bronxblue

April 21st, 2024 at 12:19 PM ^

A nice pickup. 

I was excited about him because he's been a PG at a major-conference team and has good measurables and decent overall offensive numbers.  Auburn basically had two platoons of players they'd roll out so his per-game numbers were depressed but are solid extrapolated over a starter's minutes.  He's prone to turn the ball over more than you'd like, but he's also a 28% assist rate so it seems like he's a bit of a gambler.  Not perfect but that might also be a by-product of Auburn's offensive system; I looked back at their other PGs over the years and all have somewhat elevated TO rates.  

The shooting potential is there and so is the athleticism/size; he won't be Dug in that guys can just muscle him around.  I don't think he's going to be a a dominant lead guard but the floor with him feels higher than Dug's, who had some amazing offensive performances but was a bad defender and could be bullied by larger defenders.  He's also a multi-year player so there's room to grow and build around him a bit as an upperclassmen instead of a 1-year rental (unless he just blows up).  

So again, really nice pick-up and the team is starting to look a bit more coherent and balanced.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171866

bronxblue

April 21st, 2024 at 2:03 PM ^

Yeah, he's a two-way player in the way Smith couldn't be as much simply because of size and athleticism but P5 PGs with starter experience are hard to come by, even though Smith had the advantage of being a senior with experience being the offensive centerpiece at Columbia.

The physicality feels like it'll be a departure from what UM has had at PG basically since Simpson; Donaldson is 6' 3" and 200lbs.  For comparison, GW III is 6'2" but 170, Dug was (charitably) listed at 5' 11" and 175 lbs, and Llewellyn was 6' 2" and 190lbs.  DeVante' was the only PG they've had around 200 lbs but he was 6' 1" and lacked the overall athleticism.  

If he's an average PG in this conference that would be really nice, especially since May wants to play at least 3 guards who are pretty switchable and can shoot.

 

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171866

MGlobules

April 21st, 2024 at 3:20 PM ^

May is getting a team assembled. I like May, and am wishing him well. I felt, at the end, that Juwan had to go. But if Juwan were pulling this guy in now, the comments would not be. . . quite as conciliatory. I'm sure I'll get negged, because right now everyone's drinking the koolaid--I'll have half a glass, myself. But sane people will recognize the truth of what I am saying. 

Joined: 11/17/2008

MGoPoints: 47900

MGlobules

April 21st, 2024 at 3:43 PM ^

Stringer Bell is sane, even if contrarian. Bronx is a thoughtful contributor to this board. They're both getting it right. I rarely see you say anything of substance, but maybe I've missed your great posts? 

This is another, I'm sure, great kid who who will have to show marked improvement or be a far better fit in Dusty's scheme if he is going to overcome what are, to date, pedestrian numbers. Saying that is not a crime. 

And yes, and no. I'm no hoops savant. But I have been following the team closely since the 1970s, played, and know a little about the game. Have some institutional memory about the subject. Remember how people maligned Beilein and Howard, and Amaker (for that matter), and want to plump for a little more awareness. Let's hope Donaldson is fantastic for Michigan. 

Joined: 11/17/2008

MGoPoints: 47900

Stringer Bell

April 21st, 2024 at 3:31 PM ^

No, I think it’s more a reflection of the fact that people understand that Dusty is in a very tough spot this year trying to clean up Juwans mess.  Getting guys like Donaldson is fine when it’s your first year and you inherited a roster with 3 players on it, one of whom (Jace) is not a Big Ten player.  If you’re relying on guys like Donaldson going into your sixth season?  Thats more of a problem.

Joined: 11/06/2014

MGoPoints: 52911

mgeoffriau

April 21st, 2024 at 4:02 PM ^

Yeah, I don't get the whole debbie-downer attitude. Nobody is suggesting next year's roster will be a great team, or that Juwan didn't pull any talent.

What people are excited about is that May is having to quickly put together a roster, and thus far has managed to sign a number of players that make sense in terms of roster construction and his style of play. Sure, there are expectations of better talent in years to come, but it's not silly to be happy that the year zero rebuild is going about as well as could be reasonably hoped.

Joined: 01/01/2013

MGoPoints: 9280

DetroitBlue

April 21st, 2024 at 5:58 PM ^

The type of poster who feels the compulsion to explain how right they’ve always been (like globules) are truly the worst. I’m trying to think how shitty my life would have to be to constantly keep score of my annoying internet takes, and I’m honestly coming up empty

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 30311

STW P. Brabbs

April 21st, 2024 at 10:34 PM ^

I dunno, maybe we've had too little to bitch about lately, what with the natty and all, and people need to let out some pent-up grumpiness that hasn't had an outlet -- or maybe I just haven't been tracking message board dynamics re: Juwan . . . but this subthread seems like some really big feelings out of nowhere.

At least to me, feels like more of an I disagree with your position sitch and less of a Michael Scott on Toby Flenderson one. 

Joined: 08/27/2008

MGoPoints: 3867

rice4114

April 22nd, 2024 at 4:59 AM ^

Imagine this was a player taking last years 12th or 13th unused roster spot. Nobody wouldve complained. May has to bring 9-10 new players in in one season or look at this way as many recruits that Juwan has brought in the last 4 seasons. It a huge uphill battle. 

Joined: 08/26/2010

MGoPoints: 47428