Time for March Madness! - Could It Be MICHIGAN MADNESS?!
Yes, I know, I know - I haven't spoken a word about the fabulously exciting season the Men's basketball team is putting on the court. It's not that I haven't been paying attention. My time is just limited these days. I've only watched maybe 3 quarters of actual game on TV. I've listened to a few on the radio and have seen the highlights whilst perusing the stat sheet. Basketball is not rocket science. It is easy to keep track of how things are progressing and where their respective strengths and weaknesses fall, but it is a long season. And I am just now getting over a wicked football hangover that had left a bad taste in my mouth. Luckily, enough positive recruiting and coaching (yes, I believe all the current moves are very positive for Harbaugh's team going forward) news from the football program along with the relative success the basketball team is having, has been enough to awaken me from a the winter slumber I have been in since the new year.
It is no secret that the Wolverines can run with anybody on the hardwood. They are currently 5-1 against the Top 25 and have been the favorites for the Big Ten Championship most of the season. However, some devastating losses over the last month have raised some concerns. Depth has been a concern in the back-court with starters Zavier Simpson and Jordan Poole both averaging over 33 minutes per game. Charles Mathews, who plays the third guard spot, is just behind them at 32 mpg. It would be a lot better for the team down the stretch if all those numbers were more around 30. Free throws and fouls have also been an issue. The former being the team's Achilles' Heel stretching back to last season.
Three of the five starters average less than 66% at the charity strip. Center Jon Teske's 50.6 field goal percentage is almost as good as his 57.8% FT rate. As a whole the team is shooting just under 70%. It would be awesome if that was closer to 80. Coach Beilein will have to make sure guys like Poole (82%), Iggy Brazdeikis (78.5%), and Isiah Livers (79.3%) are all on the court in critical situations where the other team is more-likely to foul. Mathews and Teske could fill out the other two spots in closeout situations because they play such great defense, but don't plan on giving them the ball too much if the game is close. Once the tournament starts there will be no second chances. You've got to get the ball in the hands of the guys that can hit free throws.
As we wind down the season Beilein might try to get more minutes for guys like David DeJulius and Brandon Johns, who are two freshmen that have each averaged only 3.1 and 4.3 mpg respectively. If the Wolverines really want to make a run at another Final Four then they will need some younger guys to step up and fill in some minutes. And if they can prove themselves to be cool at the free throw line then they might find themselves unexpectedly playing more ball during tournament crunch time.
Roster Breakdown:
Point Guard - Zavier Simpson, David DeJulius
Simpson is great. He is a terrific defender that harrasses players at the point. He can cause turnovers and make opponents game plan for him. His 38 steals is best on the team. He has quick movements and can be very dangerous on the dribble with the ability to drive down low and make baskets from underneath. He also averages six assists per game. He is just under 30% from three-point range as he attempts too many untimely shots from deep, but he is good enough to make teams regret it if they pay too much attention elsewhere. If you fall asleep on him he will take you to school. But he only averages 66% at the line. That's not good. The team can't really afford to have Simpson attempting free throws in close games against good opponents. DeJulius hasn't had much time to prove much this season but I expect to see more from him as the postseason heats up as long as he keeps the mistakes down. Eli Brooks is capable of eating up some minutes here too, but he hasn't shown much of an ability to make plays. His free throw shooting is just as bad as Simpson's though. Let's hope that DeJulius is a better shooter that is ready to take on a bigger role with the team.
Two-Guard - Jordan Poole, Eli Brooks, Luke Wilson
Basically, Poole has been the man here. He rarely comes off the floor. He is the team's best free throw shooter and will hit big shots at key moments late in games. He is probably the best option to go to with the ball late in games, especially if it's close. If teams want to foul him then let him. He hits 82%. Brooks can relieve him for several minutes per game, but more quality depth would be desirable.
Three-Guard - Charles Mathews, Adrien Nunez
Mathews is a great defender with the long frame to be a real pest in opponent's faces. He is second on the team in rebounds (135), second in steals (29), and third in blocked shots (12). He is also the second leading scorer on the team. He can pretty much do it all. It's just too bad he chokes at the free throw line. Coach Beilein needs to have a plan to not get him the ball late in close games come tournament time, despite the fact that he has been one the team's best clutch performers. His inability to find consistency at the line will be a big drawback for him in the NBA, though he has the stuff to be a valuable defender for a pro team some day. After him, there is virtually nobody. Nunez averages two mpg. Livers and Johns are more likely to to give him rest come March.
Forward - Ignas Brazdeikis, Isaiah Livers, Brandon Johns
Brazdeikis is the team's leading scorer and he has been a huge surprise this year in more ways than just that. He is also third on the team in rebounds (135) and second in blocks (14). He has quickly become invaluable. Luckily, Beilein gets solid minutes out of Livers so Iggy has only had to play 29.5 mpg, which is fourth on the team. In all, Livers plays just over 21 mpg. Johns, a freshman, has only averaged 4.3 mpg this year, though his minutes have increased over the last few weeks. He might be getting primed to play more of a role next month. The team could use the help.
