McGary not announcing intentions tomorrow
Mitch's father has told MLive that Mitch will not be announcing his future plans tomorrow at the 3:30 press conference along with Nik and Glenn.
http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2014/04/mitch_mcgary_still_mu…
This leads me to believe that Mitch is more likely staying than going. At the worst, it means he hasn't made up his mind yet (but Jon said Mitch had already told him his decision, so I feel like he's probably staying). It would make sense if Mitch was going to leave that he would announce along with Nik and Glenn so they could all do it together. I think Mitch's decision is probably different than Nik and Glenn's though, hence the different announcement times.
Out of the 3, Mitch was always probably the most important to the team's success next year, regardless of what you thought about the trio's differing skills. Now, with the transfer of Horford, Mitch is definitely the most needed out of the 3, as he is our only player over about 6'8" or so left.
Definitely need Mitch the most.
Irvin will obviously take Nik's spot. Who takes GRIII's?
Donnal/Chatman hopefully
Donnal is the stretch 4 Beilein has not had yet at UM. 6'9 with range. So Mitch at 5, Donnal at 4, Irvin at natural 3, and backcourt is Caris and Walton Jr. That would be a very promising starting lineup in my eyes with nice length at every position but PG. Chatman can backup anything from 2-4 in an Irvin 2013 type role. I guess Caris and Irvin are sort of interchangeable at 2 v 3. Prefer neither to be in the 4 but when GR3 went out I think it was Irvin who went to 4 for small periods (hence why I think him sliding to 3, and Caris to 2 makes more sense but 2 v 3 in he Beilein offense doesnt matter much)
Goodman also says he is wresting with decision so whatever he told Horford obviously he is having second thoughts. That doesn't imply he told him he would leave or he would stay - it just implies whatever he told Horford, he is now not so sure of.
Mitch McGary may not make announcement tomorrow. Sources told ESPN that he is still wrestling with decision.
April 14th, 2014 at 10:03 PM ^
April 14th, 2014 at 10:04 PM ^
JB had his stretch 4 it with him.
Otherwise, I agree with you. With Mitch back the team looks very nice and the roles are pretty clear. Without Mitch, the team is scrambling to fill the void at 5 and may have to play small (as they did at times when Smotrycz played center).
April 14th, 2014 at 10:06 PM ^
Good point. Similar size to Donnal.
April 14th, 2014 at 10:24 PM ^
How can you forget about Smotrycz!?
But you're right, he's not a C and people REALL need to stop trying to make themselves feel better by making him one.
He's not thick enough, it's not his game, and we'd get DESTROYED inside if he played C (just like we did when Smotrycz played the 5). McGary, Doyle and Max and his huge calves will have to hold down that spot.
Donnal is your 4. Which you need anyway because GRIII is leaving.
I can't even imagine playing a team like '14 UK with Donnal on the floor instead of Morgan. We got rolled on the boards WITH Morgan...it would be mansalughter if Donnal was our best big man option. That's just not his game.
And so what about his height...there are 6'9 SG's around. Wiggins is tall, he's not a C or PF. Dirk is tall, he's not a C. Hell Ralph Sampson was 7'4 and played PF for a lot of his career!
You need some girth.
Edit: Was beaten to the punch, but same point...Smotz was a stretch 4 who struggled HORRIBLY when he has to play the 5 and ultimate transferred because of it. He thought he was a 3/4 instead of a 4/5 who had to play 5 far too much. Not saying Donnal would leave, but he shouldn't be playing more than a couple minutes a the 5 spot and those should be late in the game when the other team is fouling.
April 15th, 2014 at 10:53 AM ^
It wasn't that bad. Beilein did it regularly and we didn't die, at times we even thrived. We got killed on the boards, but gave it good on the other end with Smotrycz's 3-threat clearing out space inside. It's really no different than playing a wing at the 4 spot - you lose something but gain something on the other end. At the very least it's a 1-3-1-style change of pace that can put teams in an awkward place for a few minutes a half.
If McGary goes pro, I definitely think you'll see some Donnal at the 5. There just aren't too many reliable options unless Doyle shocks everyone.
