With July now in bloom, practices for Michigan basketball have begun, and with it comes the excitement for a continuously stellar basketball program. The pieces of the puzzle are starting to come together and we will see that process continue leading up to the start of the regular season. Here are some of the key news and notes from the early days of the summer.
Freshmen Expectations:
All five of Michigan's incoming freshmen were pictured together at practice. Seeing all five together is a treat for Michigan fans who have been waiting to see them for a long time now, and now the dream is realized. I've covered all five in depth in a player profile article I will link at the bottom of this article but the expectations of this class are still a bit hazy. Of course, the nature of the collegiate game is such that all five freshmen making an impact certainly isn't unheard of (i.e., the Fab Five) but does not seem to be wholly likely with the talent that Michigan returns from last season's national runners-up still blocking some of their paths.
All five seem to be able to play a different position which brings up the interesting case of depth. Early in the season, and especially in the preseason European trip which we will discuss in a bit, all five will likely see action but surely by early fall whether it's through practice footage or interviews with Coach Beilein or any of the assistants we will likely be able to glean some information about their roles for the upcoming season. For me personally, I expect two or three to make an impact, but quite a lot depends on the ability of the players surrounding them to make impacts of their own. David DeJulius' playtime will hinge on how Eli Brooks progresses throughout the preseason and early portion of the regular season. Likewise, Austin Davis' development will affect what sort of playing time Colin Castleton sees.
The more interesting position where a freshman or two could make an impact is at the wing. Michigan returns one player at each position who saw the majority of their playtime at shooting guard, small forward, and power forward in Jordan Poole, Charles Matthews, and Isaiah Livers, respectively. John Beilein has consistently shrunk his rotation down to eight men by the end of the season but as we saw in the NCAA Tournament, this is not a restriction to 'point guard, wing, center' but could be a mix. The three rotational players off the bench against Loyola, for example, were Duncan Robinson (wing), Jaaron Simmons (point), and Jordan Poole (also a wing). While the rotation gets trimmed down, Beilein has showcased the ability to be flexible with the personnel used at different times. As a result and in summary, I would imagine multiple freshmen to make their own impact, but just at different times of the season.
Newest Roster Member:
Michigan added another to their roster in walk-on Jaron Faulds. Having spent the last season at Columbia, he averaged 4.5 and 3.2 rebounds a game in his freshman season with an average of 14.2 minutes per game. Because of his transfer, he will have to sit out this season, but in his absence he will be able to provide the scout team in practice a valuable piece as someone with a good amount of D1 experience to challenge those he will practice against. Faulds is from Holt, Michigan, a town just outside of Lansing and about an hour away from Ann Arbor. According to 247Sports, Faulds was the number seven ranked prospect in Michigan's 2017 class, which in turn put him as the third-best big man in the state, behind Livers and Michigan State's Xavier Tillman.
What exactly will Faulds provide? Well, first of all, it is very rare to find what Faulds has in a walk-on transfer. This is a player with Division I playtime for an Ivy League team. He has the brain to pick up Beilein's offense and will presumably be able to fit as a perfect mold for opposing team's big men while sitting this year out of regular season games on the scout teams. When it comes to play style, his highlight video (done by Dylan of UMHoops, and also linked at the bottom of this page) shows off three key things to me:
1. The ability to offensive rebound (and his ability to either go up quick or set-up and make a post move after snagging a board)
2. A nice set of post moves (including a sky hook at one point)
3. The ability to run the pick-and-roll and feature heavily as a roller
This third thing is interesting to me because, especially with a guy like Castleton on the roster down the line who is a bit more of a pop-out guy on the pick-and-roll, the contrast could be something that can be played with down the line. I really enjoyed watching his bit of tape and I think that after his year off as a transfer he will be a nice weapon for Michigan that may get overlooked by other teams.
European Vacation:
Calling it a vacation is a bit off, it's more of a business trip. Regardless, Michigan basketball is off to Spain this season for their once-every-four-years European basketball trip. The team will get ten extra practices overseas and test themselves against European opposition, including Serbian side KK Mega Bemax. The trip, according to the Tweet sent by Mega Bemax, will occur in late-August and will provide Michigan the opportunity to face some tough opposition. Mega Bemax has produced a first-rounder in Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (2016, 24th overall), but perhaps is best known for sending Nikola Jokic, who just signed a max contract with the Denver Nuggets, to the NBA. Currently, Bemax has 6'11" 18-year-old Goga Bitadze on their roster, who could be drafted next season, along with German swingman Kostja Mushidi, who flirted with the NBA Draft this season, struggled this past season, but remains someone to watch.
John Beilein is up front about what he wants, a challenge for his young Wolverines. Their last trip, to Italy in 2014, was against weak opposition and ultimately that side was the one that infamously lost to NJIT and Eastern Michigan during the season. Playing teams like Mega Bemax will provide the sort of challenge that Beilein wants, as he said: “My hope is that we’re going to get beat every time over there.” This is an opportunity for this Michigan team to get a great cultural experience while also getting themselves ready for the regular season. The games don't count, after all. The thought that they might as well be tough makes all the sense in the world and should result in a better team, and more happiness for Michigan fans as a result.
Follow me on Twitter @RMAB_Ryan for plenty more Michigan basketball coverage, as well as AFC Ann Arbor and Liverpool FC coverage as well!
