MICHIGAN'S MEN'S BASKETBALL: 2015-2016

[whodean]

He doesn't have the players this year.

[hack]

Geez I hadn't thought of that.

(http://www.detroitlionsforum.com/for...&postcount=601)

[whodean]

Seriously though, even Lavert is nothing special. Neither are Walton or Irvin.

[hack]

And Izzo doesn't even have that on his team. You understand that it's a comparison, right?

[*JD*]

Didn't watch the game but the mgoblog writeup said that some guys got benched in what appeared to be some message sending.

He benched both Irvin and LeVert for a good stretch.

This team needs a Zack Novak who hated losing more than he liked winning. Timmay and Trey also had fire and McGary was a huge rah-rah guy. I'd say Spike is the closest thing but he's not at the level of those others. I think Caris falls into the Manny Harris category, and maybe not quite as talented. It's one thing being an overachiever when little is expected of you but a different thing when you are being projected to be the man and also thought of as a top-15 pick. TH Jr. was similar but he kept stepping up and improving and I'm sure who his father is played into him still playing with more fire even when he started having expectations heaped on him.

As for Irvin, he's got such a smooth manner about him but I wonder what's going on inside. He reminds me a bit of Jimmy King. He can be a really good 3rd or 4th cog, even if his talent (in this case, his shooting) would lead you to believe he could be a top guy. One thing that really surprises me is that when he was in high school, he played some PG (at least in AAU). He's a really poor passer at this level and not a great ball-handler.

I liked what I saw out of Chatman when he came in for the benched LeVert and Irvin. He grabbed a few boards and showed good energy. I thought that was one of the few positive takeaways from Tuesday.

While they are theoretically still in the hunt for the B1G title and the NCAA's, there hasn't been much indication since the Villanova game that that is where they are headed.

The premise for this season was that despite the losses, there would be guys making the non-linear-Morris-Trey-Nik jump from Freshman to Sophomores, that Chatman would be an instant-impact player and 1 or 2 of the unheralded guys would be Beilein Gems. That would save the season from a big step back. None of that has happened to the level of expectations created from the Beilein-magic of the past. Instead, they've taken more normal paths or (in Chatman's case) disappointed.

At this point, I'm looking for growth. Chatman might be showing a little bit, after taking a huge nosedive in December. Dawkins is improving. Both Doyle and Donnal need to bulk up to be B1G-ready, Donnal moreso. I don't expect anything out of MAAR (except possibly a transfer at seasons-end) and I hope Wilson gets his redshirt.

I'll continue to look for player-growth as the season plays out. Anything above 9 conference wins and I'll consider a big victory. I think 8-10 or even 7-11 is more likely.

If they don't pull off a late-season recruiting win, I'll expect every rotation-player back next year and they'll have the kind of season many of us thought they'd have this year. They'll be an NCAA tourney team and have Sweet 16 potential. If they score on Jaylen Brown or Caleb Swanigan, then making a deeper run is possible.

[hack]

Good post.

[whodean]

If they don't pull off a late-season recruiting win, I'll expect every rotation-player back next year and they'll have the kind of season many of us thought they'd have this year. They'll be an NCAA tourney team and have Sweet 16 potential. If they score on Jaylen Brown or Caleb Swanigan, then making a deeper run is possible.

I definitely agree with this, thought before the season started they were a year away.

[The Oracle]

Agree on that, but there hasn't been the expected jump of some players that we've come to expect. I thought Donnal would be a lot better than he has been. Irvin is mentally soft. They are probably a year away as long as Levert comes back, but I still expected a tourney team this year.

[*JD*]

As did I, especially after the Syracuse win. I thought they might be the same kind of team that made it to the NCAA's when Tim was a freshman and Morris broke out. It could still happen, as that team was 11-9 at one point and 1-6 in the B1G. Maybe something will finally click?

I'm not betting on it but I'm sure hoping for a miracle.

[The Oracle]

They just need to win every home game and steal 2-3 on the road. Simple enough, right?

[whodean]

NW Big man Ola killing UM. Common problem this year.

[The Oracle]

I just have an 09-10 feel about this team. Plays good ball for awhile then has just horrid 6-8 minute stretches. Doesn't give me any reason to believe we can beat real teams, even at home. Have to hope we strike lightening in a bottle against the good teams.

[The Oracle]

That being said, I'm beginning to wonder if Collins doesn't have N'western on the right track to being a real team in the next few years. If he can convince the 2nd tier Chicago players to go there, they could really turn the corner.

[whodean]

M was the recipient of some serious home cooking from the refs towards the end of the game to get the W, Bielfeldt in particular.

[*JD*]

Well, MAAR had a bigger game than I ever expected out of him last night. It wasn't a pretty victory but it was a win, essentially without both Spike and Doyle.

It seems to me that every B1G team but Michigan has a 7-footer. I guess the Wolverines get theirs in 2016.