U of M MEN'S BASKETBALL: 2018-2019

[hack]

I had just been thinking to start hoping for Iggy Year 2 based on him possibly been a tweener who lacks vertical explosion when finishing. Which could be the case:

The big question with him is perimeter defense, as he will probably need to be parked on fours in the NBA.


SI ranks him 27th. https://www.si.com/nba/2018/12/05/20...-nassir-little

[Detroit Dan]

Northwestern game was a wake-up call.

1. Iggy is being relied upon too much. Every time the opposing team makes a run, he bails us out. Eventually, he will be stopped by an elite defender and/or defensive scheme in that situation. Who is our next option to avoid a devastating offensive drought, which we suffered fairly often in some recent years? (I guess that would be Poole, and he has come on strong of late.)

2. Pulling Simpson at crunch time of a close game does not seem optimal. He's a great player and one of the main reasons we are we are, and why we were where we were at the end of last season. (Though Tuesday was a good opportunity for Brooks to get some crunch-time experience running the offense. We may need that down the line.)

3. Matthews couldn't get anything going offensively last night. Why? Did Northwestern come up with some good defensive technique to stop him from driving to the basket? Matthews is our best defender (although Simpson is close) and when he is also efficient on the offensive end, we are tough to beat.

The new process of reviewing video for possible hook and hold (and placing the game on hold for a minute or two), and calling that a flagrant foul seems idiotic. If the opponent reaches in like that, you've got a right to make him pay. At least it should be an ordinary foul. As it is, fouls are called on both sides, but one team gets two free throws and the ball; the other team gets nothing.

I agree with others here that Beilein needs to work one or more of the non-Iggy freshmen into the rotation. Johns and DeJulius are the best bets, IMO.

To summarize: Simpson, Matthews, and Teske need to keep up the defense and be opportunistic on offense. Poole should continue pressing on offense to provide an alternative individual offensive threat should Iggy be bottled up. Brooks and Livers are doing just fine as the first two off the bench. Start mixing Johns and/or DeJulius into the rotation so that we will be able to withstand the inevitable injury or foul trouble.

[WM Wolverine]

It's still December, there is time for those true freshman to earn playing time. Big guys look too thin (Castleton and johns), maybe a year away while the guards maybe aren't quite as talented. Dejulius has two point guards in front of him...

Should see them in some of these upcoming games that should be blowouts.

[Kstat]

Dejulius really has one in front of him. Eli Brooks is not a point guard.

[hack]

Johns doesn't look too thin to me.

The Simpson issue is a thing, for defenses that can carry it off.

[*JD*]

Johns doesn't look too thin to me.

Agreed. 6'8" 225 is pretty reasonable against most college bigs.

[Detroit Dan]

Predictions for who will be the next freshman to break into the rotation? Johns seems to be the first off the bench now, so I'll go with him. Also, I agree with WM that DeJulius is behind both Simpson and Brooks. Barring injury, neither Matthews nor Iggy will need to come out much, and Livers can cover for them as well as Teske. I've been thinking that DeJulius could provide an offensive spark if Poole is having an off night, but he hasn't shown that so far.

[WM Wolverine]

Rotation certainly needs another body, hope to see a few players play less minutes in games that aren't close. Livers should play more, still see a need for another wing and no obvious candidate. Both Brooks and DeJulius both are capable of backing up Poole.

[WM Wolverine]

Starting five are all well ahead of their backups as all of them are very good college players.

[Kstat]

[Kstat]

[WM Wolverine]

SC is being very aggressive and figuring the refs won't blow the whistle every possession.

[hack]

At soccer practice. What's the vibe here?

[Kstat]

At soccer practice. What's the vibe here?

If you just listened to Len Elmore, South Carolina is dominating. In reality, Michigan is and has always been in control of this game. The score is closer than it should be due to some fluke bounces.

[hack]

Just can't get separation?