My freshman preview: http://redsmaizeandblue.blogspot.com/2018/05/players-profile-michigan-freshmen.html
Faulds footage from UMHoops available here: https://umhoops.com/2018/06/29/jaron-faulds-joins-michigan-preferred-walk/
Source of Beilein quote: https://michigan.rivals.com/news/michigan-basketball-john-beilein-hopes-u-m-loses-all-three-games-in-spain
Freshmen Expectations:
All five of Michigan's incoming freshmen were pictured together at practice. Seeing all five together is a treat for Michigan fans who have been waiting to see them for a long time now, and now the dream is realized. I've covered all five in depth in a player profile article I will link at the bottom of this article but the expectations of this class are still a bit hazy. Of course, the nature of the collegiate game is such that all five freshmen making an impact certainly isn't unheard of (i.e., the Fab Five) but does not seem to be wholly likely with the talent that Michigan returns from last season's national runners-up still blocking some of their paths.
All five seem to be able to play a different position which brings up the interesting case of depth. Early in the season, and especially in the preseason European trip which we will discuss in a bit, all five will likely see action but surely by early fall whether it's through practice footage or interviews with Coach Beilein or any of the assistants we will likely be able to glean some information about their roles for the upcoming season. For me personally, I expect two or three to make an impact, but quite a lot depends on the ability of the players surrounding them to make impacts of their own. David DeJulius' playtime will hinge on how Eli Brooks progresses throughout the preseason and early portion of the regular season. Likewise, Austin Davis' development will affect what sort of playing time Colin Castleton sees.
The more interesting position where a freshman or two could make an impact is at the wing. Michigan returns one player at each position who saw the majority of their playtime at shooting guard, small forward, and power forward in Jordan Poole, Charles Matthews, and Isaiah Livers, respectively. John Beilein has consistently shrunk his rotation down to eight men by the end of the season but as we saw in the NCAA Tournament, this is not a restriction to 'point guard, wing, center' but could be a mix. The three rotational players off the bench against Loyola, for example, were Duncan Robinson (wing), Jaaron Simmons (point), and Jordan Poole (also a wing). While the rotation gets trimmed down, Beilein has showcased the ability to be flexible with the personnel used at different times. As a result and in summary, I would imagine multiple freshmen to make their own impact, but just at different times of the season.
Newest Roster Member:
Michigan added another to their roster in walk-on Jaron Faulds. Having spent the last season at Columbia, he averaged 4.5 and 3.2 rebounds a game in his freshman season with an average of 14.2 minutes per game. Because of his transfer, he will have to sit out this season, but in his absence he will be able to provide the scout team in practice a valuable piece as someone with a good amount of D1 experience to challenge those he will practice against. Faulds is from Holt, Michigan, a town just outside of Lansing and about an hour away from Ann Arbor. According to 247Sports, Faulds was the number seven ranked prospect in Michigan's 2017 class, which in turn put him as the third-best big man in the state, behind Livers and Michigan State's Xavier Tillman.
What exactly will Faulds provide? Well, first of all, it is very rare to find what Faulds has in a walk-on transfer. This is a player with Division I playtime for an Ivy League team. He has the brain to pick up Beilein's offense and will presumably be able to fit as a perfect mold for opposing team's big men while sitting this year out of regular season games on the scout teams. When it comes to play style, his highlight video (done by Dylan of UMHoops, and also linked at the bottom of this page) shows off three key things to me:
1. The ability to offensive rebound (and his ability to either go up quick or set-up and make a post move after snagging a board)
2. A nice set of post moves (including a sky hook at one point)
3. The ability to run the pick-and-roll and feature heavily as a roller
This third thing is interesting to me because, especially with a guy like Castleton on the roster down the line who is a bit more of a pop-out guy on the pick-and-roll, the contrast could be something that can be played with down the line. I really enjoyed watching his bit of tape and I think that after his year off as a transfer he will be a nice weapon for Michigan that may get overlooked by other teams.
European Vacation:
Calling it a vacation is a bit off, it's more of a business trip. Regardless, Michigan basketball is off to Spain this season for their once-every-four-years European basketball trip. The team will get ten extra practices overseas and test themselves against European opposition, including Serbian side KK Mega Bemax. The trip, according to the Tweet sent by Mega Bemax, will occur in late-August and will provide Michigan the opportunity to face some tough opposition. Mega Bemax has produced a first-rounder in Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (2016, 24th overall), but perhaps is best known for sending Nikola Jokic, who just signed a max contract with the Denver Nuggets, to the NBA. Currently, Bemax has 6'11" 18-year-old Goga Bitadze on their roster, who could be drafted next season, along with German swingman Kostja Mushidi, who flirted with the NBA Draft this season, struggled this past season, but remains someone to watch.
John Beilein is up front about what he wants, a challenge for his young Wolverines. Their last trip, to Italy in 2014, was against weak opposition and ultimately that side was the one that infamously lost to NJIT and Eastern Michigan during the season. Playing teams like Mega Bemax will provide the sort of challenge that Beilein wants, as he said: “My hope is that we’re going to get beat every time over there.” This is an opportunity for this Michigan team to get a great cultural experience while also getting themselves ready for the regular season. The games don't count, after all. The thought that they might as well be tough makes all the sense in the world and should result in a better team, and more happiness for Michigan fans as a result.
Follow me on Twitter @RMAB_Ryan for plenty more Michigan basketball coverage, as well as AFC Ann Arbor and Liverpool FC coverage as well!
My freshman preview: http://redsmaizeandblue.blogspot.com/2018/05/players-profile-michigan-freshmen.html
Faulds footage from UMHoops available here: https://umhoops.com/2018/06/29/jaron-faulds-joins-michigan-preferred-walk/
Source of Beilein quote: https://michigan.rivals.com/news/michigan-basketball-john-beilein-hopes-u-m-loses-all-three-games-in-spain
Comments
Post a Comment