The 2017 Basketball Roster
Projected Depth Chart:
Center (5)
Mo' Wagner
Jon Teske
Forward/Guard (4) Guard/Forward (3)
Duncan Robinson Charles Mathews
Austin Davis Isaiah Livers
Shooting Guard (2) Point Guard (1)
Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman Jaaron Simmons
Jordan Poole Xavier Simpson
Ibi Watson Eli Brooks
Yes, football season is less than a month away and I am ecstatic about that. Everybody's excited. It is going to be an interesting season, especially with the Florida Gators on tap to open the season on September 2nd. But basketball season isn't too far away either. And just like Coach Harbaugh's squad, Coach Beilein's has a lot to be stoked about for the upcoming season too.
At first glance this roster doesn't seem as top heavy with only one star player returning and no sure-fire 5-Star recruits coming into town. But this year's roster is possibly deeper than last year's version. And if they indeed keep developing and improving they could become an even better team than the one we watched make a run to the Big Ten Tournament Championship back in February.
To start things off, the guard situation looks surprisingly good, especially considering the loss of team MVP Derrick Walton Jr. Grad transfer Jaaron Simmons should take his place at the point with Abdur-Rahkman retaining the #2 (shooting guard) position for the third year in a row. Xavier Simpson, Jordan Poole, Eli Brooks, and Ibi Watson will make up what could be a deep backcourt bench. The team is definitely in a better position here now than it was a year ago when there was nothing but a big question mark behind the two starters.
The forward positions are a bit more unsettled at the moment with forward D.J. Wilson being selected 17th overall in the NBA draft. That makes the return of Mo' Wagner huge. The German-born center/forward is a high-energy player that knows how to hustle. He is already a fan favorite and is, as of right now, the face of this team. He will be starting at center with Robinson and Matthews most-likiely flanking him on the perimeter. Teske, Davis, and Livers will be backing them up.
Expect the scoring to be spread out across the roster. Wagner, Abdur-Rahkman, and Mathews are the top three candidates to lead the team in scoring, and any of the three could be the guy that will have the ball in his hands when a game is on the line. Robinson will also get his fair share of buckets too. I suspect freshman Jordan Poole will be in the mix too. He might just be too talented of a shooter to leave on the bench for too long.
Simmons, a grad transfer from Ohio, will lead the team in assists but should be pushed by Xavier Simpson, who has shown some flash while dishing out passes and played very well on the defensive end of the floor. He saw limited action as a freshman though, having to play behind Walton, so it is still unclear about what we should expect from him.
Wagner and Teske look like the top two candidates to lead the team in rebounds, but Livers could come in and push them as a freshman. There is talent in this year's freshman class, but there is no telling as to how college-ready the young kids are right now. This team will hurt a lot of opponents with their shooting, but if coach Beilein can get some toughness out of his front court they should prove to be very deadly as the season progresses. A lot is riding on somebody emerging next to Wagner from a group of forwards and centers that have very little to no game experience at all.
The Maize and Blue Basketball Player Rankings, 2017
1. F Moritz Wagner (Jr) - Already a fan favorite, Wagner might just have become one of the most beloved Michigan basketball players of all-time by opting out of the NBA draft and coming back for at least one more season. His ability to shoot and hit a bucket from a number of different spots on the floor helps the offense be more versatile. If he can tighten up his efforts on the defensive side of the ball and exhibit more toughness in the low post then he could make himself into a potential lottery pick in next year's draft. His presence elevates the overall talent level of the roster and helps it run a little deeper up front, but his return mostly definitely helps with some continuity in regards to leadership.
2. SG Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman (Sr) - Not an elite-level athlete but he's no slouch either. He could be the senior leader this roster needs with an ability to score from just about anywhere. We should expect him to put up about a dozen points per game in his final campaign as a Wolverine. With increased production on both ends of the floor he could be considered a possible draft pick in next year's NBA draft.
3. SG Charles Mathews (Jr) - Could be the best pure athlete on the team and he should instantly be one of the best offensive weapons after sitting out the past season due to NCAA transfer rules. He will probably start at the #3 spot and he could actually be a better play-maker than Irvin was there last year.
4. PG Jaaron Simmons (5th) - (Grad Transfer from Ohio) - May not be the deadly shooter that Walton Jr. was, but Simmons actually averaged more points (15.9) and more assists (6.5) for the Bobcats than the guy he's replacing for the Wolverines. He could help provide veteran stability and leadership at a key position. With the level of talent around the roster I am expecting a big year.