The issue is that Michigan can't play a 3 at the 4 spot AND a 4 at the 5 spot without really waving the white flag on rebounding. To play Donnal at the 5 they need some rebounding and strength from the wings. I suspect that eventually Beilein would love to have a frontline of Wilson-Donnal, where both bigs can spread the floor and hold up just enough to not get dominated on the glass.
I'm thinking Irvin takes GRIII's spot, while Caris takes the "small forward" position and Walton and Albrecht are the two guards. Just a hunch, no insider knowledge or anonymous sources.
I've got Walton, Caris, Irvin, Donnal, and Mitch starting. Spike backing up Walton, Chatman backing up the 2-4 spots, and Donnal and Bielfeldt (I guess) playing about 10 minutes a night backing up Mitch at the 5.
The best five will start. The following will play (assuming Mitch stays):
Walton, Spike, Caris, Irvin, Chatman, Donnal, McGary....
Beilein likes an 8 man rotation - whoever is the 8th is the big question.
WIthout Horford the 8th will likely be Doyle. Unless there is a transfer option.
April 15th, 2014 at 12:18 PM ^
Just because Donnall is the starting four doesn't mean he can't also be the backup five.
April 15th, 2014 at 12:41 PM ^
I think LeVert plays the 2 and Irvin at the 3. Donnal for sure at 4 but at 6'9" 240 lbs not scared of him getting in at the 5 at all. Walton will still be the pg with Coach B giving him the quick hook for Spike. I just don't want to see Irvin at the 4 at all. GRlll is way more athletic and plays way better defense and he got abused there and disappered. Irvin will be a hard guard for other 3's in the country when he's coming off screens. I think between LeVert, Irvin, and McGary (hopefuly) I like this trio more then the Burke, Hardaway, McGary show!
I think we're going to see a lot of different combinations.
We don't even know if there will be a transfer coming in.
I'd imagine they would like to red-shirt Doyle and Wilson but that might be impossible.
April 14th, 2014 at 10:08 PM ^
Irvin is plug-and-play for Stauskas.
Gotta figure it'll be a mixture of Donnal and Chatman at the 4. Donnal when we want to go big and Chatman when we roll out a 4 guard look similar to this year.
Then you got Walton at the point, Caris at the 3, and McGary at the 5 (Donnal can probably also get some minutes there when Chatman is at the 4). Doyle and Beilfeldt battle it out for the garbage minutes down low, and Spike and Wilson provide some added depth in the backcourt.
Bada bing bada boom, that's a squad.
EDIT: And of course Dakich leads what should be another strong bench celebration unit for UM. How could I forget.
April 14th, 2014 at 10:21 PM ^
Irvin subbed for GRIII last year and really didn't even play the wing spot until late in the year.
That is a HUGE diss to Stauskas because Stauskas was maybe the best passer on the team. He facilitated much of our offense.
Irvin is WAY more plug and play for GRIII than Stauskas who created his own stuff. Irvin just chucked the ball at the rim (and made a lot) for 90% of last season. I can count on one hand how many times he touched the ball twice in one possession and didn't shoot.
April 14th, 2014 at 10:28 PM ^
I'm not saying he's as good of a player as Stauskas is right now. Nobody thinks that. But his skillset and the way he was used later in the year reminds me a lot of how Nik was used his freshman year. Irvin can stroke from the outside and clearly has the athleticism to start to drive and create his own shots. A summer in AA should do a lot for him and he'll be getting Stauskas type minutes next year.
April 14th, 2014 at 10:41 PM ^
...you wouldn't be so silly.
But I'm saying their games are COMPLETELY different. Irvin, to me, is A LOT more GRIII than Stauskas.
He's a guy that can do some of everything. But Stauskas was ELITE with the ball in his hands. Irvin is going to knock down some 3's, get some put backs, maybe he takes someone off the dribble every now and again, find a hole behind the defense for a dunk, play decent defense on a SF and struggle on a PF, likely be inconsistent.
That is like GRIII's career in a nutshell minus the highlight dunks.
Stauskas was a PG for us at times, the offense ran through him, he could create for himself and for others.
LeVert is more likely to be the next Stauskas, not Irvin. Even though, I'm not sure LeVert can do it either...he's got the skill set, but one of his strengths is playing out of a traditional rhythm --- it's hard to play off someone like that because they're a little unpredictable with the ball. He's going to pick up a lot of fouls because of it, but I think it's harder to be a great passer because of it too.
