Michigan basketball had what definitely seemed a stellar time overseas as they took in Madrid and Barcelona while playing a set of tough games against three solid teams. Michigan knocked off the Madrid Generals 82-72, but fell to the two pro sides they faced, KK Mega Bemax (81-73, which you can see in full on their YouTube channel) and Joventut Badalona (85-79) in well-contested matches. There's plenty to take from this trip, here are five of my key observations.
Freshman Phenom
Multiple freshmen saw the floor over the three games, but no one of any class stood out more than Ignas Brazdeikis. The Canadian led Michigan in scoring in the first game with 17 points and the third game with 16. He also had 15 in the second game, good for second on the team. He was able to draw a good amount of fouls on him as well, and he really looks like he could be an immediate handful for opposing teams. A lot of what's great about him is that he can score in multiple ways, but he can also make himself open without the ball as well. His comfort offensively and defensively I think will only grow as he embeds himself more and more in the program, and I'm immediately looking at him to make an impact this season.
Star of the Preseason
I would say that no player impressed more in Spain than Austin Davis for Michigan. With a pair of 12 point outings (in his first and third games) and an eight point game in-between, his offense has looked very good. I noticed in the footage from the second game that he was very assertive on defense without fouling, which is a huge step in the right direction for the center, but also does not sacrifice aggressiveness in his rebounding. I'm looking for his finishing around the rim to continue to get better and better as we get through the season. With freshman Colin Castleton unavailable due to a broken hand for the games, Davis was given plenty of time to shine, and he performed well in the opportunities given.
Line-Up Hints
This was our first look at what sort of line-ups Michigan could be playing with this season. Even without head coach John Beilein, still recovering from heart surgery, the three games are still an insight into what's been getting worked on in practice with the team. As most expected, it was a line-up with all returning players (Zavier Simpson, Jordan Poole, Charles Matthews, Isaiah Livers, and Jon Teske) while the freshmen came off the bench. Throughout the three games there were a couple different looks, like the two point guard look of Simpson and Eli Brooks against Mega Bemax, and also a small ball look against Madrid with Brooks, Brazdeikis, Matthews, Johns, and Livers out there with the two centers in foul trouble. I don't think we're going to see a ton of these looks in the season, but it's interesting to note at least.
Top Class Competition
Mega Bemax has plenty of NBA Draft prospects, as their team is a sort of development side that focuses heavily on their young players. Goga Bitadze is their top prospect, as a 6'11" 19-year-old who has the potential to play a stretch five, he impressed with 16 points and ten rebounds for Bemax. The Serbian side's point leader was Kostja Mushidi, a 6'5" 20-year-old wing man who could argue as their top prospect alongside Bitadze. Also, Adam Mokoka, also 20, also French like Mushidi, is a potential wing prospect with good defense and solid shooting. Joventut Badalona is also a team in the Spanish top division, who boasts Ricky Rubio and Rudy Fernandez as former players. 2020 NBA prospect Arturs Zagars looked good at point, according to Brendan Quinn (note: Zagars is listed as 6'3" now) while ex-Purdue Boilermaker Dakota Mathias plays for the side as well. Michigan held their own against two pretty solid teams, despite coming up short in the end.
Looking Ahead: The 2018-19 Schedule
Michigan announced their full schedule last Tuesday alongside the Big Ten season schedule announcement. It should be a challenge from the jump for the Wolverines, but let's have a look at it.
Early Tests Away From Home
Michigan open with their two campus round Hall of Fame Tip-Off games, but immediately jump into action following those as they visit the campus of Villanova (not Wells Fargo Center in the city) to take on the team that topped them in the NCAA Championship final, before heading to Ucansville, Connecticut that weekend for their back-to-back Hall of Fame games with George Washington on that Saturday and then either Providence or South Carolina. Both Hall of Fame games should be winnable, despite the solidity especially with the teams they could face on the second day, but a road win at Villanova would be fantastic for the rest of the season's momentum.
December Bells
Michigan will welcome the Thanksgiving period and the start of December with four straight games against power five conference teams, which includes their two early season Big Ten games. They start with their marquee non-conference home game, a game the day before Thanksgiving against North Carolina in a rematch of last season's ACC/Big Ten Challenge match. From there, they welcome Purdue to Crisler in hopes to avenge their lone loss at home last season. Next up is Northwestern on the road at their refurbished arena, before closing this stretch with a home bout against South Carolina in what could be their second meeting of the season, depending on the Hall of Fame Tip-Off results. This is a stretch that is deceptively tough, but Michigan will surely hope to win at least three of these four games.
Heating Up in the Home Stretch
There is never an easy stretch of Big Ten play, but the Wolverines may end the season with their toughest set of games. Michigan will face in-state rivals Michigan State twice in just under three weeks as they host them on February 24th in Ann Arbor, then visit East Lansing on March 9th. In-between, you have Michigan's final home game on the 28th against Nebraska, and a trip to Maryland on the 3rd. This means that Michigan will get almost a full week to prepare for their final tussle with the Spartans while Michigan State will have to face Nebraska between their games on the 2nd and 9th of March. This stretch very well could be vital in Big Ten seeding, or perhaps even a regular season conference championship for John Beilein's squad.
Another stretch that is tough that I'd like to point out is a 13-day span of, in order, at Wisconsin, Minnesota, at Indiana, Ohio State, finishing at Iowa. This is three tough road games with Ohio State, who looks reloaded, and Minnesota, who troubled Michigan at home last season, in under two weeks. It's not an easy schedule, but the Wolverines will be up for the challenge.
Make sure you stay tuned to my blog as I'll have in-depth opponent previews before every one of Michigan's games this season, to go along with recaps. It'll be perfect for mid-major teams Michigan will face that you may not be familiar with, or simply just to get more information on games you're excited for. Also, follow me on Twitter @RMAB_Ryan for plenty more Michigan basketball coverage, as well as AFC Ann Arbor and Liverpool F.C. coverage as well!