5. G/F Duncan Robinson (5th) - The third top returning scorer on the team will probably start at either the three or the four spot, but he might be used as a utility man at multiple positions, depending on the scheme. He isn't as big as Wilson was and he isn't among the top athletes on the team, but he will find a way to get buckets and is willing to play defense. Has a lot of experience too. Will be a valuable commodity for the team.
6. PG Xavier Simpson (So) - Solidly built player that doesn't mind playing defense, Simpson also showed the capacity to make sweet passes when given the opportunity. He might not start this year but he will see increased playing time from 8.7 minutes per game to more like 18, especially if he starts to show a nose for the basket. At this point he hasn't been viewed as much of a threat to score at this level yet, but he sure was in high school. It would be interesting to see a glimpse of that player.
7. G Jordan Poole (Fr) - The top incoming freshman could instantly be one the top players on the roster. He appears to be a deadly shooter from three-point range with enough raw athleticism to immediately take on most of the challenges of the college game. Look for him to get lots of minutes off the bench.
8. C Jon Teske (So) - A true 7-foot center with rebounding ability. He is a big question mark going into the season but he is a solid prospect who has continued to grow since stepping foot on campus. He will now be counted on to either win the starting job or provide some quality minutes off the bench. Do not expect him to be quite the scorer that Wagner is, but the team's defense at the rim could improve dramatically whenever Teske is in there guarding it.
9. F Isiah Livers (Fr) - Looks like a perfect forward-type prospect for this offense. It's too bad that it might have to happen now instead of a year from now. Though he probably won't be a starter, I expect Livers to get some quality minutes in the front court and hopefully develop into a team leader over the course of the next year.
12. SG Ibi Watson (So) - A decent shooter with a slim build. He should continue to develop and could help this team run very deep at guard.
13. F Brent Hibbits (Jr) - Purely practice fodder that will occasionally get playing time against inferior opponents. Could be a team leader in the locker room.
14. G Fred Wright-Jones (Jr) - Former manager turned player will also help out in practice.
Center (5)
Mo' Wagner
Jon Teske
Forward/Guard (4) Guard/Forward (3)
Duncan Robinson Charles Mathews
Austin Davis Isaiah Livers
Shooting Guard (2) Point Guard (1)
Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman Jaaron Simmons
Jordan Poole Xavier Simpson
Ibi Watson Eli Brooks
Yes, football season is less than a month away and I am ecstatic about that. Everybody's excited. It is going to be an interesting season, especially with the Florida Gators on tap to open the season on September 2nd. But basketball season isn't too far away either. And just like Coach Harbaugh's squad, Coach Beilein's has a lot to be stoked about for the upcoming season too.
At first glance this roster doesn't seem as top heavy with only one star player returning and no sure-fire 5-Star recruits coming into town. But this year's roster is possibly deeper than last year's version. And if they indeed keep developing and improving they could become an even better team than the one we watched make a run to the Big Ten Tournament Championship back in February.
To start things off, the guard situation looks surprisingly good, especially considering the loss of team MVP Derrick Walton Jr. Grad transfer Jaaron Simmons should take his place at the point with Abdur-Rahkman retaining the #2 (shooting guard) position for the third year in a row. Xavier Simpson, Jordan Poole, Eli Brooks, and Ibi Watson will make up what could be a deep backcourt bench. The team is definitely in a better position here now than it was a year ago when there was nothing but a big question mark behind the two starters.
The forward positions are a bit more unsettled at the moment with forward D.J. Wilson being selected 17th overall in the NBA draft. That makes the return of Mo' Wagner huge. The German-born center/forward is a high-energy player that knows how to hustle. He is already a fan favorite and is, as of right now, the face of this team. He will be starting at center with Robinson and Matthews most-likiely flanking him on the perimeter. Teske, Davis, and Livers will be backing them up.
Expect the scoring to be spread out across the roster. Wagner, Abdur-Rahkman, and Mathews are the top three candidates to lead the team in scoring, and any of the three could be the guy that will have the ball in his hands when a game is on the line. Robinson will also get his fair share of buckets too. I suspect freshman Jordan Poole will be in the mix too. He might just be too talented of a shooter to leave on the bench for too long.
Simmons, a grad transfer from Ohio, will lead the team in assists but should be pushed by Xavier Simpson, who has shown some flash while dishing out passes and played very well on the defensive end of the floor. He saw limited action as a freshman though, having to play behind Walton, so it is still unclear about what we should expect from him.
