Hoops: What is Michigan missing/ what do they need to compete next year for a championship?
Watching the Final Four, but not really into it all that much other than I’d like to see K go home without a title. Kind of thinking of what Michigan needs to compete next year? Villanova was missing a key player and they play small ball. Nova has a lot of upper classmen. Kansas has a balanced roster but has a lot of upper classmen, same as NC. Duke is pretty young and not much depth. It’s hard to answer I know without knowing what the decisions are with Hunter, Moussa and Caleb. Kansas gets 12.5 ppg and 33 minutes a game from two transfers. Manek has been the key addition for NC this year. Duke is loaded with top 75 talent. Baylor was loaded last year with a team full of transfers. I look at these teams and I find myself pondering of what might have been if Livers doesn’t get hurt.
I don’t think Moussa and Hunter will both go but if they do, we will need some portal help for the post. Other than that, some questions at the guard spots and shooting. What are y’all’s thoughts on what we need next year and I guess maybe beyond that as well to compete?
Not being lazy but I don't have much to add, your analysis is pretty good Jordo. Hunter is gone but I think Moussa is a 50/50 depending on his feedback. Caleb is a hard no.
I foresee a SG and C/PF in our near portal future with the recruiting class coming in.
I share your sentiment about the "what if" on Livers, that is slightly offset getting to watch him shine as NBA quality 3&D guy with the Pistons.
I can't imagine Hunter is just automatically gone. I love him at Michigan, but he's simply not a NBA player. If he is truly sick of being in school and wants to go play in the G-league or overseas, more power to him and I wish him all the success in the world. That being said, is that really a scenario where a guy is 100% gone?
Not 100%. He said he was coming back for one more year after last year. His age is working against him a little bit as far as NBA window. If enough NIL money is shoveled his way it might tip the scales. I’m actually more interested in seeing what Diabate could do at the 5 in a wide open offense and a switchable defense.
Moussa could legit turn into a Bam Adebayo type of center. He's got the athleticism and his defense is pretty good. Hell, he even has solid potential to develop a good mid-range as he appears to have the ability to display some nice touch at times. Obviously Bam is the ceiling but Moussa already looking like he can guard several positions when needed.
Why is Bam ”obviously” his ceiling? Was there a ride in a Delorean that I missed?
Edit: I typed out a reasonable response but after looking through your post history you seem to be quite negative and/or trash our players in football so I am guessing it was an attempt by you to downplay Moussa too and say it's not possible he could end up being as good as Bam.
Maybe. Maybe not. It's an opinion.
I don't care if you trash my opinion but not a good look to trash M's players on football/basketball
I agree on the last point. Hunter obviously raises the ceiling for our offense, but his lack of mobility is a big problem defensively. Having a switchable center is such a huge defensive asset especially against teams with pick and pop 5s
So, whether Hunter stays or gos, I think there's possible upside either way
Agree not 100% especially with NIL in play. Hunter's draft stock is at optimum right now being just 20 years old. He worked on what the NBA told him and it showed. His ceiling is likely back-up center in the NBA even if he has to go to the G-League. If he stays, he likely risks his draft stock going down.
Just IMO, but this is how it these situations usually play out.
Hunter's draft stock? He's nowhere in any mock drafts. He should look to Luka Garza. National player of the year, much better athleticism and outside range and he went in the second round. He's spending a lot of time in the G-league.
Absolutely. Hunter continues to seem like the kind of guy who loves college. It'll be interesting to see what he does, but to me, the Garza model is the right move for him. (Yes, that is also selfish.)
He’s 21. He’ll be 22 in November.
Shhhh. He's actually on the Danny Almonte calendar, so we're good. : )
Agree
JaVale McGee of the Suns might disagree. He's a 7 footer that can't shoot the 3 and you don't want guarding a wing. He's been in the league since 2008 and was a 1st round pick. His salary is about 10mil a year. Dickinson can actually shoot the 3 better. I think there is 100% a role for him in the NBA and unfortunately, it probably needs to start this year. Not saying he'll have McGee's level of success, but he can definitely find a role in the NBA
Javale McGee has a 7'6" wingspan and provides valuable rim protection. I do think Hunter can carve out an NBA role, but Javale would not be the comp. Hunter could be more of a poor-man's Marc Gasol.
I agree with the other poster, I simply do not think Hunter has the lateral speed to defend at the NBA level. Maybe if he was more automatic from 3 it would be considered as a backup 5. But at the present I can't imagine how he'd fit into an NBA defense.
Everyone thinks Caleb will be back and I sure hope he is but he is ranked higher than any Michigan player to be drafted. He still is in many first rounds in the mock drafts or rankings. I hope both come back. Moussa and Caleb.
My question is, are the nba scouts blind. Caleb has no athleticism and a wonky shot. Plays ok defense and is tall. That’s about it.
Someone that can create their own offense, shoot off the dribble and knock down the 3 Ball in the 38% to 40% range with consistency. Good thing those players grow on trees.
I think Bufkin can be one to shoot off of the dribble but I don’t know if he will be a 40% three point shooter though. I feel like Frankie’s speed will open things up more next year for the guys outside, they just have to knock them down. Great guard play is so pivotal in March/April.
This was basically the point I was going to make. It would be great to have Caleb Love's clone on our team next year.
And all of Hunter, Moussa and Houstan stay. Talent is great but talent with experience is even greater.
Someone who can create their own shot/shoot off the dribble - and make it. Didn't really have that besides Dickinson post ups and occasional Brooks floaters and they are both gone.
