As summer practices have begun for NCAA teams around the country, the nation looks towards, well, this description fits college football season, but here at Reds, Maize, and Blue I always have an eye on basketball season! Michigan brings in an immensely talented freshman class and plenty of returning talent. With this, I will pose five questions that I think will be intriguing to watch as the season develops.
1. Who will the back-up point guard be by Big Ten Season?
The story last season was focused around the point guard position with a three-headed monster taking form. This season, Zavier Simpson seems to have a lock on the starting spot, but the back-up role looks to be open for the taking. Eli Brooks started multiple games last season and showed very early promise, but in the 2018 portion of the year he only scored four points -- a far cry from his solid early-season performances including two clutch free throws to send the game against UCLA to overtime. In the other corner is David DeJulius, who comes into Michigan obviously as an unknown at the college level as a freshman, but fans have a general idea of his ability as he is more of the scoring point guard mold.
Prediction: David DeJulius
I think we're going to see DeJulius leapfrog Brooks in pecking order in getting minutes off the bench at the point. I do not, however, think this means Eli will be frozen out of the line-up. I think DeJulius offers a lot of confidence off the bench and something different from Zavier Simpson while maintaining a relatively similar intensity on the court. We've seen Brooks shoot from the outside, with some success as well. I think that will be a key element to expand upon for him in order to see the floor. It also says something that he won the starting spot as a freshman with the notoriously complex Beilein offense. But as I've mentioned, when you have a point guard like DeJulius, I think his ability even to play a sort of combo-point role is too much to keep off the bench. This is definitely something to keep an eye on.
The story last season was focused around the point guard position with a three-headed monster taking form. This season, Zavier Simpson seems to have a lock on the starting spot, but the back-up role looks to be open for the taking. Eli Brooks started multiple games last season and showed very early promise, but in the 2018 portion of the year he only scored four points -- a far cry from his solid early-season performances including two clutch free throws to send the game against UCLA to overtime. In the other corner is David DeJulius, who comes into Michigan obviously as an unknown at the college level as a freshman, but fans have a general idea of his ability as he is more of the scoring point guard mold.
Prediction: David DeJulius
I think we're going to see DeJulius leapfrog Brooks in pecking order in getting minutes off the bench at the point. I do not, however, think this means Eli will be frozen out of the line-up. I think DeJulius offers a lot of confidence off the bench and something different from Zavier Simpson while maintaining a relatively similar intensity on the court. We've seen Brooks shoot from the outside, with some success as well. I think that will be a key element to expand upon for him in order to see the floor. It also says something that he won the starting spot as a freshman with the notoriously complex Beilein offense. But as I've mentioned, when you have a point guard like DeJulius, I think his ability even to play a sort of combo-point role is too much to keep off the bench. This is definitely something to keep an eye on.
2. Who will see the majority of back-up minutes at the five behind Jon Teske?
Jon Teske is surely going to be the starter at center. That much is a given. The big man is a stark contrast from Moritz Wagner, but Teske offers strong defense and remains just a junior as well. His development will be key for the Wolverines, but what happens when he needs a breather? Michigan has a cast of characters that could, starting with Austin Davis, who played that role when Michigan needed him to with Wagner out for two games last season. Then there's the incoming freshman, Colin Castleton, whose natural position is the center but weighs in at just 210 pounds coming into the season. Finally, you have the possibility of a small-ball center in either the 6'8" Brandon Johns, or the 6'7" Isaiah Livers, which Beilein experimented with a touch last season.
Prediction: Brandon Johns THEN Austin Davis
A two-fold answer. I see Davis as the more "conventional" back-up, but I think Johns will see about equal time at the five and in different spots. Davis is coming off his first non-redshirt season where he saw the floor in very limited spots. He accumulated eight fouls in 19 minutes as the main back-up against Detroit and Alabama A&M with Wagner out. He was efficient around the rim, going 9-for-14, however it will have to be seen if he can do that against better opposition. I think Johns is just too talented to keep off the court and he does a ton well in my view, in addition to being supremely athletic. My guess is that I would expect to see both men get about seven minutes each at center, with Johns likely to get more at power forward as well. This is the toughest to predict as there really are multiple pieces that could see time at center.
Jon Teske is surely going to be the starter at center. That much is a given. The big man is a stark contrast from Moritz Wagner, but Teske offers strong defense and remains just a junior as well. His development will be key for the Wolverines, but what happens when he needs a breather? Michigan has a cast of characters that could, starting with Austin Davis, who played that role when Michigan needed him to with Wagner out for two games last season. Then there's the incoming freshman, Colin Castleton, whose natural position is the center but weighs in at just 210 pounds coming into the season. Finally, you have the possibility of a small-ball center in either the 6'8" Brandon Johns, or the 6'7" Isaiah Livers, which Beilein experimented with a touch last season.
