I dont think anyone has said that they would prefer Bones over Franz… at least as far as I can tell.
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OK – maybe I misread that comment or sentiment. I guess I’m just a bit surprised that people are all in with Hyland.
Yeah, my preference right now is Quinones and Wagner since I think they’re the safest options to be able to slide in and play effective 3 and D right away as starters. But, I’ve never had any hope that we have a real chance at Quinones. In lieu of that, Bones looks like an intriguing option who has a shot at being better than Brooks right away. And I think you can’t take Pierce and Wagner together because then you’ve done nothing to address your guard deficit.
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If you took Pierce and Wagner it would certainly be an Iowa-style roster construction. Basically a ton of 3s and 4s but not many real 2s. Would be a ridiculous amount of length on the roster though.
What position are you guys considering Franz at?
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I think if Michigan were to live in an ideal world they take two of Pierce, Quinones, and Franz, and have Hyland as a back-up. Pierce is, in my eyes, option number one given his versatility and the fact that he is only on scholarship for one year giving you the ability to press some of the 2020s you have an eye on.
That said, with Pierce as target a, target b would probably, likely, be Quinones, given the roster composition.
I think both Franz and Jalen Wilson look more perimeter oriented on tape than Isaiah Livers does. I expect Wilson to play the 3 primarily at Michigan and I think that’s where Franz could eventually settle as well.
I’m just thinking of him as a “forward”, and Livers will guard whoever is the better offensive forward on the opposing team (whether that guy is big or small). That’s just kind of how you have to think of it since Johns, Wilson, Livers and Wagner are all probably best suited as 4s due to lack of high level lateral quickness.
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IMO Franz will be a star. So any situation where we get him is my preferred situation.
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Yeah I think Franz has far and away the highest upside of the four guys. He is definitely my #1. The second spot I like any of the three other guys, but if Franz and Pierce get the two spots, there may be a logjam on the wing and a shortage in the backcourt.
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Yeah that situation would essentially lock Johns out of the rotation again this year, and I’d like him to have a shot to prove himself.
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Did anyone link this earlier? I hadn’t seen it til today on UV at Mgo. I’m convinced Franz can essentially replace Iggy’s production next year
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“Basically, you are trying to find someone to prevent Eli from being a starter, and someone to prevent Brandon from being a starter.”
I don’t think trying to secure other talented forwards should be framed as a way to prevent Johns from starting. Johns is very talented player and he will be competing for a starters spot regardless of whoever the new faces are…
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I will say that Johns does not look on track to be an effective B10 starter next year. Not impossible, but I’d feel better grabbing another safer option.
Why not Wilson?
Can anyone explain what is the skill set needed to play the 2 under Beilein’s offense compared to playing the 3? I assume the 2 would need better ball handling skills, but is there anything beyond that?
He has the game of a 3, but the feet of a 4. I think he’ll definitely guard threes at times next year, but he’ll be very susceptible to getting driven past.
The two needs to be a better ball handler and, importantly, be able to guard the other team’s perimeter guys.
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In Beilein’s offense the 1 and 2 are very similar to each other. The 3 and 4 are very similar to each other. They are just on opposite sides to start.
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Yes, that is what I presumed. Then I began to think about the 2s that were in the B1G this past year and most of them were adequate ball handlers and then mostly just shooters (Ayala, McQuaid, Kalscheur, etc.) with the exception of Carsen Edwards.
Do we think that a player like Franz, who may not come in as the best defender, but is not necessarily slow, would be able to guard those players and dribble well enough to manage on offense? I imagine Z is going to dominate the ball on offense most of the season, so you might only need a shooter at the 2.
Thanks for posting this. I was just mulling Wagner and wondering if I had missed anything with people lauding him so much–not sure I have seen a ton of film. Obviously, his DNA should be promising, and he’s spending time as a 17-year-old with older pros. But beyond that. . . this helps make it clear he should be quite legit. Obviously fun to get Mortiz’s brother in the fold.
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