Functional depth. Spike was not healthy and Dakich wasn’t really able to contribute at this level. I understand that Simpson is unproven on the college level, but it is certainly reasonable to predict that he will be better than Dakich or a Spike with zero functioning hips.
Who’s playing time will Simpson take? Walton played 32mpg and MAAR 28 mpg. I have a hard time seeing playing time reduced out of those two.
Doesn’t that kind of prove the point that our pg depth is fine?
The idea is that Walton won’t play the second-most minutes of anyone in Big Ten games next season and Michigan will groom his replacement for next year at the same time.
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Exactly. Depth is better than last year because Dakich won’t be our first PG off the bench to spell Walton.
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Your twitter campaign is a terrible idea.
Think Butler could definitely be a fit.
I understand that I just think things are being viewed through a vacuum of quantity. I think in theory we would all want it to work that way but you still have to play the games and I would be surprised if a frosh in Simpson is taking minutes away from a senior in Walton. I would also add since he’s the best rebounder on the team I think it will be very difficult to sit him for what would likely happen to the rebounding. Maybe Simpson can rebound like Walton?
Sorry Hail, I could have been more clear there. If you look at my prior two comments then I think you can figure out my meaning…I will try to reiterate. I don’t think you agree with me, which is fine, but my belief is that Walton does some things very well but he does not execute the main staple of our offense well. He does not execute the high pick and roll well. He does not shoot off the bounce well when curling around the high screen. He does not hit the roll man consistently. He does not finish at the rim consistently. Additionally, and this is perhaps a controversial statement, I don’t think he more than average in making open-court-fast-break decisions. He is underwhelming at key types of plays that players who are labeled “point guard” are good at. He does other things very well. …Maar does some things amazingly well but he also does not do some well that are things that “point guards” usually do well…Walton and MAAR might develop these things–I think Caris did–to his credit…My point is that there are too many question marks to say we have pg depth…
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Where should we post information on potential incoming transfers that Michigan might be interested in? I know Broome has interest and I would think Thornton would, but I’m wondering who else could gain some Michigan interest.
It’s not really Big Ten roster movement (just speculation) and it’s not really 2016/2017 commitment talk.
I’m in roster-talk purgatory.
And your comments and insight is always terrible. I’m not the one to complain and point it out though
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I think part of the thinking behind not keeping Max was that he would be taking minutes from other younger players that have 3 or more years of playing time left. We were loaded with bigs and Max, at 6’7" wasn’t likely to be an all Big Ten kind of player. I like Max, but I agreed with that decision at the time and still do. Same thing with Spike.
Oooh, I gotcha. So you are more erring on the side of Michigan not having a true PG. You are saying X could be but he is undersized and a HS player that shouldn’t be counted on as a “true PG”, either.
I can buy that.
On the other hand, when I am thinking about depth, I am basically thinking about how deep we have to go until we get to having to play Dakich in meaningful minutes. Even if X comes in raw and below average as a freshman, below average Big Ten play is still better depth behind Walton than rec-league level play.
Maybe we agree with eachother with different wording. I’d agree that Michigan’s back court has a lower ceiling that it has had in years without a 1st team all Big Ten level shot creator for the first time in years (Morris, Burke, Stauskas, LeVert). I think that is what you’re getting at. Depth wise (not having to play Dakich meaningful minutes) I think we are okay, though (barring injury).
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Xavier Simpson is the future of the PG position at Michigan and Derrick Walton is the current. I don’t think there’s much changing that.
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At this point, even with Doyle gone, we don’t have room for Spike.
Even with a healthy Spike, he would have been third at the point. Most teams can’t afford to allot 3 of their 13 scholarships to the point guard position. Plus, we have Abdur-Rahkman that can fill in at the point if needed. Spike got 4 years and his degree. It sucks that it ended this way but it is the best decision for all.
I find the “too small” excuse to be lame. Tyler Ulis just had a successful season SEC player of the year and is off to the NBA at 5 foot 9.
Has Beilein shown any interest in Thornton? I feel like Thornton is a guy you take regardless of roster composition.
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Are you talking about Derryck Thornton? Has he even officially decided to transfer?
Well, he obviously did when we were recruiting him. But Thornton hasn’t even officially asked for his release yet. So there aren’t any rumors about where he might go.
I think X will be fine and there are plenty of cases of undersized PGs succeeding. It’s still fair to consider the possibility that X’s size effects his transition to this level. I think it’s a great thing that he gets a year to play behind Walton to ease that transition.
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