I would say Bieniemy, JCL, Pridgen, Walker (don’t really know much about him), and then McClung. I also think Chaundee Brown is probably in there between Jamal and JCL.
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I understand the fascination with Mac. Guard transfer that averaged over 15 points in big east. Not too many of those.
My first choice would be Brown.
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FWIW, there’s only been reported contact with Brown and Coleman-Lands. Obviously the Eastern thing happened quickly but makes more sense to at least focus more on actual targets from a UM POV.
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based on what Brendan Quinn said on the pod yesterday, it doesn’t sound like um is exactly all in on Coleman lands either
Agree. And I’d be very happy with either JCL or Brown. That being said wouldn’t be mad if they talk to Mac or Nike Sibande.
On a bad team without much efficiency. Just doesn’t make sense to me to take a guy like that who is clearly looking to be the guy.
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How did I forget about Brown?!
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Is it realistic to have 4 guards on the roster who started last season? I don’t see that happening. We have to see about Eastern’s eligibility, but I’d be a little surprised if Michigan isn’t expecting him to play next season.
Maybe if Livers stays in the draft and Eastern plays in the front court, a player like JCL would see a fit. The timing doesn’t seem right for that though.
Yeah, whether you like him or not, it doesn’t take more than watching more than a minute of a highlight reel to see most of what McClung does is coming off the bounce.
Dylan hates himself some Mac McClung haha. Is it partially because of the over the top social media hype? Is he a perfect player? No, but he fills a need and can do things with the ball that 95% of the current roster cannot (maybe 100% if Smith can’t create at a high major level). Doesn’t matter though because we haven’t actually heard Michigan linked to him.
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My counter to the McClung hesitation is:
His stat line last season really isn’t that far off from what I would have expected from Josh Christopher, and I still think that’s the most ideal version of next year’s roster (high usage shot hunter surrounded by shooters and secondary playmakers).
McClung last year was 16/3/2 on 39/32/80 splits. Usage rate at 30%, TO rate at 10%.
For a comparison in impact, Romeo Langford was 16/5/2 on 45/27/72 with 26% usage and 12% TO in his freshman year at Indiana.
Doesn’t seem like there’s a realistic shot at this happening, but I don’t think he would be a bad addition at all
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Want. Good player
He’s an interesting one. Hasn’t shot the three ball well, but his FT% is really good through two years, so there may be some potential there.
So you want to add a third guy who wants to play PG? Say what you want about Mike Smith and Nojel Eastern, but you can’t just keep recruiting players to play the same role. Obviously some uncertainty with when guys are eligible but …
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And my counter is he was terrible against good teams. 39% from 2. If he can’t get the same foul calls in the Big Ten it could get scary.
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I think I just disagree with the assertion that McClung is, has played, or wants to play PG. He is a high usage 2-guard to me, not dissimilar at all from how Christopher would have been used.
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Totally fair haha
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From @Pittsnogled above:
Also, @Pittsnogled: In the future, it is easier to just link to an article and copy and paste the part of the text that you want to include with the quote button. Nice because it gives a link back to the source.
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Got it. I guess I feel that he would get the opportunity to be more of a facilitator by playing the SG position at Michigan alongside Eli Brooks. The sell would be, you’re the perfect playmaker/hunter type for this offense surrounded by three good shooters who are best utilized as off ball guys and secondary creators. Eli is the primary point guard, Mike Smith gets 20 minutes at backup point, and McClung leads the team in usage and likely assist rate if all goes well (as I’ve mentioned previously, his assist rate at Georgetown was already higher than every returning player on Michigan’s roster, and higher than Brooks & Wagner combined).
If you think Mike Smith is going to be that, I can buy that argument. Let’s hope he’s not Jaaron Simmons 2.0. Or if Nojel is immediately eligible, then yes I agree there’s less of a playmaking need.
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Is there a reason McClung is expected to be immediately eligible?
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