U of M MEN'S BASKETBALL: 2018-2019

[hack]

"It didn't feel like the same unit that caused a Yosemite Sam version of Roy Williams to resort to a hockey line change in the second half."

More a comment on the writing than its meaning, but that's the best turn of phrase from Brian in a very long time. Sometimes his writing is just fantastic.

[Kstat]

They looked fine. Just short a key player and with a short rotation that will cost you something.

[*JD*]

ESPN (with Hack's boy!) didn't talk about Livers being out until right around the 10-minute mark of the 2nd half. How do you not mention what's going on with the 6th man of the #2 team in the nation?

Thank god for Sports-Twitter.

I will say that I've noticed Iggy getting blocked a fair bit in the last few games so Hack, you were on to something there. He does have a game that can be above the rim but he's more like Blake Griffin is these days than a truly explosive guy. I'm sad that I didn't get an awesome flex out of him in the games I worked like the photogs got last night. I'm not sure I'll get another chance to shoot a game the rest of this season. I think I may extend an offer to travel down to Bloomington for the 2nd IU game, if the regular photographer can't go. It's likely to be a great one and I'd love to visit that building at least once in my life.

[hack]

Oh yes that's a high-value target. Hope you get it. I'll carry your gear.

Iggy's lack of verticality keeps me hopeful for a Year 2. He needs some Camp Sanderson.

I think it wasn't entirely clear at the start of the game that Livers was going to be out. I think I saw a tweet mid-game about that from somebody.

[The Oracle]

It wasn't announced prior, but find it weird it took so long to get relayed on tv.

[*JD*]

Oh yes that's a high-value target. Hope you get it. I'll carry your gear.

Iggy's lack of verticality keeps me hopeful for a Year 2. He needs some Camp Sanderson.

I think it wasn't entirely clear at the start of the game that Livers was going to be out. I think I saw a tweet mid-game about that from somebody.

While it wasn't clear, they didn't even seem to notice. I noticed after Johns came in about halfway through the first half. The question should've been in their heads by then.

[*JD*]

Funny thing about Iggy and Camp Sanderson- I remember either hearing or reading that they told Braz not to lift weights over the summer, as he was already beefy. Still, some leg work would be great. I remember back in the day reading that Shaq improved his vertical at LSU by something like 7 inches from doing calf-raises. If Iggy gained even half of that, that would be huge.

Meanwhile, if I gained 7 inches in my vertical, I might be able to still touch the rim.

[hack]

I could gain seven inches of vertical and still not touch the rim. I am trying to remember to shoot layups overhanded now because otherwise they hit the side of the rim on the way up. Maybe I'll try to do the John Bacon train-with-the-team thing and get myself into Camp Sanderson this summer.

[*JD*]

I don't think I've integrated myself enough with any of the teams to go the Bacon-route...although Coach Hutch (softball) now follows me on Twitter. I'd love a softball camp. That's still kind of my speed, though I did just get told I can't play with my old team when I go out to LA next week. Not because of my rustiness, though. It's their last game of the season and there are a lot of new regulars that it would not be fair to displace.

[hack]

I'd like to get into a softball league too. Taking my kids to Little League hasn't rekindled my interest in watching baseball but it sure has got me interested in playing again. Even just playing catch is a fun thing to do.

[*JD*]

I haven't been able to latch on to a team here. I played when I was here in 2011 but it was on an established team so PT was pretty sparse. Then I played in the TV show league while I was in New York but that wasn't all that competitive. My highlight was going 3 for 3 in the worst ass-kicking of my sports life (I think we lost 45 to 3 or something around that bad) and having Margot Robbie (she was on the winning team and is a good softball player to boot!) buy me a couple of beers afterwards. I talked with her for maybe an hour. However, unlike the rest of my team that day I waited until after the game to drop the ball.

[hack]

Highlight of my sports career was upsetting #2 seed in the second round of the under-14 annual tennis tourney in Windsor. It's been downhill ever since, though I did get compared to Anthony Mason this summer.

[hack]

Just watched the game. They're not fully back dialled in, but took a step in that direction. Overall good defensive performance, but there were at least 5 braindead possessions. Davis had a good stint in the first half, not in the second. Poole is, IMO, clearly the best NBA prospect on the team. Does all the things required of his position, and has the athleticism and ball skills. Iggy's kind of a tweener, and it's not clear to me that he finishes regularly and effectively in the NBA. Definitely a super college player.

[WM Wolverine]

Iggy needs a year to work on his athleticism/explosiveness before I'd project his NBA career...

This team really needs another Livers to come off the bench, I'm getting less hopeful a true freshman will step in and earn a spot in the rotation.

[hack]

Agree enthusiastically on both points. Iggy right now looks like a bench/matchups guy until he can finish at the rim. Explosiveness might help him, or using his body better to shield his shot. He could learn a lot from Simpson, who has always had to do that given his size.

But I think that Beilein is right to keep giving Davis minutes. Very slowly, but he seems to be settling in a bit. His extra-pass assist to Iggy wasn't something he'd have done two weeks ago.