Prediction: Brandon Johns THEN Austin Davis
A two-fold answer. I see Davis as the more "conventional" back-up, but I think Johns will see about equal time at the five and in different spots. Davis is coming off his first non-redshirt season where he saw the floor in very limited spots. He accumulated eight fouls in 19 minutes as the main back-up against Detroit and Alabama A&M with Wagner out. He was efficient around the rim, going 9-for-14, however it will have to be seen if he can do that against better opposition. I think Johns is just too talented to keep off the court and he does a ton well in my view, in addition to being supremely athletic. My guess is that I would expect to see both men get about seven minutes each at center, with Johns likely to get more at power forward as well. This is the toughest to predict as there really are multiple pieces that could see time at center.
3. How many freshmen will be in the regular rotation?
Speaking of Johns and DeJulius and Castleton, let's talk about this freshman class as a whole. All five players brought in (including Adrien Nunez and Ignas Brazdeikis) have very high ceilings and already do a lot of things well at this stage in their careers. Still, as we look at this Michigan line-up and the coach, it would seem unlikely to see all five of these players in immediate action for the Wolverines. There are multiple spots that would, however, be in need of that extra spark to perhaps provide a bit of additional depth.
Prediction: Three
As I've already covered, I think Johns and DeJulius will see the floor as back-ups to the four/five and point, respectively. What of the other three? Ignas Brazdeikis I think will be an immediate back-up for Matthews at the wing and possibly even at the four. Plenty has been made of his skills, I tend to agree with the view that he has the potential to be a star at this level, but we shall wait and see what his role will be. Castleton, I believe, could benefit from a redshirt year. I thought Moe Wagner would have done well with one, and there were rumors of it, but ultimately Wagner saw limited (until the NCAA Tournament) action in maize and blue. Still, Wagner was deemed very skinny and still he weighed 15 pounds more than Castleton weighs in on campus. Castleton does offer something no other option does with his skill set, however, so I think seeing him play would be not only not-unexpected, but rather exciting. Nunez seems to me to be one of the few players, if not the only player, who can slide in easily at two behind Jordan Poole. Still, his talent is a bit raw and it may take a bit to get accustomed to the college game. Regardless, Michigan fans are looking at five freshmen who have a ton of talent and give a bright future to the Wolverines.
Speaking of Johns and DeJulius and Castleton, let's talk about this freshman class as a whole. All five players brought in (including Adrien Nunez and Ignas Brazdeikis) have very high ceilings and already do a lot of things well at this stage in their careers. Still, as we look at this Michigan line-up and the coach, it would seem unlikely to see all five of these players in immediate action for the Wolverines. There are multiple spots that would, however, be in need of that extra spark to perhaps provide a bit of additional depth.
Prediction: Three
As I've already covered, I think Johns and DeJulius will see the floor as back-ups to the four/five and point, respectively. What of the other three? Ignas Brazdeikis I think will be an immediate back-up for Matthews at the wing and possibly even at the four. Plenty has been made of his skills, I tend to agree with the view that he has the potential to be a star at this level, but we shall wait and see what his role will be. Castleton, I believe, could benefit from a redshirt year. I thought Moe Wagner would have done well with one, and there were rumors of it, but ultimately Wagner saw limited (until the NCAA Tournament) action in maize and blue. Still, Wagner was deemed very skinny and still he weighed 15 pounds more than Castleton weighs in on campus. Castleton does offer something no other option does with his skill set, however, so I think seeing him play would be not only not-unexpected, but rather exciting. Nunez seems to me to be one of the few players, if not the only player, who can slide in easily at two behind Jordan Poole. Still, his talent is a bit raw and it may take a bit to get accustomed to the college game. Regardless, Michigan fans are looking at five freshmen who have a ton of talent and give a bright future to the Wolverines.
4. Will Charles Matthews indeed lead the team in points per game?
The 2018-19 Michigan team seems very likely to follow the lead of Charles Matthews when it comes to production. The Kentucky transfer said "no" to the NBA for one more year to help lead Michigan onward to what he will hope to be another season of glory. Still, there are plenty of weapons on this Michigan side. The top scorer battle seems likely to come down, however, to Matthews or Jordan Poole. Poole has been getting plenty of hype for his big personality, and bigger skills on the court. Still, the question of who will be top scorer is one of interesting debate.
