I will say this, that team will be very tough to deal with in a few years if Davis is as good as he looks. Perimeter shooting, a lightning quick PG, and an athletic shot blocker. Izzo has recovered nicely. They are lacking a true creator though, Nairn is more of a transition guard vs half court creator
Kind of surprised, with Ahrens and Harris already in the fold, seems kind of redundant.
Never a big fan of McQuaid, just a more athletic version of Robinson, but doesn’t have a ton of ball skills.
2015 Duncanville (TX) SF Matt McQuaid verbally committed to Michigan State this morning.
— Alex Kline (@TheRecruitScoop) September 25, 2014
I think Izzo’s biggest problem is utilization of point guards - they all seemingly remain stagnant. He has proven he can utilize a wing, with guys like Gary Harris, Alan Anderson, etc. His offense has not been friendly to PnR historically, although he did run much more of that this year.
I guess, but plenty of wings have not developed there (Kris Allen, Durrell Summers, Torbert), and I don’t know if you want to call Raymar Morgan a wing or an undersized PF, but he seemed to get worse over his career.
I think their problem is that their offense is really disorganized and turnover prone. That, and Izzo is such a spaz that many of his kids play very tentatively. These guys will be decent, but again we’re talking about at least three kids (McQuaid, Bess, Ahrens) JB passed on. I’d be way more concerned if they had landed the likes of Tyus Jones, Cliff Alexander, Jalen Brunson, or that Gill-Caesar kid.
I wasn’t really referring to how MSU stacked up against UM, but more that MSU will be tough to deal with in general…they will have a really nice team in a few years if things work out as projected. As it relates to UM, Bess is the type of player that will be a thorn in our side, the other 2, not worried about it.
For me, at this point I think Izzo needs elite talent to be a Final Four contender, and unless they get Swanigan, I don’t think he’ll have it. Last year to me was his best window in awhile to make the Final Four. Honestly, it’s entirely possible that none of these wing players we are discussing (literally, none) are future NBA players. And to win the title, you generally need 2-3 NBA players in your squad, if not more. In the same vein, I’d say there’s a good chance not a single one of them will ever be as good as either Levert or Irvin.
I’d have to disagree with the 2-3 NBA players on your squad as a requisite…UL won the title with a few guys that are fringe NBA players (meaning they may play for a a few games/1 year and then its over) and one sure thing in Dieng. Does it help, sure, but not required.
One thing I’ve learned about Izzo, is that generally speaking, his teams will be competitive at a minimum because the D will be there regardless. They can make a game ugly and win
Well, if you look at most teams that have won the title, they have multiple NBA talents. Siva, Russ Smith and Behanan are all borderline NBA players anyway. I won’t count Harrell, I guess, since he didn’t play much.
Izzo’s teams will certainly be competitive as long as they get away with fouling to the extent they do, but I’ve never seen him take a team deep in the tourney without some clear NBA talents (as sophs, I would have said Lucas and Sommers were NBA talents - why they regressed is beyond me). And I don’t think the talent he has assembled is anything close to that squad anyway.
He is NOT an above average athlete for being a 6’5 wing.
He is not taking anyone off the dribble in the B1G.
What is interesting is that MSU is stacking up players that would fit amazingly well in our system. We are a school that is based on backcourt player development in terms of ball handling and basketball IQ (at least those past 3 years). We don’t develop front court players really well IMO. Mitch was already amazing before Michigan, and didn’t play most of the time, Glenn probably got worse over time (playing at the 4), THJ didn’t really get better either through his time here IMO. In terms of recruitment, we should attract less elite centers or physical wings. That is why I was really amazed that Teske committed to us so soon.
I might be wrong, but I would categorize MSU as almost opposite to us: they develop athleticism and physicality in the way of playing (hence less elite shooting). And now they are stacking up backcourt players that have the same development potential that Belein is an expert on.
Are things slowly turning around? I might be wrong in my assumptions, but if not, it just means both MSU and Michigan are both trying to get to that middle ground.
Glenn got worse? Tim never improved? Harsh takes.
I do think Michigan State’s system is obviously more well suited for more physical players (offensive rebounding), but at the end of the day talent is talent and both coaches are going to coach to use the talented pieces that they have.