Freshman Phenom
Multiple freshmen saw the floor over the three games, but no one of any class stood out more than Ignas Brazdeikis. The Canadian led Michigan in scoring in the first game with 17 points and the third game with 16. He also had 15 in the second game, good for second on the team. He was able to draw a good amount of fouls on him as well, and he really looks like he could be an immediate handful for opposing teams. A lot of what's great about him is that he can score in multiple ways, but he can also make himself open without the ball as well. His comfort offensively and defensively I think will only grow as he embeds himself more and more in the program, and I'm immediately looking at him to make an impact this season.
Star of the Preseason
I would say that no player impressed more in Spain than Austin Davis for Michigan. With a pair of 12 point outings (in his first and third games) and an eight point game in-between, his offense has looked very good. I noticed in the footage from the second game that he was very assertive on defense without fouling, which is a huge step in the right direction for the center, but also does not sacrifice aggressiveness in his rebounding. I'm looking for his finishing around the rim to continue to get better and better as we get through the season. With freshman Colin Castleton unavailable due to a broken hand for the games, Davis was given plenty of time to shine, and he performed well in the opportunities given.
Line-Up Hints
This was our first look at what sort of line-ups Michigan could be playing with this season. Even without head coach John Beilein, still recovering from heart surgery, the three games are still an insight into what's been getting worked on in practice with the team. As most expected, it was a line-up with all returning players (Zavier Simpson, Jordan Poole, Charles Matthews, Isaiah Livers, and Jon Teske) while the freshmen came off the bench. Throughout the three games there were a couple different looks, like the two point guard look of Simpson and Eli Brooks against Mega Bemax, and also a small ball look against Madrid with Brooks, Brazdeikis, Matthews, Johns, and Livers out there with the two centers in foul trouble. I don't think we're going to see a ton of these looks in the season, but it's interesting to note at least.
Top Class Competition
Mega Bemax has plenty of NBA Draft prospects, as their team is a sort of development side that focuses heavily on their young players. Goga Bitadze is their top prospect, as a 6'11" 19-year-old who has the potential to play a stretch five, he impressed with 16 points and ten rebounds for Bemax. The Serbian side's point leader was Kostja Mushidi, a 6'5" 20-year-old wing man who could argue as their top prospect alongside Bitadze. Also, Adam Mokoka, also 20, also French like Mushidi, is a potential wing prospect with good defense and solid shooting. Joventut Badalona is also a team in the Spanish top division, who boasts Ricky Rubio and Rudy Fernandez as former players. 2020 NBA prospect Arturs Zagars looked good at point, according to Brendan Quinn (note: Zagars is listed as 6'3" now) while ex-Purdue Boilermaker Dakota Mathias plays for the side as well. Michigan held their own against two pretty solid teams, despite coming up short in the end.
Looking Ahead: The 2018-19 Schedule
Michigan announced their full schedule last Tuesday alongside the Big Ten season schedule announcement. It should be a challenge from the jump for the Wolverines, but let's have a look at it.
Early Tests Away From Home
Michigan open with their two campus round Hall of Fame Tip-Off games, but immediately jump into action following those as they visit the campus of Villanova (not Wells Fargo Center in the city) to take on the team that topped them in the NCAA Championship final, before heading to Ucansville, Connecticut that weekend for their back-to-back Hall of Fame games with George Washington on that Saturday and then either Providence or South Carolina. Both Hall of Fame games should be winnable, despite the solidity especially with the teams they could face on the second day, but a road win at Villanova would be fantastic for the rest of the season's momentum.
December Bells
Michigan will welcome the Thanksgiving period and the start of December with four straight games against power five conference teams, which includes their two early season Big Ten games. They start with their marquee non-conference home game, a game the day before Thanksgiving against North Carolina in a rematch of last season's ACC/Big Ten Challenge match. From there, they welcome Purdue to Crisler in hopes to avenge their lone loss at home last season. Next up is Northwestern on the road at their refurbished arena, before closing this stretch with a home bout against South Carolina in what could be their second meeting of the season, depending on the Hall of Fame Tip-Off results. This is a stretch that is deceptively tough, but Michigan will surely hope to win at least three of these four games.
Heating Up in the Home Stretch
There is never an easy stretch of Big Ten play, but the Wolverines may end the season with their toughest set of games. Michigan will face in-state rivals Michigan State twice in just under three weeks as they host them on February 24th in Ann Arbor, then visit East Lansing on March 9th. In-between, you have Michigan's final home game on the 28th against Nebraska, and a trip to Maryland on the 3rd. This means that Michigan will get almost a full week to prepare for their final tussle with the Spartans while Michigan State will have to face Nebraska between their games on the 2nd and 9th of March. This stretch very well could be vital in Big Ten seeding, or perhaps even a regular season conference championship for John Beilein's squad.
Another stretch that is tough that I'd like to point out is a 13-day span of, in order, at Wisconsin, Minnesota, at Indiana, Ohio State, finishing at Iowa. This is three tough road games with Ohio State, who looks reloaded, and Minnesota, who troubled Michigan at home last season, in under two weeks. It's not an easy schedule, but the Wolverines will be up for the challenge.
Make sure you stay tuned to my blog as I'll have in-depth opponent previews before every one of Michigan's games this season, to go along with recaps. It'll be perfect for mid-major teams Michigan will face that you may not be familiar with, or simply just to get more information on games you're excited for. Also, follow me on Twitter @RMAB_Ryan for plenty more Michigan basketball coverage, as well as AFC Ann Arbor and Liverpool F.C. coverage as well!
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