U of M MEN'S BASKETBALL: 2018-2019

[lineygoblue]

Poole, Teske need at least another year though Z ain't an NBA player... Iggy could leave early if he's okay with being a second rounder, he should get his evaluation as should most everyone in the gray area...

When a really good defensive team (TT, Sparty) forced us to hit outside shots, this team couldn't.

I forgot about Iggy. I think you're correct about where he stands with the NBA. He's no better than a late 2nd rounder. He has too many times when he goes into hibernation, and his 'flexy' celebrations won't go over well in the NBA. He needs more college ball seasoning.

Agree about Poole, Teske and Zavier. IMO, none of them are ready for the NBA yet, but Teske may get some looks due to his size. He's got a big frame to go along with his 7' height, and that could draw some interest from the NBA. But, I guess we'll see. I've seen way too many guys head to the NBA who left too early, and it could happen again here. Its hard to turn down that kind of money.

[Cody_Russell]

[Hannibal]

I was thinking going into this tourney about how long overdue we are to lay a complete dookie. The closest thing that we had to that was the 2012 loss to Ohio. At least we got a couple of nice wins before that happened this year. 30-7 and that included some blowout wins over good teams.

[THE_WIZARD_]

I just wish the fuckin' refs had called all that crap down low...now the WWCAW is proven to still be in effect...

[*JD*]

Very strange for a Beilein team to peak in the first third of the season but that's what we had.

Last night, unlike the losses vs. MSU, at Wisconsin, and even at Penn State, there weren't any questionable calls to say "what if" about. Texas Tech just played a perfect defensive game against us. They cut the head off of the snake, completely taking Zavier out of the game and the rest of the team (except Iggy in the 2nd half) followed suit.

In the end, we were ranked #19 in the preseason and wound up a shade better than that. One player (Teske) exceeded expectations and a couple (Johns, DeJulius) didn't. I think next year's squad will be very good, provided at least 4 of the starters return. I think guys like Johns, DeJulius and Castleton will take on much larger roles and I expect Jalen Wilson to have a reasonable impact on the rotation. Hopefully, DeJulius can take a load off of Simpson and we won't have to have Z on the floor at all times. Hopefully, they'll be a little tougher mentally and find ways to get points when they are struggling.

In the B1G, we'll be battling MSU again for the top spot and both should be Final Four contenders. That's the level we're at right now. It was a disappointing last month but we've got a legit program.

[froot loops]

Beilein was talking about making changes offensively due to how teams are defending with all switching. That's probably the correct approach as it was a problem, better outside shooting is a need as well.

[*JD*]

Beilein was talking about making changes offensively due to how teams are defending with all switching. That's probably the correct approach as it was a problem, better outside shooting is a need as well.

I think Wilson and maybe Bajema can provide that. Poole, should he return, will be better. Also, Teske will likely have that shot improved by November. I think he could at least be a 35% guy from behind the line.

[Hannibal]

Very strange for a Beilein team to peak in the first third of the season but that's what we had.

Last night, unlike the losses vs. MSU, at Wisconsin, and even at Penn State, there weren't any questionable calls to say "what if" about. Texas Tech just played a perfect defensive game against us. They cut the head off of the snake, completely taking Zavier out of the game and the rest of the team (except Iggy in the 2nd half) followed suit.

In the end, we were ranked #19 in the preseason and wound up a shade better than that. One player (Teske) exceeded expectations and a couple (Johns, DeJulius) didn't. I think next year's squad will be very good, provided at least 4 of the starters return. I think guys like Johns, DeJulius and Castleton will take on much larger roles and I expect Jalen Wilson to have a reasonable impact on the rotation. Hopefully, DeJulius can take a load off of Simpson and we won't have to have Z on the floor at all times. Hopefully, they'll be a little tougher mentally and find ways to get points when they are struggling.

In the B1G, we'll be battling MSU again for the top spot and both should be Final Four contenders. That's the level we're at right now. It was a disappointing last month but we've got a legit program.

Z exceeded expectations for me. I really liked how Livers came along. Poole's lack of leap of disappointing. The lack of contribution from any freshman outside of Iggy was a bit of a disappointment too. Charles Matthews's complete lack of improvement on offense (or maybe a step backwards) was also a disappointment.

[WM Wolverine]

This wasn't a good shooting and as important, it wasn't a good passing team that could create better opportunities for teammates. Plus nobody could really get to the basket against the better defenses we played. Season was a success, the team played beyond my expectations except for those 2nd half performances against Sparty...

