MBB 2017: Jordan Poole Highlights
Looks like a great replace for Walton!
Are we thinking this kid makes an impact next year or is he taking the Ibi Watson route?
Caris LeVert was also going to be redshirted but he improved at a crazy rate over his freshman year and played some important minutes for us in the NCAAT. Watson is from LeVert's HS and needed the redshirt but Beilein chose to play him...
/shrug
I think Poole will either get spot minutes or be redshirted. We'll have crazy depth next year. We might legitimately roll 12 deep next year but I expect Beilein to cut that down to a rotation of 9-10 players. The 2013 National Runner-Up team was 9-10 deep. Bielfeldt was the 10th guy after LeVert and Albrecht emerged as players.
PG: Xavier Simpson / Eli Brooks
SG: MAAR / Jordan Poole
SF: Charles Matthews / Duncan Robinsion / Ibi Watson
PF: DJ Wilson / Isaiah Livers
C: Moritz Wagner / Jon Teske / Austin Davis
Some of those positions are flexible so we can go big or small.
I like the guards+forward we're bringing in. None of them will have to play 20 minutes each.
But if they as a group give us an offensive and/or defensive boost over 10-20 minutes in any given game (w/r/t foul trouble), they'll be solid.
Hence, none of them will be pushed into the starting role. They can ease into the college as the back-up and then be ready for a larger (starting?) role as sophomores.
In an age of one-and-done, fans are far too impatient. Look at the improvement DJ Wilson in year 3 under Beilein. Teske and Davis will give us some contributions next year.
I understand the concern about the 2017 class since the players will be freshmen and they'll need to climb the learning curve. But this incoming group is capable of doing it.
I'm very excited for next season.
My primary concern is the PG position. I was expecting more from Xavier Simpson as a freshman but I realize that Walton's huge improvement in the 2nd half played a part in X getting fewer/smaller opportunities.
1. The comment about patience wasn't directed at you. I actually meant to put that in another post but I replied to you.
2. I said we could have a team that legitimately rolls 12 deep which is my way of saying we could have 12 players that play minutes for us next season. (Would you be surprised if Poole or Eli Brooks or Austin Davis played frequently against the inferior/weaker oppoents during the OOC schedule?) I also said I expect Beilein to cut the rotation down to 9 (or max 10 players) but you didn't mention this important detail.
March 26th, 2017 at 10:38 PM ^
March 27th, 2017 at 12:39 AM ^
"Legitimately roll 12 deep means you think we are going to have 12 players capable of playing significant minutes."
No, it doesn't. You ASSumed that's what I meant when you should've asked for clarification.
I'm only responsible for what I type and not what you choose to misinterpret via ill-founded assumptions.
As I mentioned in a post below, no coach plays 12 players because it affects continuity/chemistry of the line-up. No sane coach limits a starter to just 25 minutes just to give his back-up 15 minutes. If the starter can play 30-35 minutes (provided he stays out of the foul trouble), then the starter gets priority. A player is the starter because he's the better option.
But if we have a 9th or 10th player that can give us 2-4 minutes in extenuating circumstances, then he will play. Beilein proved that during the 2013 season.
March 27th, 2017 at 10:17 PM ^
Frank Chuck we do not have crazy depth next season. Unless you count 3 true freshmen and 1 little used center crazy depth.
I think our guards will be ready to play and give us solid contributions in limited minutes.
That said, I'm extrapolating a bit and counting on improvement from all 4 of our bigs.
...Beilein will cut the rotation down to 9-10 players even if all 12 can play minutes.
(Coaches place a premium on continuity. There is such a thing as too much depth.)
that we will go 9 or 10 deep, and we never, ever do. 7 or 8 has always been the limit, and it will be next year too. The "rotation" is the guys who play basically every game, no matter who the opposition is, or what the score is. Playing minutes in garbage time or in a blowout doesn't count. Poole will probably not redshirt, but whether he'll be in the regualr rotation is another question.
March 26th, 2017 at 10:35 PM ^
False.
