his 3pt shooting and his passing out of ball screens. Frankie’s passing ability has mostly been limited to once he’s penetrated the defense and is in the paint.
March 23rd, 2022 at 12:06 PM ^
Well, I can sort of see the analogy. Jones is a steady guy who gets the most out of his ability while Collins is a wild card, definitely raw and mistake-prone, but also a phenomenal athlete who can play ballhawking D and be a one-man fastbreak. You probably go with Jones the majority of the time if both are healthy, but Collins has earned some minutes.
Is he really mistake-prone?
I hear that a bit on this board, and when I watch him, I'm not seeing it.
Not as much lately, fortunately, but over the course of the season, his turnover rate has been shaky.
March 23rd, 2022 at 12:19 PM ^
The only reason we're playing in the Sweet 16 is because of Jones' Herculean effort leading us against OSU. If he's healthy, he'll play. And should play.
Brooks played every minute against Tennessee, so it would be great to have a functional 3 guard rotation to ease that burden a bit. Collins and Jones should get plenty of run.
March 23rd, 2022 at 12:41 PM ^
Frankie has been a very pleasant surprise, coming through when he was needed the most. But DJ was a better player for at least a month before his injury than Frankie is now.
Until/unless Frankie gets his shot straightened out he will never be a "game breaker". I love watching Frankie play, but it doesn't take a basketball wizard to know he has some real limitations as a true freshman. I anticipate lots of growth from frosh to sophomore year. And I hope they don't go to the portal for a PG. Let Frankie take the reins next year with Dug coming on in relief.
March 23rd, 2022 at 12:16 PM ^
Based on the first half of the UT game, it looked like Frankie was going to rotate with Jones / Brooks as the three guards. That could look like:
Eli: 35 minutes
Jones: 25-30 minutes
Frankie: 15-20 minutes
Bufkin looked really bad in his minutes against Colorado State. I'd be a little surprised to see him with the minutes Frankie has given us.
What a fantastic time to discover the team really does have some trusty depth pieces to turn to between Frankie and TWill stepping up.
March 23rd, 2022 at 10:57 AM ^
Those bastards in the AD probably made him drive to San Antonio. 22 hours. No stopping except for gas. No per diem for hotels...
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:12 AM ^
I’m sure our AD has access to astronaut diapers. This was one seriously angry woman.
https://www.houstoniamag.com/news-and-city-life/2018/11/astronaut-diapers
March 23rd, 2022 at 12:11 PM ^
So bonkers that they made a movie based on that starring Natalie Portman.
Will she play Devante Jones in the sequel where he drives to San Antonio and eviscerates Villanova? Bold casting choice.
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:01 AM ^
from a health standpoint - not a fan.
from a basketball standpoint - i dont know how to feel
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:07 AM ^
ok doc
The constant shots at Devante from this board are baffling.
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:20 AM ^
Baffling is a little dramatic. He's had a few nice games, but has also struggled through lots of the season.
That said - its not a SHOT. Frankie has played really well, especially against fast/strong PGs who Jones has trouble with - particularly on offense bringing the ball up where Jones sometimes struggles against pesky defenders. So, its not a SHOT at him. From a basketball standpoint, howard hasnt shown much trust in many on the bench this year, and I hope that a return from Jones doesn't relegate Frankie to 10 minutes of play. At thsi stage of the year, I'd say a split in minutes - if he's 100% healthy - would be best.
Having what seems like 2 concussions in 2 weeks seems like a reason for abundant caution.
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:23 AM ^
Nobody is "taking shots" at Devante. Whatever has been going on with him in the last two weeks has been really confusing. It looked like he was still injured against Tennessee from the beginning of the game, it was pretty obvious. Nobody is playing doctor but he has apparently had 3 head injuries in three weeks including the Ohio State game. I think fans are just more worried about the guy than anything.
March 23rd, 2022 at 12:07 PM ^
No wonder he was in concussion protocol
Jones' growth from the beginning of the season to now is impressive. Adjusting to the BIG is no easy feat when you come from Coastal Carolina. Big boys doing a lot of pushing, jabbing, shoving, bumping, grabbing, reaching . . .
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:04 AM ^
Hoping he is healthy enough to come off the bench at some point because Frankie has earned his spot by now.
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:12 AM ^
Has there been an explanation of why he was "sick" and didn't play the game in the second half?
Did he have a second concussion or was it something else?
I know he wants to play, and a healthy Devante would help the team, but he has had hits to the head two games in a row (and both times he did not look quite "right" afterwards) plus a concussion in practice.
UM is inviting a potential galactic shit storm if they do not have multiple, independent, on-the-record med sources approving this and he hits his head *again* on Thursday and has to leave the game.
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:30 AM ^
Agreed. Brain injuries are not something to mess around with (if that is in fact an ongoing issue). If Michigan doesn't want suspicion and rumor about playing a kid with a head injury, they they should provide some clarity. We all need to put to bed this "toughness" bullshit when it comes to protecting kids who have head injuries.
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:43 AM ^
What we want to hear: Devante Jones practicing with the team in San Antonio
What we are hearing: Devante Jones practicing with the team in San Antonio
I hope he is 100%. We need all hands on deck vs Villanova, especially when they go small.
March 23rd, 2022 at 11:50 AM ^
For those commenting about putting his health at risk, the reality is that he would not be practicing if he had not been cleared by the team doctors. Assuming that he has been cleared, I personally have zero issue with him suiting up.
As for the basketball angle, I personally think that while Jones has more experience, we are more dynamic with Frankie at PG. He brings additional athleticism, tenacity on defense and the team seems to play with more energy when he is in the lineup (which I recognize is "feelingsball" analysis). That said, there is something to be said about your PG having more experience and calm. Interesting dilemma as to who to play if they are both healthy, but my preference would be for DJ to get the start, but for Frankie to get equal or more minutes, obviously depending on how both are playing.
March 23rd, 2022 at 12:01 PM ^
Honestly - is that how it works? Doctors at universities with large athletic programs never put kids in harm's way? I get that we wish that to be true. But i go back to Shane Morris, and plenty other cases (not at UM) over the years of guys going back in injured.
Further complicating things, I dont think concussion recovery is a known science. its not black and white. And I think that that gray matter (no pun intended) makes it easier, if a school chooses, to clear someone.