Iggy is potentially a year away from being the go to player we were missing this season, someone who can take it to the basket regardless of whose defending him and shoot from deep. Teske is going to be a very good B1G center but the guards/wings need to get him the ball a lot more. Z is what he is, he needs more help than Poole running the offense. Poole hopefully takes as well to JB's coaching as our recent very athletic wings. I have my doubts he's not as coachable as Hardaway/Levert and not as athletic as GR3; I hope his jumper takes a big step forward. He has three to five really bad possessions a game on the offensive end that make me question his basketball IQ...

Jalen Wilson is potentially a true freshman starter, I think he's talented enough to help right away. Expected progression by DeJulius, Castleton, Johns should give next years team the depth that this years team lacked.

[lineygoblue]

This team could be ranked in the Top 5 in the pre-season rankings. They could possibly return everyone except Matthews, which I agree with those here who are disappointed in his play this year. I expected more offensively from him and he didn't produce. I hope that the others resist the NBA itch and stay around.

Texas Tech was the better team. No officiating gripes, no excuses. They did their homework, and their defensive play was better than Michigan's. For Michigan to defeat a team like that they have to hit their open shots. You don't get a lot of open shots against a team like that, but when you do, you have to hit them. Michigan did not. I hope the Red Raiders do the same thing to Gonzaga.

For the potential returners next year, I see Iggy and Teske as having huge upsides. IMO, Teske has only begun to show the potential he has as a premier big man. Iggy needs to lay aside the showboating and focus on the finer points of his game. He's very versatile, being able to bang inside, but also step outside the line and drill the triple. Zavier runs the floor as well as any guard in the country, but he can't be counted on for 40 minutes every night. He needs a backup who can come in and give him a rest, without giving up too much on the floor. Someone said earlier that Castleton needs to hit the weight room, and I agree. A few protein shakes wouldn't hurt either. He could easily add 20 lbs and it wouldn't be a bad thing. Livers and Poole both provide a lot of versatility, with both able to hit the triple, and run the floor. Maybe Beilein needs to tweek his offense a bit to allow the team to run the floor a bit more, rather than slowing it down all the time. He has guys who can run, so maybe that would make them more versatile.

[Niffla]

I'm still kind of in mourning so to speak. It being the morning after something like that. That said, it was a fun ride this season. Top ten team all year long just about, a #2 seed and at least a trip into the 2nd weekend. A lot of programs would kill for that.

So anyways...is it a foregone conclusion that Matthews leaves? Coach B seems pretty sure about it, although Matthews did leave the door cracked when he basically said "I don't know" last night. I mean he is not an NBA player...not right now anyway. And does he even get drafted? I have my doubts about that. And if he did manage to sneak into the 2nd round -- could he even make the roster cut on a team on the next level? He has the frame, and could be a plus defender, but outside of that...I don't know. I just don't see it. If he takes his chances on the next level right now I think the odds that he has an actual NBA career are very, very slim. He'd probably end up as one of these guys who plays professionally overseas. He's not an NBA level player right now (and truth is he may never be). This season he was virtually the same guy he was a season ago, albeit with perhaps an elevated defensive game.

[froot loops]

He definitely could use another year in college working on his 3 point shot. Guys like him can be useful if they can hit over 35% from the NBA arc. He's not there, most 3 and D guys take awhile to emerge.

[Niffla]

He definitely could use another year in college working on his 3 point shot. Guys like him can be useful if they can hit over 35% from the NBA arc. He's not there, most 3 and D guys take awhile to emerge.

And it's hard for me to see him evolving into a consistently solid shooter form distance at the pro level...Charles has a career 30.8% from three from the college arch. In 111 career games. If he does turn pro though I'll pull for him and wish him the best, because he seems like a genuinely good kid.

[WM Wolverine]

I can try to find latest from insiders at 247 regarding Charles Matthews. They've said all year, he's gone.

He needs another year of doing exactly what froot said, working on what will pay his bills, his three point shot. That is the part of the game that needs to improve to play professionally. I hoped and almost expected he'd be improved this season and he might've regressed though I think playing off MAAR (who made others around him better) was easier than playing with Poole.

He'd make next years roster really crowded but M could use him.

[Whitley]

I thought Matthews was a senior this year? That is what UM lists him as.