Point guards might not win championships but I do think that great guard play is critical to win a championship.
The traditional idea of what a point guard is probably bit out of wack at this point. Doesn’t matter how big a player is or what you think of as their position, it comes down to what they do on the court.
No, you don’t have a monopoly on loyalty. But that isn’t really the equation. If Beilein could let Spike and Beilfeldt move on then, if Howard needs the scholarship, he will do the same with Davis. And, if so, I hope he finds a home and success like Beilfeldt did.
What?–UVA ran its offense through a true ball dominant point guard–Ty Jerome with his 5.5 assists per game. And Walton was always a point guard, even in year 1 when Nik was often ball dominant, and more so year 2, certainly after Levert got hurt. But he also shared point guard duties with Spike, who was a natural point guard–2 true point guards. Not the same thing. Nothing Brooks has shown suggests he’ll be a distributer, which is something we wlll need next year. And I don’t remember GRIII ever running any offense. Like Ever—and he supposedly was unhappy about his limited role/touches by his junior year.
Not controversial to say “some teams use ‘pure’ PG’s, some delegate play-making to a different player who does not guard the smallest guy on the other team”.
Lebron has always been the “point guard” of his team offensively. The Heat right now don’t even start someone you could identify as a “point guard” (Jimmy Butler is the person who does the job).
But I mean this isn’t new - the Bulls PG’s were just spot-up shooters.
That sort of doesn’t matter though - teams need players who can create offense for others - regardless of whether than comes from the Brooks/DeJulius/theoretical Christopher pool or not - does Michigan have that, somewhere, next year?
I didn’t say I have a monopoly on loyalty, just that as a coach, with thirteen players on my roster, I’d find a place for a young man like Austin Davis. Perhaps that puts me in a minority among coaches. I don’t know.
To reiterate, my opinion is that a young man like Austin Davis would be a positive on most teams, certainly on any team that I coached. I believe coaches need players like Austin Davis in their program. I also believe that if you have a kid like AD who has done everything anyone could have asked him to do for the program, and if you can keep him, you keep him. In MY world, I’d do what I could to make sure that happened. Maybe you wouldn’t, I don’t know.
Bottom line is, I think Austin Davis has a lot to offer, both in tangible ways with contributions in practice and on the floor in games when needed, and in intangible ways, in the locker room and with leadership and attitude. AND, I would feel a sense of loyalty (there’s that word again) to a young man who had been loyal in every way to our program.
Again, that’s the way I feel, that’s what I believe. You certainly don’t have to agree, and, it seems, perhaps, you don’t. But, you know what, it really doesn’t matter what I think or what you think. Coach Howard and Austin Davis will do what they do. I hope it works out for everyone, and THAT’S more important to me than what you and I think about the matter.
Have a great day and Go Blue!!!
Also - I’m by no means an expert, but just looking frame and how he plays, I think “Isaiah Todd as small-ball 5” is very much theoretical more than practical at this point.
I generally agree, and he’s shown some ability on the offensive end this year (and he’s improved defensively, though he was really bad on that end for a long time and is now just average).
With that said, kids like McLimans, Donnal, and Bielfeldt all seemed to be hard working, high character kids, but JB did not offer any of them a fifth year.
Much of this really depends on how JH wants to play next year, how ready JH thinks Dickinson is, and what he thinks about Castleton. If he wants to use Johns at center in smaller ball lineups, and believes Dickinson and Castleton are capable at center, then Davis becomes more of a luxury than a necessity.
Will Todd play here? Will we get Christopher? Those things certainly are part of the equation.
Also, we just don’t about other attrition. Does Livers, for example, return next year, or does he come back strong this year and enter the draft? Is Nunez back? Is Bajema back? Who knows.
Plus, Davis is no doubt set to graduate. With his UM degree in hand, he may strongly prefer the option of going to a MAC team and starting, versus coming back here and playing 7-8 minutes a game.
There are just so many variables right now, I think it’s nearly impossible to say anything definitive.
Frankly I think that there is a solid chance that a 23 year old with no professional basketball prospects, with a degree in hand in a well-paying field with massive job opportunity (physical therapy) may not prioritize sitting on a bench for 8 months.
While I don’t discount the logic here, Michigan is Davis’ dream school. He grew up loving U-M the way a lot of us idiot fans love this University. I think Davis could very well do a grad transfer year, but the conversation leading up to it could be more of a “for the good of the program” talk than a “go and get yours” talk.
Everything you say here is true LA, and I really don’t disagree with any of it. Though, to me, as much as I respect Coach B, I really don’t care what he did in this regard. Juwan Howard is his own man and he’ll do what he thinks is right. I was simply expressing my personal opinion.
There are many variables as you’ve said, but ultimately it will come down to how the cards play out and what Juwan Howard decides, assisted by whatever counsel he receives from his staff or others, and perhaps with some input from Austin Davis and what his plans are. But, I will say one more time, Austin Davis is the kind of kid I would want in MY (I know I said ANY coach, so I’ll change that terminology to “my”) program knowing I have 13 scholarships to utilize in building my team. I have nothing else, and, seriously, if anyone wants to address this further with me, please send me a PM. Thanks guys!
Boy I hope Zeb Jackson is good next year.
The same could have been said about Livers and Johns and yet they both got minutes as small ball 5’s in different seasons.
If Todd comes in a legit 6’10 215 with his length/athleticism there’s no reason he can’t provide minutes at the 5 in a pinch. I’d prefer that not happen because I think he is a better weapon at his normal position.
I’d contend that both Livers’ and Johns’ play defensively as small-ball 5’s would sort of make my point.
Jalen Smith is playing the 5 at 6’10" 225 lbs and is averaging 15 and 10 so it’s definitely doable. While it may be tough to guard the opposing 5, that same guy has to guard you on the other end.
I know what the weights say, but if Todd and Smith are 10 pounds apart in real life I’ll eat something unpleasant.
Beyond that, I was also talking game - I’ve admittedly only seen highlight reels of Todd but I don’t see lots of defense there (no huge spikes, etc) - Smith is a pretty good defensive big.
I’m not quite sure Castleton at the 5 has shown he’s that much better than Livers or Johns would be at the 5, defensively or offensively.
In ideal world Todd or Johns wouldn’t haven to get minutes at the 5 but if our wings are that loaded compared to our centers I’d bet we see it at times.
2017 EYBL
Jalen Smith 6’10 210
22 games
25 blocks
2019 EYBL
Isaiah Todd 6’10 215
18 games
28 blocks
Actually, Clark was UVa’s starting PG … started the NCAA Tourney including the Championship Game. Which kind of proves my point that if you have a quality option to run the offense —like a Josh Cristopher appears to be or like Franz Wagner has shown flashes he might develop into or like Stauskas and Levert were — it doesn’t matter if your PG is a ball dominant player or not. #PositionlessBasketball
Amazingly nothing has changed in 2 days
Wasn’t Castleton a three point shooter in high school? Has he just given up that part of his game?