Center - Jon Teske, Austin Davis, Colin Castleton
Teske is the man in the middle. He has take over what Mo' Wagner left behind. And though Teske isn't quite as good of a shooter with a 3-pt shot percentage under 30, he is still hitting 50% of his shots from the field. Where is better than Wagner is on the defensive end of the floor. He leads the team in rebounds and blocked shots, creating a black hole around the basket. Davis is a bit of an enigma. He can play some decent ball, hitting on 68% of his shots. His sample size is small though as he hasn't really been able establish any kind of real presence on the floor. He averages nearly five mpg but the team could really stand to get a little more out of him. Castleton is a bit green but he still is good for one rebound per game despite only playing about two minutes per contest.
It is no secret that the Wolverines can run with anybody on the hardwood. They are currently 5-1 against the Top 25 and have been the favorites for the Big Ten Championship most of the season. However, some devastating losses over the last month have raised some concerns. Depth has been a concern in the back-court with starters Zavier Simpson and Jordan Poole both averaging over 33 minutes per game. Charles Mathews, who plays the third guard spot, is just behind them at 32 mpg. It would be a lot better for the team down the stretch if all those numbers were more around 30. Free throws and fouls have also been an issue. The former being the team's Achilles' Heel stretching back to last season.
Three of the five starters average less than 66% at the charity strip. Center Jon Teske's 50.6 field goal percentage is almost as good as his 57.8% FT rate. As a whole the team is shooting just under 70%. It would be awesome if that was closer to 80. Coach Beilein will have to make sure guys like Poole (82%), Iggy Brazdeikis (78.5%), and Isiah Livers (79.3%) are all on the court in critical situations where the other team is more-likely to foul. Mathews and Teske could fill out the other two spots in closeout situations because they play such great defense, but don't plan on giving them the ball too much if the game is close. Once the tournament starts there will be no second chances. You've got to get the ball in the hands of the guys that can hit free throws.
As we wind down the season Beilein might try to get more minutes for guys like David DeJulius and Brandon Johns, who are two freshmen that have each averaged only 3.1 and 4.3 mpg respectively. If the Wolverines really want to make a run at another Final Four then they will need some younger guys to step up and fill in some minutes. And if they can prove themselves to be cool at the free throw line then they might find themselves unexpectedly playing more ball during tournament crunch time.
Roster Breakdown:
Point Guard - Zavier Simpson, David DeJulius
Simpson is great. He is a terrific defender that harrasses players at the point. He can cause turnovers and make opponents game plan for him. His 38 steals is best on the team. He has quick movements and can be very dangerous on the dribble with the ability to drive down low and make baskets from underneath. He also averages six assists per game. He is just under 30% from three-point range as he attempts too many untimely shots from deep, but he is good enough to make teams regret it if they pay too much attention elsewhere. If you fall asleep on him he will take you to school. But he only averages 66% at the line. That's not good. The team can't really afford to have Simpson attempting free throws in close games against good opponents. DeJulius hasn't had much time to prove much this season but I expect to see more from him as the postseason heats up as long as he keeps the mistakes down. Eli Brooks is capable of eating up some minutes here too, but he hasn't shown much of an ability to make plays. His free throw shooting is just as bad as Simpson's though. Let's hope that DeJulius is a better shooter that is ready to take on a bigger role with the team.
Two-Guard - Jordan Poole, Eli Brooks, Luke Wilson
Basically, Poole has been the man here. He rarely comes off the floor. He is the team's best free throw shooter and will hit big shots at key moments late in games. He is probably the best option to go to with the ball late in games, especially if it's close. If teams want to foul him then let him. He hits 82%. Brooks can relieve him for several minutes per game, but more quality depth would be desirable.
Three-Guard - Charles Mathews, Adrien Nunez
Mathews is a great defender with the long frame to be a real pest in opponent's faces. He is second on the team in rebounds (135), second in steals (29), and third in blocked shots (12). He is also the second leading scorer on the team. He can pretty much do it all. It's just too bad he chokes at the free throw line. Coach Beilein needs to have a plan to not get him the ball late in close games come tournament time, despite the fact that he has been one the team's best clutch performers. His inability to find consistency at the line will be a big drawback for him in the NBA, though he has the stuff to be a valuable defender for a pro team some day. After him, there is virtually nobody. Nunez averages two mpg. Livers and Johns are more likely to to give him rest come March.
Forward - Ignas Brazdeikis, Isaiah Livers, Brandon Johns
Brazdeikis is the team's leading scorer and he has been a huge surprise this year in more ways than just that. He is also third on the team in rebounds (135) and second in blocks (14). He has quickly become invaluable. Luckily, Beilein gets solid minutes out of Livers so Iggy has only had to play 29.5 mpg, which is fourth on the team. In all, Livers plays just over 21 mpg. Johns, a freshman, has only averaged 4.3 mpg this year, though his minutes have increased over the last few weeks. He might be getting primed to play more of a role next month. The team could use the help.
Center - Jon Teske, Austin Davis, Colin Castleton
Teske is the man in the middle. He has take over what Mo' Wagner left behind. And though Teske isn't quite as good of a shooter with a 3-pt shot percentage under 30, he is still hitting 50% of his shots from the field. Where is better than Wagner is on the defensive end of the floor. He leads the team in rebounds and blocked shots, creating a black hole around the basket. Davis is a bit of an enigma. He can play some decent ball, hitting on 68% of his shots. His sample size is small though as he hasn't really been able establish any kind of real presence on the floor. He averages nearly five mpg but the team could really stand to get a little more out of him. Castleton is a bit green but he still is good for one rebound per game despite only playing about two minutes per contest.
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