Transfer Portal: What do we need more, a starting PG or a backup center?
So stay with me for a sec, because on the surface this is obvious...you take a starter over a backup player, duh.
HOWEVER, some folks may think we already have a starting PG in Eli Brooks (and enough talent at SG) that a true backup C to Hunter Dickinson is more important.
I think I know the answer, but I want to confirm,, and so I ask again...we can add ONE transfer portal player, you taking a starter at PG or a backup C?
April 15th, 2021 at 12:21 AM ^
Brooks is a great guard who can fill in at PG in stretches...he's not necessarily a 'true' PG, as much as I love Eli.
Ideally, guys like Zeb/Bufkin are more combo guards...not sure either can play PG full time.
Collins/Eli at PG is doable, but it really means hoping Collins can step in right away, which I don't know is possible or not...he could be the next Burke and adjusts quickly to the major college level, but it is a bit of a risk if he doesn't...
Center would only happen if Michigan somehow manages to land Reid or Holmgren (unlikely for sure), otherwise, it makes sense to look for another PG if possible in the portal.
PG seems to have been a bit of miss in the transition from Beilein to Howard however.
April 15th, 2021 at 12:38 AM ^
I think we can go into next year as is and be an elite 8ish team again.
Our fan base doesn’t know how to process 3 McDonald all Americans coming in 1 recruiting class. People are vastly underestimating the talent and skill coming in and the returning cohort of hunter (likely), brooks, and Johns (fresh off some more PT after livers injury) should mesh very well. The people giving up on Zeb are the same ones who bashed Eli and now are singing his praises. Relax we will be in contention for big ten regardless of who we get or don’t get in portal assuming no big injuries.
April 17th, 2021 at 10:22 PM ^
Relax? Who in this thread is excited?
I vote for a couple of space-eater defensive tackles.
Assuming Carr is not available and assuming Juwan thinks Zeb is a PG ideally, then I think the answer is you look for a wing player. Yes, between Brooks, Zeb and Frankie you do not have the ideal, dominant PG next year, but I am not sure I see a transfer (outside of Carr) that's going to fit that category either and provide a significant upgrade over those 3. I think you develop Zeb and Frankie for PG and use Brooks to provide steady play at PG and minutes at SG. But then you really could potentially benefit from another 2/3 to supplement Bufkin/Barnes/Houstan. IMO, Moussa, HD, Johns and TWill can hold down the 4/5 spots just fine.
If Brown came back instead of Brooks, then my answer definitely would have been a PG.
I honestly think the position we need a transfer for the most is the 3. We need an athletic wing that can shoot. With Livers, Chaundee, and Wagner all gone, that is the position we need experience and talent at.
Bigs - Dickinson will get 30, Diabate and Brandon Johns both have the ability to play PF and can play Center for some minutes. TWill offers another option at the 4 along with Houstan and Tschetter coming in
Guards - Eli is your captain and primary ball handler and Frankie is a True PG and I see Zeb and Kobe as combo guards (like Eli) that can do a little PG if they have to and I think Kobe is going to play more than you think as a freshman
Wings - Houstan will likely be your starter because he can shoot! Barnes is going to be really good but he might need a year of seasoning. We have Jace and Nunez on the roster, along with Twill who I don't like there since he can't shoot and wouldn't be good for floor spacing.
So overall, I think we are short on shooters at the Wing. Houstan helps, but we don't have Livers as our stretch 4 anymore, without him that spacing isn't as good and the 4's and 5's we have aren't great shooters. Houstan can't shoot every 3. Get another Wing that can shoot and has some college experience and develop all the young guys
Point guard. Davis would have been a luxury, but a dude who can facilitate and score at a high level puts us in the elite tier.
April 17th, 2021 at 10:23 PM ^
Davis isn't a luxury. We don't have anyone like him other than Hunter.
He's a luxury if you have someone else who can do the same thing and backup Hunter.
Starting PG. I’d rather have a starter, and if the Beilein/Burke combo taught us anything, it’s that if you have a PG who can take over games and get you a basket whenever you desperately need one, that is the difference between the really good teams that make it to week two of the tournament, and the elite teams that make it to week three with a chance to win it all.
April 15th, 2021 at 10:57 AM ^
We need a PG who can create his own shot in late shot clock situations.
We find that and we are the team to beat in 2021-2022.