We better hope Zeb Jackson is prepared to take up more minutes at the 2 to split with the pg minutes. The team is going to be pretty small at the guard position. Need Camp Sanderson to work some majic.
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Go get Michael Flowers.
I think between Smith, Brooks, Bajema, and even Wagner they can make the backcourt work.
Even if it’s for just a couple mins of a game, A lineup of:
Smith/Brooks
Wagner
Livers/Todd
Johns
Dickinson/Davis
could probably get by. It’s not ideal, but that’s why it’s good to have players who are athletes like Wagner, zeb, Livers, Johns, and Todd.
And on the bright side, Michigan makes up for their lack of size in the backcourt with a surplus of size in the front court. Wagner, Livers, Todd, Dickinson are all lengthy
That’s going to be really tough this year, unfortunately…
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I hope Livers comes back and there’s no substance to the unsettling feelings with Todd.
Not having JC, Todd, and Livers next season would really be a tremendous crotch punch 
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Not sure why but just had a feeling over the past couple of days he was not coming to Michigan. And at the same time, again not sure why but when I have these feelings I am usually right, but thought it will be a case of addition by subtraction.
This team is still going to be fun to watch. It will give Zeb, an amazing athlete a chance to develop. It will allow some minutes for Bajema, which I for one am looking forward to seeing his growth. And it will allow for a few minutes at the SG for Wagner which in turn makes more room for both Johns and Todd.
Zeb, get ready.
Cole, work on that body.
Franz, work on those handles
Go Blue!!
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I really think a lot of how good our team will be next year assuming everyone comes is dependent on Bajema simply being able to play defense. If he can, there is a lot to like there offensively as we have seen. Of course we don’t know what is going to happen with the Isaiahs.
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Excerpt from maizenbrew:
Given that he likely would have started at the two from day one in Ann Arbor, it creates an interesting conundrum in a guard rotation that looks a heck of a lot different heading into next year than any of us thought it would. Instead of having a potential lottery pick in Christopher joining the fold, the Wolverines are now looking at a six-deep rotation that features Eli Brooks and Mike Smith playing the point (both with the ability to play off the ball) and Franz Wagner, Adrien Nunez and Cole Bajema getting time at the two (or the three, depending on rotations). Four-star guard Zeb Jackson has a chance to factor in as a true freshman now, as well.
With one scholarship spot still open (more on that shortly), the question right off the bat is whether Michigan may look to add another guard to the mix via the recruiting trail or transfer portal, but it seems like the Wolverines might be relatively set there with the guys mentioned above. This makes jumps from guys like Nunez and Bajema critical next season. You’re not looking for them to be superstars, but to potentially be playable factors off the bench. Both have the ability to do this if they are able to improve as defenders and their progress should be fun to track in the lead-up to the 2020-21 season.
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Huge blow obviously and obvious big learning experience for Juwan’s first recruiting cycle. Looks like he got involved with the two craziest recruitments of 5 stars, interested to see if this impacts his future recruiting approach. Really hoping he had something percolating on the back burner that will come to light soon, any thoughts on potential contingency plans?
Kyree Walker but hasn’t played in awhile? Reclass? Get involved with Mane? Not many grad transfers left? Hope the transfer rule passes this year? Glad I never got that involved with this recruitment. Big next move for Juwan and staff.
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Instead of giving lots of minutes to Zeb or Bajema if they can’t be relied on for decent minutes, one way to rearrange the minutes could just be to move everyone down in a way.
Pg: Brooks 20/ Smith 20
Sg: Wagner 20/ Brooks 12/ Zeb 8
Sf: Livers 20/ Wagner 12/ Bajema 8
Pf: Todd 20/ Livers 10/ Johns 10
C: Dickinson 15/ Johns 12/ Davis 8/ Todd 5
Defense would be hard for Livers and he is at his best as a 4 but losing out on Christopher could mean more minutes for Todd and Johns as a trickle down effect. Anyone have thoughts on this? Seems like lots of people are handing out lots of minutes to Zeb or Bajema and ideally they would be ready for that but if they aren’t this rotation doesn’t overwhelm them.
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There was some speculation that Jaden Hardy would reclassify to 2020. Is there any chance Juwan could be pivoting to an option like that?
Also, I am pretty confident Wagner is going to be a stud next year. Just a matter of if he can create on a regular basis or not.
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Would have to imagine that if he went that route he would go to Oregon with his brother.
I also think any re-class if going to be a lot more complicated with so many standardized tests canceled.
There may not be a Camp Sanderson this summer which would be horrible timing for us.
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Yeah - I’d be surprised if there is in the formal sense. Obviously, I’m sure kids will be given some stuff to do at home, but they lack the full range of equipment, and being dedicated to it is much easier in a group setting than on your own.
You do find out about people in such circumstances. And you can do a lot–my daughter is doing online strength and skills training for soccer with several coaches. Different for hoop, which takes place in a confined space. . .
I’d bet bulking them up is the hardest challenge remotely but would be interested in people’s insights.
Yeah you can maintain pretty good cardiovascular strength even indoors. I’d agree the strength and weight gain parts would be tough (though providing them with a diet is probably the most straight forward thing)…also just simply access to a basketball court is going to be limited.
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I’m marking it down right now I’m the biggest Cole Bajema fan that’s ever walked on the face of this earth… JOIN ME
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Clearly a big key. It’s funny, because he’s one of the kids who’s farthest from home, and I wondered if he was going to stick around–he always looked so glum in pix in the early going. I’m really happy if he has fought his way through, because as Silver and others here remark, the kid has enormous upside.
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