Edit: the koala beat me to the punch
I think it's very hard right now to make a comprehensive list of what Michigan will need. It appears that we'll head into the season with major question marks in the backcourt. Worst case scenario, that's true at center too.
The team obviously needs more shooting. Someone will need to step up as an emotional leader. They'll need to be consistently focused on defense.
Hopefully Michigan will get solid minutes out of someone among Tschetter, Barnes, McDaniel, Jace Howard, and Glenn. They can only afford to carry so many non-contributers.
We need better PG play. All of our March runs have had very good to great lead guard play. Frankie has to become a viable outside threat and improve his free throws. Camp Sanderson will help Houstan finish more around the cup.
The fact that none of Hunter, Moussa or Caleb have declared yet has me thinking there's a chance all 3 come back. Hard to know what we need to or can add until they make decisions but a guard that can hit 40 percent from 3 is #1 on the list imo.
All 3 will go through the process as they should
Dickinson, Diabate and Houstan are all coming back imo.
They need Houstan, Bufkin, Diabate and Collins to make that sophomore leap.
They also need a couple more shooters
As of now I wouldn’t count on Bufkin even being at Michigan. Kid has major butt hurt
Have you heard or seen that directly or is that speculation? I do think he should have been given more minutes late (and I credit Martelli for trusting him more than it seemed Juwan did), but didn't see anything to make me believe he was pissed.
Yes, on the AAU circuit. It is a legit rumor right now. He is not pleased with getting put on the pine plus staff looking for another guard.
Bummer. Hope he sticks around. Kid's got talent, don't think it's a situation of him being overrated or not capable of excelling in college. Just needs some strength gains and time in the film room.
Well he should have been playing in the NCAA tournament for sure. Hopefully he will stick it out.
A miracle?
I kid. Consistent spot up 3 point shooting, assuming Frankie is the starting PG (not a portal infusion.) He seems like he can drive and kick. Especially if Moussa is the starting 5 next year so teams have to respect his flashes to the rim.
Perimeter players, regardless of who does and doesn't come back. All four of these teams and all four last year etc. are driven by perimeter play.
I didn't catch the early game, but the UNC/Duke game is very impressive.
There's shooters everywhere, that actually can make shots under duress, either in the system, or able to put it on the deck and create something.
Banchero, Love, Manek, Keels, Williams
it's very impressive to watch some of these guys.
They are both shooting under 40%. Neither team is shooting well. What you are seeing is a lot of athleticism and hustle by both teams.
admittedly, I probably tuned in just as Duke was making a run back.
but iso creation and athleticism does seem like its on another level... a few misses at the rim since I first posted.
That said, UNC did roll Michigan already this year by 21...and while Michigan got better as the year went on, so did UNC...I'd bet they'd beat Michigan by 12 + if they played now.
Love and Davis are way too quick for Jones and Eli so yes they would beat us. I think Manek would work a young Diabate fairly bad too. Hunter could hold his own vs Bacot and Leaky is a wash most of the time with Caleb.
Hunter would get worked against either of these teams. There's no way he could keep up.
So far the consistent need seems to be outside shooting by our guards.
The biggest criticism that I think you can make of Howard so far is that he doesn't seem to prioritize shooting enough.
I mean he brought in the guy who was supposed to have the best 3 point shot in the country as a recruit.
But I agree he hasn’t been able to land his top guard recruit targets and it’s a hole in the roster
You think that’s because he wants to play inside out? Not a criticism but I wonder if that’s why he’s struggled with getting elite shooting guards.
Most elite teams play inside out. Kentucky has for years and a ton of super talented guards (Booker, Herro, Quickley, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) have been significantly better in the pros. Didn't stop them from getting TyTy. MSU has played inside out, hasn't stopped them from recruiting well at guard position. Illinois, outside Big Ten you have plenty of examples.
Bufkin was a McDonald's All American, Houstan is not a shooting guard but was a top 10 recruit who was primarily known as a shooter (if there's a criticism of Juwan there, it's that Michigan could have benefitted from a more well-rounded player). Don't think this is it
Yeah I don't think this is true. Bufkin and Houstan were both recruited for their ability as big-time shooters. He let and encouraged Hunter Dickinson to take multiple 3's this year, and Williams improved as a shooter too.
The one thing you can say is the lineups with T-Will at the 3 next to Johns and Diabate were bad, but Johns was a Beilein recruit who just never seemed to want to shoot. And the reality is, there weren't a lot of good options at the 3.
He also recruited Tarris Reed who looks like another big with shooting ability. There are fair criticisms of Juwan (inexplicably playing hard hedge against MSU in the first game, occasional lineup mishaps) but this isn't one of them.
Totally agree. One of those LSU portal guards ( Miller or Murray) could fix this need immediately.
I’ve been saying for a while now that they need just an average 7 footer out of the portal. I’m thinking someone like Rebraca like Iowa had this year. They could also use another shooter. I’m on the fence about PG. I love Frankie but a little depth would be nice.
Buckets.
We need reliable shooting from 3 and, if Hunter goes, finishing at the rim.
Defense seemed to improve as the year went on, but we need reliable scoring.
Personally think there is a chance Hunter comes back. That would help immensely. Everybody work on their shooting this summer. Thought Michigan played good defense vs. Villanova and had chances to win if they shot better.
They need more top-notch 3 point shooters. 34% as a team isn't good enough, and they had no one over 40%. Brooks was their only decent 3-point producer, and he's gone. And they need someone from last year's recruiting class to start living up to their hype. Houstan and Diabate were both disappointments.