Prediction: Yes
Jordan Poole is ultra-talented, of course, but I really buy into the thought that this team is going to ride the Matthews wave. Matthews finished second last year on the team in scoring, and I see no reason why that will not continue. I do see a sophomore improvement for both Poole and Livers in the future, and even a junior jump in Zavier Simpson's production. Livers and Simpson have proven to be able to hit the three and both drive the ball to the basket well. Both will look to improve on the shooting aspect of their games, while Simpson with another year of development after already showing no fear when taking the ball to the rim on bigger players is something to smile about.
The 2018-19 Michigan team seems very likely to follow the lead of Charles Matthews when it comes to production. The Kentucky transfer said "no" to the NBA for one more year to help lead Michigan onward to what he will hope to be another season of glory. Still, there are plenty of weapons on this Michigan side. The top scorer battle seems likely to come down, however, to Matthews or Jordan Poole. Poole has been getting plenty of hype for his big personality, and bigger skills on the court. Still, the question of who will be top scorer is one of interesting debate.
Prediction: Yes
Jordan Poole is ultra-talented, of course, but I really buy into the thought that this team is going to ride the Matthews wave. Matthews finished second last year on the team in scoring, and I see no reason why that will not continue. I do see a sophomore improvement for both Poole and Livers in the future, and even a junior jump in Zavier Simpson's production. Livers and Simpson have proven to be able to hit the three and both drive the ball to the basket well. Both will look to improve on the shooting aspect of their games, while Simpson with another year of development after already showing no fear when taking the ball to the rim on bigger players is something to smile about.
5. What sort of experimental line-ups will we see from John Beilein?
This final question doesn't have a concrete answer, per say, but rather is more speculative in nature. John Beilein is fairly traditional in his usage of players, but he has been known to throw a screwball into the roster. We saw at Wisconsin both Wagner and Teske on the court at the same time. We saw Austin Davis guarding Isaac Haas and Ethan Happ, the two best Big Ten centers Michigan would face last season. We saw Moe Wagner benched at times two years ago so D.J. Wilson could play center with Duncan Robinson at the four. We've seen Livers get some run at center, we've seen bench players surrounded by starters, the list can continue. Could the Professor have more in store?
I think so. I think we could see something not often experimented with by him frequently, and that's two points guards at the same time. We saw it every now and then last season, and two seasons ago with Derrick Walton and Zavier Simpson, but it's never been a staple. This season, however, with limited depth at the two, I think Simpson and Brooks OR DeJulius could be a line-up seen more than a few times. I also think we could see that line-up with a whole load of wings, for example, a line-up of Simpson, DeJulius, Matthews, Brazdeikis, and Livers. This team seems more equipped to play as fast as we've seen a Beilein team since the 2012-13 National Runners-Up. I would not be stunned to see Beilein acknowledge that with some of his rotation.
Of course, all of this in this post is just my own speculation. I cannot see into the mind of John Beilein, nor do I think I'd want to. Part of the fun in waiting is the knowing that you will be surprised in a handful of months. Is it November yet?
Follow me on Twitter @RMAB_Ryan for plenty more Michigan basketball coverage, as well as AFC Ann Arbor and Liverpool FC coverage as well!
This final question doesn't have a concrete answer, per say, but rather is more speculative in nature. John Beilein is fairly traditional in his usage of players, but he has been known to throw a screwball into the roster. We saw at Wisconsin both Wagner and Teske on the court at the same time. We saw Austin Davis guarding Isaac Haas and Ethan Happ, the two best Big Ten centers Michigan would face last season. We saw Moe Wagner benched at times two years ago so D.J. Wilson could play center with Duncan Robinson at the four. We've seen Livers get some run at center, we've seen bench players surrounded by starters, the list can continue. Could the Professor have more in store?
I think so. I think we could see something not often experimented with by him frequently, and that's two points guards at the same time. We saw it every now and then last season, and two seasons ago with Derrick Walton and Zavier Simpson, but it's never been a staple. This season, however, with limited depth at the two, I think Simpson and Brooks OR DeJulius could be a line-up seen more than a few times. I also think we could see that line-up with a whole load of wings, for example, a line-up of Simpson, DeJulius, Matthews, Brazdeikis, and Livers. This team seems more equipped to play as fast as we've seen a Beilein team since the 2012-13 National Runners-Up. I would not be stunned to see Beilein acknowledge that with some of his rotation.
Of course, all of this in this post is just my own speculation. I cannot see into the mind of John Beilein, nor do I think I'd want to. Part of the fun in waiting is the knowing that you will be surprised in a handful of months. Is it November yet?
Follow me on Twitter @RMAB_Ryan for plenty more Michigan basketball coverage, as well as AFC Ann Arbor and Liverpool FC coverage as well!
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