See 2013
During the NCAAT, we played Burke, Stauskas, Hardaway Jr., Robinson III, McGary as the starting 5. And the back-ups were LeVert, Albrecht, Jordan Morgan, and Jon Hood to make it 9. Bielfeldt was the 10th player.
That 2013 team was very talented (with 6 NBA players and some great college role players like Jordan Morgan).
When a team has talent, a coach would be crazy to not maximize it. But rarely does a college program have that much talent on one team.
But because the Fresh 5 were so damn good as freshmen, Beilein chose to play them (even over experienced players).
I think people will be pleasantly surprised by how good next season's team is.
March 26th, 2017 at 10:51 PM ^
March 27th, 2017 at 12:39 AM ^
Caris wasn't a big part during conference season. He emerged near the end of the season and becamse the 9th player in the rotation during the NCAAT (something I've repeatedly pointed out).
In you overzealousness to prove me wrong, you ignored the most important time of the year. It's apparent in your answer. If you were not intellectually dishonest, you would've looked at the NCAAT as well. You fell prey to confirmation bias. See below for evidence.
Round of 64: South Dakota State - 9 players.
(http://www.espn.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=330800130)
Round of 32: VCU - 9 players (plus walk-ons because we blew them out)
(http://www.espn.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=330820130)
Sweet 16: Kansas - 9 players
(http://www.espn.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=330882305)
Elite 8: 10 players (plus walk-ons)
(http://www.espn.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=330900057)
Final Four: Syracuse: 9 players
(http://www.espn.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=330960130)
National Championship Game: 9 players
(http://www.espn.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=330980097)
So in 6 NCAAT games, Beilein played 9 players in all of them.
And lest you think I'm focusing exclusively on the NCAAT, I can link other box scores of other games from the end of the Big Ten season (like at Purdue and Indiana) + the Big Ten Tournament where LeVert played as the 9th player.
That was a young team. As players got better, they got more playing time. Who can forget McGary exploding onto the scene during the NCAAT? His emergence transformed us from a Final Four hopeful to a National Championship contender.
Finally, I don't give a flying hoot if overly-optimistic Michigan fan predict a big rotation every season only to see a 7-8 man rotation. Beilein has demonstrated that he will play players when they can contribute. See the 2013 season (which was his best team so far at Michigan). I think the 2018 team has a chance to be similarly special because of the combination of talent, experience, and depth.
March 27th, 2017 at 11:54 AM ^
Who the hell is Jon Hood
Walton is listed at 6'1" but is probably 6' tall. Poole is listed at 6'4" but he's probably 6'3".
This is what I'm looking forward to, finally the chance at a big lineup like some of these blue blood programs seem to always have. MAAR, Matthews, DJ, Mo and one of Teske/Davis (or we can still dream of Bamba)
March 26th, 2017 at 10:09 PM ^
From what Beilein has said, he wishes he had redshirted Teske instead. Wilson will never play the 3. He and Wagner will start at the two bigs (assuming they don't bolt for the NBA), and Davis will be the regular backup, with Teske getting clean-up minutes. Hopefully, Matthews and Livers will compete for the starting 3 spot, with Robinson as backup.
March 26th, 2017 at 11:12 PM ^
Next year. I think it was mentioned in another thread that he went to a prep school w/ a ton of talent just to be sure he was ready to come in and play right away. Watson wasn't redshirted because of depth issues. JB wasn't sure who was going to help more - Watson or Xavier Simpson.
Poole is smoove but needs more speed and muscle. Is this Bamba guy a center because all this team is missing is that center who can get 10 to 15 points a game in the paint and muscle opposing bigs. Unstoppable if they get a guy like this.
March 26th, 2017 at 10:27 PM ^
March 26th, 2017 at 11:06 PM ^
March 26th, 2017 at 11:29 PM ^
March 26th, 2017 at 11:17 PM ^
March 27th, 2017 at 10:53 AM ^
But what about the Jordan Peele highlights?