MICHIGAN MEN'S BASKETBALL- '19-'20: Hello Coach Nook!

[Niffla]

Not to make excuses -- key injuries happen to lots of teams, but this team would've (I believe anyway) made it comfortably into the tournament had Livers stayed healthy.

That Livers injury was such a killer.

Oh and I know it's been popular at times to trash Juwan, but again, in my opinion just blaming him (at least tonight anyway) would be lazy. The system was fine. They had so many great looks tonight that were just simply missed. Both from distance and at point blank range. I don't know what it is with this roster but they seem to miss an alarming number of looks either near or at point blank range with the basket.

They were 20 of 60 from the floor (33%) overall. And they lost by 3.

The Illinois home loss (this game tonight and that Illinois game, being in Ann Arbor, are really big losses) they lost by two and shot 23% from three on 17 attempts.

Look I'm not trying to be an apologist for Juwan or the staff but at some point the players gotta make shots or nothing else matters.

[hack]

It's Lionsesque, in the way they just keep finding new and unlikely ways to lose. Go 0-5 from the line in crunch time against Illini; flagrant foul on Z last night. FFS. They could have been up 1 with the ability to get a stop, or, failing that, get the ball back for the last shot, with enough time to get one off.

Juwan can't make the shots for them, but he can expect his sr PG to not act like a panicky freshman. Keep your fucking cool on and off the damn court, Z. And at this point, Juwan probably needs to be in Z's head the rest of the season. Simpson's been great, but when you ask him to do too much he gets a little crazy. All this is unfortunately part of the learning curve for Juwan. Trial by fire for him. He'd look so much better with Livers out there, but this is all personal growth for him as a coach, surely.

[Niffla]

Forgot about those 5 missed FTs against Illinois. All in what, the final 4 minutes? Hit 60% of those and that one is in the win column.

instead the miss every single one

[hack]

Amazing how every game it's something else. Still, Simpson has only himself to blame. Just settle down and listen to your damn coach.

[lineygoblue]

There was bound to be a learning curve for Coach Howard, and its happening. This season will ultimately suck, but it won't be a total disaster.

He's got some guys on the way that could turn things around completely next year. He deserves a chance to stay around.

[Jeff Buchanan]

From 10K feet, because I don't know shit about basketball, Juan's was dealt a bad hand with the limitations of the players he inherited and the loss of Livers - whom I understand to be a key player in the system Juan is running - to injury. The team, as a whole, can't shoot. Can't shoot FT and can't hit 3s with any consistency. From what I read, that's the crux of the problem. Last night's home loss to osu had to be devastating.

Anyway, he deserves more than a chance I would think.

[hack]

He's about to bring in potentially the biggest infusion of talent since his own recruiting class. It's been awful luck this year, no doubt about it. And he has to maybe recalibrate how he manages players beyond the soft-spoken stay-positive thing. Probably needs to yell every now and again. But if you believe that it's Jimmys and Joes over Xs and Os, then you still should be happy he's here and Beilein is not.

I myself am not sure I'm happy he's here and Beilein's gone, but I'm not at all minded to think Juwan has been a disappointment. Some of the criticism has been downright stupid. He handled the last minute of the game very well -- got his team an open look from 3 for the best shooter he could put on the floor at that moment. And yet guys like Spath are calling it horrible coaching. That's just dumb. He's not a miracle worker. He's a guy that's learning how to get his players to execute his vision, and how to get his players to perform at their best levels.

For this year, well, for now Michigan's tournament resume is actually still fairly strong. Get Livers back hopefully soon and there's time to go on a late run. Especially in the conference tournament.

[Hannibal]

[lineygoblue]

I myself am not sure I'm happy he's here and Beilein's gone, but I'm not at all minded to think Juwan has been a disappointment.

I agree. Had Beilein decided to stay, I'd be content with him staying until he decided to retire. I was very disappointed when he decided to go to the NBA. But I'm not disappointed in Howard either. If we couldn't have Beilein, I think Howard is a suitable replacement. Howard will continue to grow into the role, and I hope he can take the incoming talent and have some success. Biggest problem for this current team, is they can't seem to shoot worth a lick. That has directly led to several losses of winnable games.

[hack]

Eli Brooks was almost unplayable last year, on the other hand. But Beilein had Yachlik and Charles Matthews out there, so the elite defense carried the team through the same shooting droughts. Yack was credited with the team's attitude on D just as much as he was with the tactics and strategy. Juwan definitely has to learn how to get the most out of his guys.

Teske is definitely a disappointment. I think he is a Beilein center and most definitely not a Howard center. Castleton, I don't know. I thought he was going to come along too. But then you also have to consider how Davis has become useful when last year he was unplayable. Supports the argument that Castleton is just not physically there yet, as does his inability to hold position in the paint.

IMO overall last year you at least had Matthews out there to field an elite defense and provide an identity. This year's team, without Livers, is just kinda lost. Everybody knows how to play the Z/T pick-and-roll. Rutgers was just not willing to adjust what it does to account for that. If they still play their base defense, which Z can exploit, well, maybe that's a road win to steal. Other teams know to make Z beat you with his own shots.

[Whitley]

I thought the ceiling on this team was Sweet 16 when the big 3 left. I think Iggy is missed the most though. He had the swagger of Poole without the attitude.

Wasn't thrilled with Howard hire but I don't think he has had a full deck. This team needed to be healthy and have guys take steps forward. It has not happened yet but it could.

[froot loops]

We now know why Zavier Simpson was suspended, kind of a weird story.

[hack]

From what we know, I would have supported a longer suspension.

[lineygoblue]

He got off pretty easy considering he wrecked the AD's car ... lol

[iam416]

M funnels its cars and cash to players through the AD's wife? Good gawd. That's amateur hour.