MICHIGAN'S MEN'S BASKETBALL: 2015-2016

[*JD*]

Outrebounded 31-21. Significant.

If a team is throwing up bricks, they're going to get outrebounded. In general, Michigan has a rebounding problem. I just think the UConn loss was mostly due to poor shooting. Last night was the opposite. Michigan hit, Charlotte didn't and Michigan dominated the glass (44-27). I think there was a little more "Get after it" in Michigan's game but Charlotte also was probably the weakest opponent they've faced this year (although the 49ers hung a lot closer with Syracuse). The 49ers did have some size in the middle (a 6'10" guy and a 7-footer backing him up) but the other four positions looked small compared to our guys. The good news is Michigan beat them down all night long, more than expected even. Irvin looked a little better. Spike is still nowhere near 100%. I'm not sure if he'll get there or if MAAR will just have to step in as back-up.

I'll also say that it looked like there was more of a concentrated effort to give our guys in the post some touches.

Chatman and Donnal look like they'll be the odd men out, although both played well in garbage time. Mo Wagner had a breakout game (though no rebounds) that he can hopefully build upon. I think he's the key to a Sweet 16 kind of season or Michigan being a bubble-team.

Texas will be a bigger test tonight. They've got a lot of beef up front, led by Cameron Ridley.

[hack]

I think no matter what you have to start with effort. No system transcends that. Maybe Michigan needs to do some of those loose-ball drills that guys like Pitino prioritize. It was maddening -- but not unfamiliar -- to see Xavier up 15 and hustling harder.

[*JD*]

I think no matter what you have to start with effort. No system transcends that. Maybe Michigan needs to do some of those loose-ball drills that guys like Pitino prioritize. It was maddening -- but not unfamiliar -- to see Xavier up 15 and hustling harder.

I think you've been blinded by the last 12 months.
We've had several guys that got after it in the very recent past. Zack, McGary, Trey, Timmay, Morgan....

This squad, I'd argue that LeVert, MAAR and Wagner (and a healthy Spike) are all guys like that. Maybe guys like Doyle, Donnal and Kam need that as well and that's what you're seeing.

[hack]

I think you've been blinded by the last 12 months.
We've had several guys that got after it in the very recent past. Zack, McGary, Trey, Timmay, Morgan....

This squad, I'd argue that LeVert, MAAR and Wagner (and a healthy Spike) are all guys like that. Maybe guys like Doyle, Donnal and Kam need that as well and that's what you're seeing.

Take it up with Beilein. He said the same thing. See the Seth Davis quote I posted earlier. I've heard him say that in the past and yet the problem continues. And maybe is worsening. Last year they had some quality wins and it wasnt till late December that the upsets and beatdowns began.

[*JD*]

Take it up with Beilein. He said the same thing. See the Seth Davis quote I posted earlier. I've heard him say that in the past and yet the problem continues. And maybe is worsening. Last year they had some quality wins and it wasnt till late December that the upsets and beatdowns began.

Beilein said they don't practice hustle?

[hack]

I guessed that they don't practice hustle. I'm saying that the Seth Davis piece from last week isn't the first time I've heard Beilein say his team has to be tougher. I don't find mgovideo an easy navigation experience, but @EL in '13 halftime interview is one example if you wanna go take a look.

Are you making excuses for not hustling? Seems like it. I do agree that wow could this team use a Novak, McGary, Burke or Stauskas. Interestingly enough all of those guys did it differently. Put Novak on this team and the hustle factor soars instantly. McGary too. Burke was amazing at making whatever plays need to be made, and seemed to lead quietly with his confidence. I don't recall Timmy or Stauskas ever getting any floor burns, but Timmy manning up when OSU visited in '13, with those 4 second-half triples -- that is the kind of play we are missing now. Stauskas in '14; same. He responded to everything with a sank 3 and played with that swagger and flair that got others going.

Beilein really won me over in '14, despite my general distaste for such an unbalanced O-before-D approach, because the offense worked so damn well and because for several years in a row his teams played with a resilience I am not accustomed to seeing from finesse teams. I don't mean they hustled harder or got the 50/50 balls. They didn't. But what they did worked. @EL in '14 was just a great example of mocking the bully by running circles around him. I think if you're not going to hang your hat on effort, and hang it on execution and shooting instead, you've got nobody but yourself to blame when the shots don't fall.

In 16, I think it's going to take more than just one or two complementary players playing with a bit of fire. There's only so much a freshman like Wagner can do. I was hoping Walton was ready to step up. He plays with a bit of emotion out there and as a freshman even you could see him in the middle leading The Victors pregame. I'd love to see him step up, be consistently the second-best player on the team, and provide that leadership. He's a Beilein PG. Third year in the system. It should be happening.

