Terrance Williams Appreciation
Obviously the entire mbb season and program are a total shit show, but I wanted to put a little appreciation out there for TWill. He's been put into a lot of positions that he shouldn't have been in due to the overall poor roster construction of the team and seems like a good dude who is legitimately trying. He continued to go hard tonight while everything collapsed. Sucks that it came to this, but I'll remember him fondly when this all mercifully ends.
January 31st, 2024 at 1:34 PM ^
Carr left what?
January 31st, 2024 at 6:29 PM ^
So basically JB left the program in a bad spot because he left it in a place where they had to hire Howard instead of a better coach?
January 31st, 2024 at 10:26 AM ^
Dude. John Beilein left a program coming off back-to-back 30-win seasons. He had landed Jalen Wilson and had Franz Wagner ready to come. The timing was a little weird but the program couldn't have been stronger.
January 30th, 2024 at 11:49 PM ^
Terrance Williams could have been awesome on a Beilein team. About the same build as Isaiah Livers and they both required a fair amount of development to be strong contributors. But Livers got that development and was surrounded by players who complemented his strengths.
January 31st, 2024 at 12:10 AM ^
I doubt it. Haven’t watched Twill this season much but the previous two he was one of our weakest links. Bielien might’ve been the best but Livers is just flat out a way better player. It ain’t close.
January 31st, 2024 at 10:02 AM ^
Livers was a significantly better and more fluid athlete. That seems to be the biggest limitation on T-Will's development to me. It's most evident to me when he tries to drive - he seems unable to change direction or have the body control to finish around a defender. Every time, he charges straight in until he bounces off a defender and then either falls away or gets his shot attempt stuffed.
January 31st, 2024 at 10:16 AM ^
Livers was a significantly better and more fluid athlete
Look at some of his early playing time. He developed into that over the course of his time at Michigan. That’s why Beilein focused so much on fundamentals.
Maybe Williams just doesn’t have it, but I found the progess Livers made surprising at the time. I see Williams as indicative of the state of the program. Guys are who they are when they get here. There’s no growth, no development happening. And it’s really unfortunate because we’ll never know how good guys like Williams could have been.
January 31st, 2024 at 11:57 AM ^
I keep coming back to Kobe Bufkin when people throw out "where's the player development?" arguments in the past few years. While you may be frustrated at how T Will has (or has not) developed, please remember that Kobe Bufkin morphed from a limited minute role player his freshman year to a mid first round draft pick after his sophomore year. The "there's no growth, no development" argument cannot be applied in a blanket sense. Hell, Franz Wagner developed immensely under Coach Howard's tutelage between his first and second year. Dug McDaniel got thrown into the fire early in his freshman year and showed immense growth.
The current problems: our roster is woefully thin and we play terrible team defense. Those are legit complaints. But thinking that T Will's development (or lack thereof) personifies gross coaching malpractice is not a hill to die on, especially when compared to Livers who was in every way, shape, and form a more complete player and athletically superior than Williams. This is no knock on Williams, but to think that he would've been a legit NBA prospect under different coaching is revisionist history.
January 31st, 2024 at 1:38 PM ^
Livers defense was lights out. Defensive ability is the huge difference. Also on offense who is around you matters. Livers had great parts around him, Twill has a PG that can score (most of the times) and thats about it.
January 31st, 2024 at 1:50 PM ^
Look I agree that player development is not what it was, but the Livers comp is just bad. Livers was hitting corner threes and playing very solid D as a frosh. Also we knew from the start there was going to be a dropoff in player development with Juwan. Aside from my other coaching crush, Jay Wright, Beilien was the absolute best, so it's not really knock on Juwan if he (and pretty much anyone else left coaching in 2023) can't turn TWill into one of the very best players in the country (likely an All-American if no injury).
I thought Juwan might've been able to overcome that with recruiting, but clearly the wheels have come off. Biggest indictment of Juwan for me is the defense, and defensive buy-in. Ironically the worst embodiment of this issue was his son Jett, (def not Jace though, I respect his hustle)
January 30th, 2024 at 11:56 PM ^
The amount of times no one covered the corner 3 or boxed out was astonishing.
