WTKA Roundtable 5/2/2019: We Didn't Want Him Anyway
Things discussed:
- Lester Quinones: Visit canceled by Michigan because of "structural problems."
- Justin Pierce: Maybe wasn't the best fit since he's a three not a two.
- Cumberland: Familiar to Saddi from when Michigan recruited him.
- Bajema probably needs a year or so to grow
- All in on Bones, but Kansas now involved, prep school because tragedy set him back academically
- Can Eli Brooks play? Stats defend his defense, Beilein defends his defense perhaps too much.
- Livers-X-Teske ppp = Matthews-X-Teske ppp, so Livers is probably really good.
- There was a point last year that Eli's coaches had to tell him "shoot the basketball!"
- DeJulius: Sam wanted him on the court early so he'd pass Brooks; Beilein saw something to not do that.
- Abdur-Rahim: Don't have to worry about bag because dad, serious academic kid but family connection to UGA
- Iggy: 5% chance of returning? Left the door open but it's unlikely
- Trial 2 for NCAA payments: Dawkins telling them how it really works: money is often redirected from the players
- Long discussion of how this will unfold
You can catch the entire episode on Michigan Insider's podcast stream on Podbean.
Segment two is here. Segment three is here.
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Larry Bird said when you go on the floor for you to be effective you have to have the right to miss
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- Justin Pierce: Maybe wasn't the best fit since he's a three not a two.
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When things looked good for Pierce, he was the greatest thing since the invention of the wheel. Then he commits elsewhere. Now he sucks and we didnt need him. How a day changes the evaluation of a player.
That's not my point of view. I think Pierce is a good player, but I said last week (when UM seemed a possible destination) he had played poorly in every game against a legit opponent. Still, his tape is pretty good. OTOH, he isn't a two. He can't guard on the perimeter. The UM coaching staff wanted him, no doubt there, but he also is a recruit "over" at least vaguely similar kinds of guys, Jalen Wilson and Bajema. So, in terms of PT, Pierce would be competing with Livers and Johns, Bajema and Wison and (at 2), Brooks, DDJ and Nunez.
So, on the one hand, this was a kid JB wanted and one who might be able to make the jump up in competition. OTOH, he didn't fit with UM's primary need (a 2G) and (to me) looks very similar to two frosh they are bringing in.
On balance, it seems a loss. But J. Cumberland, while maybe not quite as good a player, might be a better fit. Assuming UM is interested--and Sam seems to believe UM is.
Moss from Iowa might have some interest in UM. He's in the portal, I believe. JB has found guys under rocks before (MAAR, Spike, Caris). It will work out.
CR
I was never high on Pierce. Would have loved Quinones but he was always a long shot. I think we need to be all in on Bones and Franz. A pick up at the 2 would be a big plus given our uncertainty at that position. Brooks will be a decent rotational player but has not shown an ability to be a difference maker/dynamic player. I wouldn't count him out but I doubt he will make a leap. I'm still hopeful that somebody else will step up as a shot maker - DeJulius, Nunez or Bajema - but I'm not confident. With Poole jumping early and without one of these guys contributing this year, we will have some trouble. That being said, Beilein usually makes it work with player development or a late addition.
I think the key word there being 'usually'. Seems we're striking out a whole lot more late in the cycle this year than normal. I'm starting to get concerned that if Bones reclassifies to 2020 (which it appears he likely will) and Franz stays in Germany, we could be in for a challenging season ahead. I have immense faith in Beilein but rebuilding seasons have happened before and I think it's entirely possible that this coming year could be similar to 2015-2016, and I think people need to start accepting that possibility now.
Yes, it looks like the opportunities for a late addition have narrowed considerably. I wouldn't say Beilein was caught flat footed since the early departures are not predictable and he's been in on all the possible late prospects. It's just the way it happens sometimes and we run a clean program so we can't compete for everybody like some of the other top programs - not naming names but it's virtually everbody else.
I do think we have the ingredients for a decent year given our current lineup and reliance on a stout defense. But it may be a bubble year without some added talent. Although others here were dismissive of Poole, he is a highly talented and dynamic offensive player who fueled both Sweet Sixteen (and better) runs. He won't be easily replaced.
If Brooks is just asked to spend most of his time on the floor as the primary defender of guards when X is getting a breather from DDJ, then I think he's pretty much perfect for what Michigan will need next year without any real change from his end-of-season offensive form.
If he can up his usage and rediscover his willingness to shoot, he can comfortably fill a bigger role, if necessary.
I'm a member of the Eli Brooks fan club. Eli for shooting guard!
I do hope we get to see DDJ at the 2 quite a bit next year, regardless of who we do or don't pick up here. He was a lights-out shooter in high school. It sounds like the staff thinks he has all the tools to be a complete PG when X graduates and is just going throught the usual Beilein PG learning curve but the kid can shoot in the meantime
"Kansas now involved"
Ha! That invites a bunch of off-color translations. Here's one: We're now for sure competing with cheaters.
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