Anyway, if you're looking for plug and play...I think your best guess would be LeVert for Stauskas and Irvin for GRIII. McGary for Morgan. The question is...who becomes LeVert, do Albrecht and Walton play more together or does Donnal get those minutes...either way, THAT is where the team really changes. Either you have two PGs or you trade last year's LeVert for Donnal and become more post oriented.
April 14th, 2014 at 11:05 PM ^
Irvin wasn't put in a role this year to show off his passing skills AT ALL and was rarely in a position to drive. Beilein had him in a catch and shoot role and took him off the bench for the sole purpose of draining a few threes. A lot like Stauskas just sitting in the corner his freshman year when he was on the floor.
He's already a better 3 point shooter than GRIII ever was at UM. Next year he'll start every game and get the opportunity to do more things on the court with that added freedom. I believe he'll show huge gains overall in his offensive game and be a multi-dimensional threat. Caris can stay Caris, we don't need him to change his role. Also Nik never was the PG this year, Caris had a stretch or two in a couple games where he handled the offense but just because Nik brought the ball up the floor or got iso'd doesn't mean he was ever playing the 1.
EDIT with some stats:
2012-2013 GRIII: .324 3pt% on 71 attempts, .652 2pt% on 221 attempts, 43 assists, 1312 minutes
2012-2013 Stauskas: .440 3pt% on 182 attempts, .500 2pt% on 116 attempts, 52 assists, 1190 mintues
2013-2014 Irvin: .425 3pt% on 146 attempts, .460 2pt% on 50 attempts, 13 assists, 568 minutes
For me, when you're looking at the stats I see a lot more of a potential for Irvin to become similar to Stauskas than GRIII. He's much more of a behind the arc player (at this point in his career) than GRIII ever was, and he chucked up only 36 less threes than freshman NIk on half the minutes. The potential is certainly there for him to carry a huge load of next year's offensive output.
April 14th, 2014 at 11:29 PM ^
Wilson isn't a guard.
April 14th, 2014 at 11:33 PM ^
In Beilein's offense the 3 is a guard for all intents and purposes. I hope he can stick there and doesn't have to rotate down to the 4 like Glenn because of depth problems.
he is going to play the 4 at Michigan.
Hes 6 foot 8 with pretty good vertical athletecism.
If you dont think he gets the bulk of his minutes at the 4, you havent been paying close enough attention to JBs tenure at MIchigan.
And I think Donnal gets most of the backup 5 minutes in lieu of Bielfeldt or Doyle.
When in doubt and when there are minutes up for grabs, Beilein tends towards guys with more perimeter skills. I really really think Wilson is going to play a lot this year, even more so if MItch leaves, which would bump Donnal up to starting at the 5. Shoot, if MItch leaves, Chatman may even start at the 4.
wants to wait until the last minute to decide. If he is not 100%, then his stock will drop significantly.
April 14th, 2014 at 10:53 PM ^
I can't wait until they all announce one way or the other...the threads, the threads, the threads!
Gee-Whiz, I hope he stays.
I've always thought Mitch McGary was staying and if they are announcing at the same press conference that makes me think both would have the same decision. Crossing my fingers.
If I recall correctly, Trey (and maybe THJ) announced on separate days than Mitch and GR3... I would love to jump to conclusions and say he is going to stay, but jumping to conclusions is almost always a mistake.
Donnal would come off the bench and backup Chatman and McGary.
April 14th, 2014 at 10:20 PM ^
Doyle continues to grow and is now a legitiment 6'10".
At this pace, just wait until his senior year.
Sincerely,
Manute Bol
Common. You chose to believe McGary's DAD of all people over Jon Horford?
What the hell does he know?
April 14th, 2014 at 10:05 PM ^
Meh. Screw his dad. I am more of an unnamed sources kind of guy.
play into late March. I'm starting to feel about deep tourney runs, like I did when I was a kid. (ho-hum, let's do it again)
April 14th, 2014 at 10:03 PM ^
Gotta say.. I'm very excited over Chatman. He'll be the next big thing at Michigan.
April 14th, 2014 at 10:08 PM ^