Glenn is a funny case because of he goes to MSU does he play more of a Branden Dawson role (0 made threes in three years)? Similar super athletic undersized four men and one of them was in school for two years… one is entering his senior year.
Glenn got worse? Tim never improved? Harsh takes.I do think Michigan State’s system is obviously more well suited for more physical players (offensive rebounding), but at the end of the day talent is talent and both coaches are going to coach to use the talented pieces that they have.
Glenn is a funny case because of he goes to MSU does he play more of a Branden Dawson role (0 made threes in three years)? Similar super athletic undersized four men and one of them was in school for two years… one is entering his senior year.
To be fair, I’ve only started being really invested in Michigan basketball in 2012. So for Hardaway, I just saw him consistent throughout the season but no real evolution. Also read that he has that raw talent entering the program, so I assumed he was the same his freshman year. But for GR3 I don’t think I’m being harsh. I re watched every 2013 march madness game, and GR3 was so powerful and dominant. He was also a top recruit as a freshman. But last year he seemed so confused, and inconsistent. In my mind, he obviously got worse. Draft predictions would agree too. Wasn’t he predicted lottery pick in 2013 and ends up at the bottom of the second round in 2014?
Anyhow, I do agree that talent is talent. But each program is specialized in developing that particular talent, right? At least based on historical data and experience. So that’s what I was curious about recent recruiting.
As for Glenn vs Dawson, what would be your take on that? Glenn had a lot of hype as a recruit so that may have played a large role. He is also way better on the perimeter (compared to Dawson but definitely not for Michigan standards).
Draft predictions would agree too. Wasn't he predicted lottery pick in 2013 and ends up at the bottom of the second round in 2014?
Lots of issues with this. For one, he wasn’t the bottom of the second round, he was in the top third. Second, it was a much deeper draft in 2014 relative to 2013, so absolute position is misleading. So while I do believe he “fell” in the draft, it wasn’t drastic at all.
But last year he seemed so confused, and inconsistent. In my mind, he obviously got worse.
And I disagree about the reason he fell… For a player like Glenn, whose predicted draft position after his freshman year was based almost entirely on potential rather than production…being a year older while not showing dominant skills results in a worse overall profile. Glenn proved in spots this year that he couldn’t take his man off the dribble. Was he ever even put in that position the prior year? He proved he couldn’t take over a game. He definitely wasn’t put in that position the year prior. So while I don’t think he “obviously got worse” at all…I do think some of his flaws were exposed. Which is exactly the risk one takes when they come back to school. Happens to players in multiple sports all the time without them getting actually worse.
I also disagree on Hardaway but I’ll leave it to someone else to debate.
I saw clear, tangible evidence of GRIII being better his sophomore year than his freshman year.
Thought he improved offensively but regressed on D
Caris doesn’t look quite as impressive without intentionally flexing. Kid has definitely added weight, but is still slight.
.@CarisLeVert photo shoot with @espn pic.twitter.com/TDC3aA6rqM
— Michigan Basketball (@umichbball) October 17, 2014
Caris doesn't look quite as impressive without intentionally flexing. Kid has definitely added weight, but is still slight..@CarisLeVert photo shoot with @espn pic.twitter.com/TDC3aA6rqM
— Michigan Basketball (@umichbball) October 17, 2014
Very perceptive. Does the “D” in MattD stand for “Downplay?”
He is way more put together than he was the last two years. He is never going to be Ron Artest or even GR3, but he definitely looks stronger which should be a huge asset with his dribble drive game
The kid was a twig that would be blown over by a large gust of wind his freshman year and last year he was still barely pushing 185
Caris doesn't look quite as impressive without intentionally flexing. Kid has definitely added weight, but is still slight..@CarisLeVert photo shoot with @espn pic.twitter.com/TDC3aA6rqM
— Michigan Basketball (@umichbball) October 17, 2014Very perceptive. Does the “D” in MattD stand for “Downplay?”
If by downplay you really mean honest, real, and objective…then by all means yes.
Can anyone honestly say he isn’t slight? Not exactly an earthshaking proclamation I’m making here
Looks Impressive to me. Not Slight at all, As big as Reggie Miller at his largest. As big as Jalen Rose at the same age.