January 31st, 2024 at 12:30 AM ^
I see no reason to make judgements on the quality of the team, or even consider potential coaching changes in the basketball program until the season is technically complete. How can one judge based only on what's already happened over and over and over?
January 31st, 2024 at 1:39 AM ^
Wards will give Howard a raise.
January 31st, 2024 at 6:48 AM ^
My thoughts have often been critical of TWill over his time at Michigan, but the op is spot on. This guy has shown up with a blue collar attitude and seems to understand the concept of team. Appreciate his effort and not caving in during the course of a difficult season.
January 31st, 2024 at 9:33 AM ^
Love this post and your response. Nobody got more hate than TWill last year. Ppl expected him to transfer and tbh, nobody would have blamed him. But he clearly worked hard and improved all offseason.
On another team, we are lauding his development and talking about how great a role player he is a la Novak / MAAR / Brooks. Those players are all beloved, so maybe not a great comp. What about Zak Irvin who turned into a really nice player his senior year.
January 31st, 2024 at 10:05 AM ^
Irvin is a better comp, as in someone who improved and could play, but fell short of expectations and definitely was a third or fourth option.
Senior Brooks and MAAR could carry the team when called upon.
Novak is his own category.
January 31st, 2024 at 1:41 PM ^
What I wouldnt give for the recruiting scraps that were Jordan Morgan, Stu, Novak, or MAAR.
Damn if it doesnt hit different when you are beating McDs AA asses with those guys.
January 31st, 2024 at 7:28 AM ^
These are the kinds of guys you need to build a program, to keep having juniors and seniors on your roster. But Juwan has been here for 5 years(?) and this is the only veteran player they have, other than transfers. Thanks TWill! Wish we had more like you.
January 31st, 2024 at 7:31 AM ^
Yeah, I've been critical of Williams over the years but he's absolutely turned it around this season. He's never going to be an elite player but he's playing really well offensively and would be a solid contributor on a much better team.
January 31st, 2024 at 7:48 AM ^
Williams has been decent this season. Probably would be better suited to be a sixth man off the bench.
I fear if Juwan is let go whoever is hired will be in the same situation. The university doesn’t seem equipped to allow what is needed in today’s college basketball to be competitive. Beilein was great but I think he could see what was coming with NIL and the transfer portal. Juwan has seemed to have one arm tied behind his back by the university. Go ahead and let him go and bring someone else in. But don’t be surprised if the results are the same. Also, may not be as easy as some think to get a top coach to come here with all the limitations.
January 31st, 2024 at 9:50 AM ^
Sorry - this is a ridiculous take. You think that every school in the B10 has it figured out NIL "better" than us? And that's why we suck? Wut? We are considerably worse than every team in the B10 and are progressively getting worse.
Also, if you watch the games, you can clearly see how poorly coached they are. Tarris Reed and Dug were 4 stars. Burnett and Nkamhou are good athletes. Chedderz and Williams can contribute. They aren't an immensely talented team, but they are worse than the sum of their parts.
Beilein got more from less. Juwan gets less from more and now that the more isn't legacy Beilein players who were coached properly, these guys are floundering. The well dried up on talent and I don't see why anyone would want to play here at this stage. Without a heavy refresh, this will continue under Howard.
There are PLENTY of steps between what we do and what UNC does every year to get nine 5*. Its not losing by 20 every game, or pay and get a ton of elite top 20 players.
January 31st, 2024 at 10:25 AM ^
I can agree with some of your points. But, Beilein coached in a different era of college basketball. I wonder how he would do with NIL and the transfer portal? My main point was that I think until the school changes some things any coach hired at this school is going to struggle. I’m in the minority of giving Juwan at least another season to see if he can figure it out. But I completely understand why people want him fired.
January 31st, 2024 at 12:15 PM ^
Guys like Matt Painter and Greg Gard have their teams playing excellent ball without relying on bringing in a Terrence Shannon or a Caleb Love. Juwan is failing, and it’s a fallacy to think that just because he’s failing means that the next guy is also doomed to fail. There are plenty of coaches that could succeed despite Michigans institutional restrictions.
