Media Poll: Michigan Picked to Finish 5th in Basketball
The annual media poll was released. Sounds about right. LINK.
October 2nd, 2019 at 2:02 PM ^
Purdue is getting a bump because of Painter. The team doesn't look great, but Purdue always ends up being respectable.
October 2nd, 2019 at 11:01 AM ^
So much uncertainty for our team - new coaching staff, lots of new players replacing those who left for the NBA, nobody knows what the new system will look like, etc.
I could see us finishing anywhere from 3-7 in the B1G, so 5 seems about right.
In this transition year, I would be happy if we make the tourney as a 9 or better seed, manage to somehow beat Sparty once, look competent game in and game out, and show improvement over the course of the season. Anything more than that is bonus territory for me.
October 2nd, 2019 at 11:13 AM ^
Who here can take a true educated guess and tell me on our projected finish, had Beilein stayed ? Third ?
October 2nd, 2019 at 1:38 PM ^
I would say a damn near consensus 3rd.
October 2nd, 2019 at 12:28 PM ^
This looks about right. 3-10 or so can all change tbh
I think we could reel off a great season and get 3rd, or sputter a little bit and get 8th. 8th isn't bad by the way - we've gotten the 8th seed before and had a really solid team. I mean even in 2018 we got the 5th seed, and that team was amazing. Same with 2013. 3-8 probably won't be separated by much
I think Franz will win FOY though, and I think Livers makes 1st team all B1G.
October 2nd, 2019 at 1:53 PM ^
I'd have higher expectations than 5th if Beilein was still here. Only because he's a known factor and would have gotten the team to play at the highest level possible. With Howard, we just don't know what he's capable of doing at the college level. And there's still the question about our outside shooting. Being picked 5th was probably a combination of the coaching change and not having Poole and Iggy back.
October 2nd, 2019 at 2:43 PM ^
Perhaps I am wearing blue shades here but I don't see why we can't be a contender for the Big10.
We have one of the best point guards in the country
We have one of the best centers in the country
I think Livers will be All Big Ten caliber at small forward
This core 3 is as good as any in the conference and among the best in the country
I have high hopes for Johns at power forward. That leaves only the 2-guard to fill and given the quality of the other starters a place holder will suffice.
I am looking forward to basketball.
October 2nd, 2019 at 5:58 PM ^
We can be. But it's pretty tough to predict anything with a guy who has never been a head coach for a single game. We would contend with Beilein but it's a tall order for Howard to be as good as Beilein right out of the gate
October 2nd, 2019 at 3:41 PM ^
No idea what to expect with this team. If this team can consistently find a way to avoid long scoring droughts the defense could theoretically be good enough to contend for the top 3. If the offense takes a stepback from last years offense that already has those droughts 8-10 isn't out of the realm of possibility. The actual outcome will probably somewhere in the middle, so 5 seems about right and in a tough conference that would be still be a respectable seed.
October 2nd, 2019 at 6:05 PM ^
Meh..ya sounds about right. I think would be a great jump off season for JH
October 2nd, 2019 at 6:28 PM ^
October 2nd, 2019 at 9:59 PM ^
Fuck that. We have a 7'2" center with shooting range. National championship, baby.
Seriously, I am eager to see the identity of Juwan's team. Beilein's teams were always disciplined with low turnover rate and good offensive efficiency. They didn't slack in defense either. Juwan will be trying to fill some large shoes.