U of M MEN'S BASKETBALL: 2018-2019

[WM Wolverine]

Iggy is way too low, he's an NBA future.

[hack]

Iggy doesn't have an NBA position he's certain to be able to guard, and no scout is going to believe he can finish at the rim. He's an ambidextrous three-point shooter who needs to find a middle-range game. Otherwise he'll be a matchups-dependent backup 4. There's a place for him in the league, IMO, but he's not gonna be a hot commodity.

[hack]

Poole can go. He's not a coachable player and he's not a good fit with Z if he doesn't want to embrace getting himself open off the ball for good catch-and-shoot looks. With another backcourt mate it would make more sense for him to play Stauskas' role, but we have Z and he has to have the ball in his hands and that's that. Michigan's offense will be better next year with a 40% shooter in that spot who will play D and move the ball when he's not open. That could be Nunez, or Quinones if he comes, or one of the grad transfers, or Bajema, or maybe even DDJ or Brooks. At the 3, Mo's little brother could be ready next year if he comes, Wilson is an elite shooter, Johns may be able to guard the perimeter or play with Livers opposite slower 3s. Bajema may also fit at 3. The point is that we have lots of options and only 2 to 3 need to hit for us to be able to surround the elite P/R of Simpson/Teske with three elite shooters who can also pass. That is a more sensible approach to offense than the one that personnell dictated for us this year. We're going to have an elite backup C, and an elite backup PG in DDJ. Teske won't have to play entire halfs passive on D b/c of foul trouble, nor will Z. That may in some ways make up for the loss of elite wing D from Matthews. IMO next year's team will slide some on D but improve by a significantly greater amount on O. It's going to be a great year, and unlike this year there is a very good chance there will be banners-level chemistry. It's going to all come together for Beilein one of these years before he retires, and it very well could be next year.

[Niffla]

I like your optimism Hack

[hack]

#metoo

[Whitley]

I am thinking that Poole might get a harsh reality check from the scouts. I like him but to me he is a borderline late second rounder. The NBA guys are going to be telling him that along with what he needs to work on (keeping head in the game, better defender, playing up to his talent) which is probably what Coach Belien has been telling him for a couple years. That might make the light bulb go on for him.

[hack]

Iggy is gonna get one. Poole won't. He refuses to walk (make catch-and-shoot Js) before he runs (create for self and others off the dribble), but he's a legit NBA talent and the scouts see the potential a lot more clearly than their willingness to consider reasons why it won't be fulfilled.

[WM Wolverine]

Jordan Poole is officially staying in the NBA draft. Who is the last M basketball player to make as bad of a decision to leave early?

[Cody_Russell]

Wow, that sucks. Best of luck to Poole. Never expected him to leave a few weeks ago...

Darius Morris or Manny Harris leaving M early perhaps?

[Whitley]

Really need Iggy to stay.

Michigan might struggle from deep even more now.

[hack]

It would be great to have Iggy, but they're gonna be fine as long as they get one of Wagner or Quinones. Poole's loss is addition by subtraction. Next year there will be no shooter that wants to have the ball in his hands based on the thread of making shots but who only made 30% of his 3s in conference play. The offense will be coherent next year as long as another shooter is added. The defense is going to take a step back, but it's not going to have Poole zoning out on 5% of possessions, which is 5% too many.

The great thing is that if there are two wing spots to fill, because Livers is already accounted for in one, there are so many options: Johns and Wilson could play at the 3 or 4. Pierce and Wagner are two more bullets in the gun. At the 2, Brooks and DJJ would be smallish but that's fine. Nunez could hit, and Bajema looks dynamic if he's physically ready. Wagner could play there as well, as could Quinones or Pierce.

Nunez is the only proper SG-sized candidate unless the Quinones recruitment ends in a surprise commitment, and the others are smallish or maybe a big slow-footed for perimeter D, but these aren't killer weaknesses, especially if they aren't on vacation for 5% of defensive possessions as Poole was. There are many options and there will be major training-camp battles, which is exactly what we want.

The other great thing about next year is that Teske won't have to fear foul trouble because Castleton is there and has to get 15 minutes. He's too talented not to. Teske's minutes will drop but his effectiveness will increase.

[THE_WIZARD_]

shaddup

[hack]

Mods, I think it's time for a bot purge. I know of at least one.

[THE_WIZARD_]

hack:

hello

[WM Wolverine]

Way too early depth chart:

PG: Zavier, DDJ, Eli Brooks...
SG: Nunez, Cole Bajema...
SF: Livers, Jalen Wilson...
PF: Brandon Johns..
C: Jon Teske, Castleton...

Iggy is needed.