[The Oracle]

Walton needs to step up his aggressiveness. Sick of him getting in the lane looking to kick out versus putting up a floater. Biggest and most(only) important development of this trip is Wagner coming on as our best big. As long as he doesn't hit a freshmen wall, he'll be in the starting lineup by year's end.

[*JD*]

Hack, you will be happy to know that they were diving for loose balls tonight. They must have introduced some hustle drills since Wednesday.

Nice win versus UT.

Wagner was solid again and Donnal may have passed Doyle in the rotation. I think both guys run hot and cold... or luke-warm and cold. Doyle is more physical but he's also slower of foot and harder up hands.

[*JD*]

Sarcasm aside, I liked how they were sharing the ball tonight. There were some great passes to cutters and their shooting beyond the arc was great. They did get rattled once Texas started applying full-court pressure but never fully collapsed.

Wagner is really the guy that can be a difference-maker up front. I don't know when he'll have time but if he somehow pulls a Horford and puts on 20 pounds during the season, he'll be the best big on both ends. He actually fared pretty well when he was put on Ridley. He fronted him a lot and (mostly) held position, even though he was giving up about 60 pounds.

One other thing- Looking at the boxscore and it says that Wilson only played 1 minute. I swear he saw time in both halves.

[hack]

Texas game is up on mgovideo. I'm just through the first half but you're definitely right about Wagner. Signs of life out there in the paint! Helps put Doyle in perspective. I thought a lot of the problem last year was just that Doyle was a freshman big making freshman mistakes. Perhaps he might just be a marginal contributor. He wowed us last year with his patience with the ball in the post early on offense, and looked like a live body compared to Donnall, but now we have Wagner. Only a matter of weeks before he's the starter, surely. If he can hold up over the course of the season that's a big deal.

Coaching staff has to learn a lesson from this. It's looking like two misses in a row with bigs recruiting. Or maybe Doyle and Donnall suddenly get it. Dunno. Certainly the bigs aren't improving over time like the wings have in the recent past.

[hack]

I AM SO DAMN EXCITED ABOUT MORITZ VAHGNER!!!

And Duncan Robinson. He can cut and pass.

[hack]

Donnal may have passed Doyle in the rotation.

Still in the first half, but I looked at the rebounding per 40. Donnall leads the team at 8 and change. That could very well be a function of low minutes and a few easy grabs of FTs or something. But I'm open minded. Wilson is pretty far down the list at 3 or so. Doyle 6.6.

[*JD*]

Texas game is up on mgovideo. I'm just through the first half but you're definitely right about Wagner. Signs of life out there in the paint! Helps put Doyle in perspective. I thought a lot of the problem last year was just that Doyle was a freshman big making freshman mistakes. Perhaps he might just be a marginal contributor. He wowed us last year with his patience with the ball in the post early on offense, and looked like a live body compared to Donnall, but now we have Wagner. Only a matter of weeks before he's the starter, surely. If he can hold up over the course of the season that's a big deal.

Coaching staff has to learn a lesson from this. It's looking like two misses in a row with bigs recruiting. Or maybe Doyle and Donnall suddenly get it. Dunno. Certainly the bigs aren't improving over time like the wings have in the recent past.

I think Wilson will pan out at least as a good contributor and Wagner looks legit, so you could say two hits to go with those two misses.

Hopefully, we at least go 1 for 2 with Teske/Davis.

[hack]

Somewhat reminiscent of Hoke putting all his eggs in one basket with Morris. They've got to have a fatter pipeline for bigs, and must retain the ones they put time and effort into recruiting and developing so they don't wander off like Horford did.

http://www.maizenbrew.com/2015/12/1/9818546/2015-2016-michigan-basketball-five-takeaways-battle-4-atlantis-uconn-charlotte-texas

Decent coverage there. I haven't paid much attention to this blog in the past, but I thought that was an insightful wrap on the Bahamas trip.

Overall, my own is that I think you could see the offense rounding into form against Texas. Ball movement was much better, and Walton made plays. That looked much more like '14 than all of '15 did. I don't know what can be done about Doyle and Donnall, but something. Please.

[*JD*]

Somewhat reminiscent of Hoke putting all his eggs in one basket with Morris. They've got to have a fatter pipeline for bigs, and must retain the ones they put time and effort into recruiting and developing so they don't wander off like Horford did.

http://www.maizenbrew.com/2015/12/1/9818546/2015-2016-michigan-basketball-five-takeaways-battle-4-atlantis-uconn-charlotte-texas

Decent coverage there. I haven't paid much attention to this blog in the past, but I thought that was an insightful wrap on the Bahamas trip.

I wish he'd had some thoughts about Zak and Spike but it was a good read. Truly, Levert has been special so far.