January 31st, 2024 at 4:36 PM ^
Matt painter and Greg Gard have been coaching at their schools for a lot longer than Juwan has. It’s not really a good comparison.
January 31st, 2024 at 1:53 PM ^
Cheddar/Reed/Howard combined to play 60 minutes.
30% of the available minutes.
They scored 5 points.
The roster is an absolute mess and to fix that you need a new roster manager. If your guy broke this roster he isnt going to suddenly know how to fix it.
5 points.. 30%... disgusting
January 31st, 2024 at 8:05 AM ^
I feel bad for all concerned, but seeing this dude do his best day in and day out, and try to persevere, nothing but respect. He has a bright future.
January 31st, 2024 at 8:17 AM ^
Appreciate T. Will? Sure, why not. Through hard work, the guy is definitely a better player in his final year.
Besides, it's not like there's a whole lot to appreciate otherwise.
January 31st, 2024 at 8:46 AM ^
Guys like TWill were the foundation of many Beilein teams. Forget the one-and-dones. Give me a team of guys who grow up in a system and provide leadership as the coaching staff develops them.
January 31st, 2024 at 9:31 AM ^
Guys like TWill were the foundation of many Beilein teams
Zac Novak will agree to disagree and would have won that N.I.T. game for what that it is worth.
Thanks for staying TWill but...it is what it is.
January 31st, 2024 at 10:45 AM ^
We need 5 Zack Novaks starting to get the basketball team back to where it needs to be.
January 31st, 2024 at 8:50 AM ^
I appreciate the fact that T-Will has clearly worked hard on his game. He came out of the gate this year looking vastly improved and the changes he made to improve his shooting appear to have stuck.
He isn't and won't be an elite player, but he's someone worthy of appreciation.
January 31st, 2024 at 9:17 AM ^
He's always been a hard working player. I really liked him as a freshman. He never quite developed the way we hoped, but he put in work and as much as I don't understand what he's doing at times out there, without him, we wouldn't even have first half leads to squander in the 2nd.
January 31st, 2024 at 10:11 AM ^
Is it just me or does it seem that he's in his like 12th season of Michigan basketball?
January 31st, 2024 at 10:26 AM ^
Of the few minutes of last night's game that I watched, I had exactly the same thought. Limited player who's done well with the opportunities he's had.
January 31st, 2024 at 11:30 AM ^
I love Juwan as a player. As a coach, it hasn’t worked out. It’s best for M and Juwan to move along. I hope he finds a great fit elsewhere but cratering a top 10 program probably doesn’t deserve another year.
January 31st, 2024 at 12:45 PM ^
Go, Blue. Appreciate the players.
January 31st, 2024 at 1:16 PM ^
Wow I hate to crap on this thread, but I don't really understand the great appreciation for Williams. He's been an OK player at best, and I am amazed at how many times during a game he looks lost, in the wrong place, taking bad shots or making bad passes. He still looks like a freshman to me in terms of decision making and defensive IQ. I can't really knock his effort, which is something I guess? But I don't see the high motor/high effort that some on this thread are claiming he has shown. Effort is a bare minimum for a high major basketball player, IMO, but he doesn't seem to stand out in this area either.
Neg away...
January 31st, 2024 at 1:58 PM ^
No ill will towards any of the guys. They are working their asses off, and shout out to TWill for the continued grind.
coaches are failing them. Plain and simple. I don’t give a shit about the transfer issues M will always have, this is on Howard.
Fab 5 was awesome, always will be grateful there, but it has to end after the final game. 1 more year of this is not an option Warde.
January 31st, 2024 at 9:25 PM ^
He remembers when our team was special. I remember him making big plays and big FT’s. The state of our program makes me feel sick. I’ll remember his effort.
January 31st, 2024 at 9:52 PM ^
Let's bask in the glow of the Natty for as long as we can!! GO BLUE!