Wagner and Teske look like the top two candidates to lead the team in rebounds, but Livers could come in and push them as a freshman. There is talent in this year's freshman class, but there is no telling as to how college-ready the young kids are right now. This team will hurt a lot of opponents with their shooting, but if coach Beilein can get some toughness out of his front court they should prove to be very deadly as the season progresses. A lot is riding on somebody emerging next to Wagner from a group of forwards and centers that have very little to no game experience at all.
The Maize and Blue Basketball Player Rankings, 2017
1. F Moritz Wagner (Jr) - Already a fan favorite, Wagner might just have become one of the most beloved Michigan basketball players of all-time by opting out of the NBA draft and coming back for at least one more season. His ability to shoot and hit a bucket from a number of different spots on the floor helps the offense be more versatile. If he can tighten up his efforts on the defensive side of the ball and exhibit more toughness in the low post then he could make himself into a potential lottery pick in next year's draft. His presence elevates the overall talent level of the roster and helps it run a little deeper up front, but his return mostly definitely helps with some continuity in regards to leadership.
2. SG Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman (Sr) - Not an elite-level athlete but he's no slouch either. He could be the senior leader this roster needs with an ability to score from just about anywhere. We should expect him to put up about a dozen points per game in his final campaign as a Wolverine. With increased production on both ends of the floor he could be considered a possible draft pick in next year's NBA draft.
3. SG Charles Mathews (Jr) - Could be the best pure athlete on the team and he should instantly be one of the best offensive weapons after sitting out the past season due to NCAA transfer rules. He will probably start at the #3 spot and he could actually be a better play-maker than Irvin was there last year.
4. PG Jaaron Simmons (5th) - (Grad Transfer from Ohio) - May not be the deadly shooter that Walton Jr. was, but Simmons actually averaged more points (15.9) and more assists (6.5) for the Bobcats than the guy he's replacing for the Wolverines. He could help provide veteran stability and leadership at a key position. With the level of talent around the roster I am expecting a big year.
5. G/F Duncan Robinson (5th) - The third top returning scorer on the team will probably start at either the three or the four spot, but he might be used as a utility man at multiple positions, depending on the scheme. He isn't as big as Wilson was and he isn't among the top athletes on the team, but he will find a way to get buckets and is willing to play defense. Has a lot of experience too. Will be a valuable commodity for the team.
6. PG Xavier Simpson (So) - Solidly built player that doesn't mind playing defense, Simpson also showed the capacity to make sweet passes when given the opportunity. He might not start this year but he will see increased playing time from 8.7 minutes per game to more like 18, especially if he starts to show a nose for the basket. At this point he hasn't been viewed as much of a threat to score at this level yet, but he sure was in high school. It would be interesting to see a glimpse of that player.
7. G Jordan Poole (Fr) - The top incoming freshman could instantly be one the top players on the roster. He appears to be a deadly shooter from three-point range with enough raw athleticism to immediately take on most of the challenges of the college game. Look for him to get lots of minutes off the bench.
8. C Jon Teske (So) - A true 7-foot center with rebounding ability. He is a big question mark going into the season but he is a solid prospect who has continued to grow since stepping foot on campus. He will now be counted on to either win the starting job or provide some quality minutes off the bench. Do not expect him to be quite the scorer that Wagner is, but the team's defense at the rim could improve dramatically whenever Teske is in there guarding it.
9. F Isiah Livers (Fr) - Looks like a perfect forward-type prospect for this offense. It's too bad that it might have to happen now instead of a year from now. Though he probably won't be a starter, I expect Livers to get some quality minutes in the front court and hopefully develop into a team leader over the course of the next year.
10. F Austin Davis (RFr) - Beilein says this kid is a natural scorer that just gets the ball in the basket. That type of ability will go a long way towards providing depth up front.
11. PG Eli Brooks (Fr) - Looks like a prime candidate to redshirt now that Simmons is in the fold. Beilein says that Brooks will probably compete for minutes early but I believe he is a year away yet.
12. SG Ibi Watson (So) - A decent shooter with a slim build. He should continue to develop and could help this team run very deep at guard.
13. F Brent Hibbits (Jr) - Purely practice fodder that will occasionally get playing time against inferior opponents. Could be a team leader in the locker room.
14. G Fred Wright-Jones (Jr) - Former manager turned player will also help out in practice.
Comments
Post a Comment