My point is that it doesn’t matter who ends up as “the two”, the point is that you get enough players who can play together. Maybe it is Pierce, maybe Wagner, maybe Bajema can play early (he probably has the most distinct game of a 2-guard in this offense), maybe Wilson.
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Don’t disagree with the take, but don’t forget that JB likes his 2 to be able to bring the ball up against teams that press. Not sure any of these guys are ideal for that. My guess is that we see a lot of DDJ/Eli at the 2 mixed with possibly some of the wing guys. That’s part of the reason I’m skeptical that Nunez will contribute at the 2, his film didn’t show much handle.
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I don’t think there’s any question that Eli will play minutes next year and 90% of those minutes will be at the two.
I also don’t think ballhandling against a press is really something that is near the top of the list as far as concerns for next season. I don’t care who is dribbling the ball (other than maybe Isaiah Livers).
Also, Nunez not a two. I’ll give you that 
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I might be naive, but I think the day one starting line-up next season will be Z, Brooks, Livers, Teske, and a mystery fifth man. That could change, but I really think that Brooks is going to make a key jump and claim a starting spot.
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I don’t think it is naive to predict that Brooks starts. If you look at the roster as it stands today, he’s really the only guy to start at the two unless Bajema impressed from day one. Just depends on the rest of the roster moves.
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i defer franz > wilson as he plays a higher level of competition and has been said by same webb/others to be the most ready to contribute next year. which i take to mean he is one of the best 5 (assuming you get pierce as well)
this also assumes pierce/johns is worth starting over brooks, which tbd per dylan above
Surprised by your comment about not caring who is dribbling the ball. I think Matthews and Poole were erratic with the ball and oftentimes got out of control. MAAR offered an offset to Simpson having to always dominate the ball because MAAR was strong with the ball. Did Simpson dominate the ball as much when MAAR was here? I don’t know the answer but I believe Simpson had to dominate the ball last year because nobody else could take that pressure off of him. We can go that way again next year but I don’t think it goes hand in hand with Beilien saying he wants better 1 on 1 capabilities from his players (He stated that a few weeks ago). I think you need guys with better handles and more reliable with the ball if you are going to want 1 on 1 players. Brooks has a ways to go in that area IMO. I just hope Wilson, Bajema and whoever else is on the wing is more consistent, reliable and better passers than what we have had over the past couple of years.
how much of that was Poole not having the skill to do it vs not having the mental fortitude to execute it
re matthews, his handle was so so but you could predict what he was doing cause he only had lay ups and turn arounds, he didnt have consistent stroke/floater/mid range
this is why im so high on Bones, kid has a MAAR like game that can play at the 2
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My biggest concern among that group would be ballhandling. When another team throws a half court press at us to take the ball out of Z’s hands, who steps up? This year it was Poole and, when he played, Brooks.
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Poole - I thought he had the skill. I thought he was soft with the ball when driving in traffic and why I thought he needed another year to get stronger. Matthews and Irvin (prior to Matthews) had issues with the ball. I also don’t remember many really good passes from either. In the remote chance that Iggy returns, I actually think he is good with the ball, however, I am not sure if passing is an option in his game. Either way, I think he would be really interesting at the 2.
Over the last few years, it seems we have become a worse shooting team and a team with limited ball handlers and guys who excelled at passing. Maybe that is by design but JB’s comments this post season leads me to believe it wasn’t
I agree. Brooks is going to be our surprise player this year. I think that fifth player will be johns imo.
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I don’t disagree that one-on-one play is important and that the ability to create your own shot is important as an asset to recruit. I just don’t think it is necessarily the make or break skill to add to the roster for next season.
If Michigan loses games because of ball handling against a full court press or half court trap next year I’ll be shocked. The day that a Beilein team starts losing games because of turnovers will be never. I just don’t have those concerns really no matter who is on the court.
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I’m thinking the same, actually. The only way that changes would be if Pierce were to come to Ann Arbor. Then he could slot in at the four and let a bench of Johns, Wilson, DDJ, and Franz(?) battle it out for minutes. That’s a pretty solid nine-deep roster right there. Plus Castleton backing up the five? Pretty solid if you ask me with the potential to keep improving the next two seasons.
At this moment, I think DeJulius is the likeliest starting 2 guard, even with him and Z being small. He’s strong, looks like a Big 10 calibre athlete and we know he at least has the ability to shoot it.
How many bigger 2s are we worried about in the Big 10 really?
And while Johns might come good, and he was at the 5 mostly, he did look pretty lost out there. If he becomes a starter, it might not be early in the year.
At the moment, we’re looking for 2 starters to join Z-Livers-Teske. Obviously we could get Pierce or Wagner in and change things, but at the moment I’d have DDJ over Brooks, Bajema (if only because of his skinniness, which is tough for a frosh), Nunez for one spot and then a fight between Wilson and Johns that’s too early to bet on.
Simpson gets a lot of attention in this discussion but another reason why he held on to the ball so much was because of the limitations of others.
Teske has very little offensive capabilities when it comes to creating his own shot. That’s limits how effective his teammates can be.
Mathews is another guy who struggles off the dribble.
Iggy was more diverse but was a poor creator for others.
This team was poorly constituted if “catch and shoot” was going to be emphasized. Not necessarily because guys couldn’t shoot but because guys weren’t left alone to be able to “catch” in good settings.
Simpson did not have to hold on to the ball as much last year because he had better playmakers as teammates. Especially Wagner.
He was also the only person on the team who could really pass the ball.
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Every time I think about it…it amazes me that we won 30 games
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Yep, certainly under duress. Jordan had the mindset to do so but his handles weren’t as strong as you would have wanted them to be.
Said from the get go that this was one of Beilein’s best jobs coaching. The fact that there is any criticism is a function of how successful the program has become.
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I meant right away. Stauskas played the 3 his first year. I could be wrong on Wagner but I think like Caris, THjr, and Stauskas, he might need some time to get there. You might have seen more of him or have a better sense of how he could play in ball screen.
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