For the record, I don’t follow McClung on any sort of social media. I was aware he’s a big dunker but have never considered myself a fan of his because of his “buzz”.
I think shot creation is 100% the biggest problem on the roster going forward, I have concerns that Smith will be effective in a high usage role next season and I have concerns that Juwan is going to land a guard recruit in the 2021 class to fill this need based on the current targets. I think McClung would solve that problem for two seasons more than a Bieniemy would, and I haven’t heard any other realistic options available.
I guess my point with McClung (who isn’t even in the transfer portal, AFAIK) is that he wouldn’t really pair well to share the backcourt with any of the guards on Michigan’s roster?
Brooks-McClung would to me. Could split ball handling duties and Eli guards the best backcourt player on the opponent. McClung’s 6’2” 190, basically Eli’s size.
DeJulius/Brooks or Smith/Brooks backcourts would be / would have been smaller with the same defensive concerns.
Agree with this. Shot creation is the biggest hole in the roster by far. There is a chance that Brooks, Franz and Livers are all plus shooters and Smith could be too in a lesser role. Obviously if Cole earns minutes he can really shoot it too and if Nunez ever shoots in games like he does in practice then you can add him too. I can’t think of anyone on the roster who I would trust to get a bucket or generate a bucket for someone else besides hopefully Franz making that jump next year.
I think shot creation is a far bigger need than 3 and D player with only one roster spot available. But yeah, defense definitely could be an issue regardless. A shot creator who can defend is top priority, but as we know, when dealing with the transfer market it is not easy to find exactly what you’re looking for. Usually there is a reason that a player is transferring and the player can’t give you everything you need so you need to decide what is most important.
And because of that issue with DeJulius, he didn’t play as much as maybe some people thought. If you can find more of a combo with size then you have a lot more flexibility lineup wise – preferably a guy who can play the 2 and 3 more than the 1.
Maybe I’m way off here, but I just assumed DeJulius didn’t play more solely because he was a 6’0” point guard and Xavier Simpson’s senior year stood in front of him on the depth chart. McClung is bigger than DeJulius, plays a different position, and Simpson’s 35 minutes a game are gone. He played off the ball to James Akinjo (another guard Eli’s size) as a freshman, and that team was competitive and finished tied for 3rd in Big East play.
I’m not sure I see the need at the 3 like you do. Franz is going to play 30+ there, and possibly even a few minutes a game sliding down to the 2 to make room for Johns & Livers (if Livers returns).
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And McClung has given you reason to think differently about him? In admittedly small samples Smith has been better against top 100 teams.
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Would love to see stats on it but 1) McClung is bigger and more athletic than Smith so it’s not as big of an adjustment to Big Ten physicality
2) he averaged 15 a game in the Big East. Whether you like his game or not, I don’t think he would have the same concerns about his scoring ability translating that an up-transfer like Smith would.
Look if McClung is transferring somewhere, he’s going to want to go somewhere and be the guy, the starting PG. He just doesn’t seem like the kind of guy you want to build a team around as a starting point guard to me.
If immediate eligibility comes into play, I think there will certainly be better options for plus sized shot creators on the market. Far better than Mcclung. I think it is the biggest area of need but 3 and D is also a need, especially a plus defender. If you can fill either one of those roles I think you do rather than leaving both open. Short term the immediate eligibility would benefit the program.
At the same time, I prefer that the immediate eligibility is delayed until next year or further down the road. Long term it’ll help Michigan out if this roster is intact for another year and the players have to grow. Even though it’ll likely mean the team won’t be great this year, it’ll help come 2021. Michigan won’t be as good as if they can add an immediately eligible player but stability and experience is underrated.
In general I hope the immediate eligibility never happens. That’ll damage college basketball far more than one and dones imo. Roster turnover will be absolutely insane at every level of college basketball. Stability will almost cease to exist.
Is Zeb projected to be the next man up in regards to being that ball dominant leader of the offense? If so do we leave him on an island and have no back up plan? Unless of course Coach Howard runs as fast as he can away from an offense that runs most of its offense of a high PNR.
Either way this team seems to need someone who can get downhill and get to the rim either to score or get to the line. Franz could possible be that guy but we have to sort of assume if he becomes that guy he is gone after next year.
Except he’s literally not a point guard, right? Am I just totally wrong there? He’s played the 2 as a score-first, secondary creator for two seasons. Akinjo started at the point his entire freshman season and McClung played off ball. When Akinjo transferred and the plague hit Georgetown’s roster last year, Terrell Allen stepped in and played point and McClung’s role stayed the same I thought.
Yeah, shot creation is definitely a huge need. Bringing that shot creation from a player who isn’t just a point guard and can defend multiple positions feels a lot more useful for Michigan.
Right now, the only U-M player between 6-2 and 6-6 is Zeb Jackson?
Agreed. Michigan doesn’t need a PG sized shot creator. Has to be someone at least 6’3 and that’s still probably too small. Those are few and far between.
This is the point. When going after transfers, you don’t have room to be really picky. If a player is 6’6, can create off the bounce, shoot and defend, they aren’t transferring. They are either staying in place or going pro. So I would sacrifice size for shot creation. If others prefer a plus defender who maybe can’t create much, that’s not wrong either. It’s a preference. Obviously someone who checks off all the boxes is preferred by all, but I wouldn’t count on one of those being available.
I’d love a 6’5” shot creator that can make threes and play great defense to hit the transfer portal. Count me skeptical that anyone that checks all those boxes will. Landers Nolley was the closest and if I recall correctly the thought was he was too much of a wing. If you think Bieniemy is going to become a plus shot maker then I guess he counts too.
I don’t think you fill a roster spot with a marginal upgrade for the roster for one year and sacrifice long term development of guys that could be there longer and have more upside (Jackson). If it isn’t a no brainer major upgrade, don’t fill a spot just to fill it. It could destabilize the roster for multiple years following. In terms of Mcclung, I’d pass personally. He’s a good player but he’s not the best fit nor even a good fit imo.
I think a lot of high level players are going to become available if the NCAA grants immediate eligibility starting this year. Top players on mediocre high major teams and elite underclassman at Mid major teams are very likely going to bounce to teams that have potential to win. Michigan would (should) be an extremely attractive option to very good backcourt players from the Midwest because the need is there as evidenced by Michigan going hard for all those Combo and Shooting guards this year.