I just think we’re returning the best two defenders/starters in Simpson and Matthews. On paper, Poole and Iggy are uber-talented players with all-conference potential unlike the guys they are replacing. I’ll be very surprised if Poole and Iggy don’t get drafted some day.
Moe is the big one we can’t replace but gotta hope the versatility of guys like Livers, Johns and Teske at the 5 spot can make up for it on other ways.
Probably won’t make it back to the title game but never say never. I think the team will be a bigger regular season conference championship threat than last year and potentially a top 10 team from November through the end of the year.
Its possible CM makes a huge jump next year. Last year was his first full year of playing(game time) college BB, its possible he makes a “freshman to sophomore” type of improvement.
It technically is his senior year. Michigan’s roster doesn’t include redshirts to begin with. Also gives UM some roster flexibility to recruit with Charles scholarship. I.e. signing two players wouldn’t be “oversigning” because Matthews is planning to graduate and go pro next year.
I agree, the year before last he made valuable contributions as a “scout” team player, but this year he had to learn and adapt his game to the Beilein offense. He made tremendous improvements through the year and played outstanding basketball at the end, through the B1G Tournament and during the NCAA Tournament run. He’s extremely hard working and is a flat out winner. He accepts coaching and knows what he has to do to help the team and to help his draft prospects for next year. I think between Charles and Z we’re going to have two great leaders on the team! I wish the season started tomorrow!
His intensity is unmatched and the kid is fearless. Maybe the best rebounder on the team and plays with real grit. In my opinion, Charles put the Bully in the box and helped redefine the soft label that was once attached. Thoughts of that big smile against MSU and Ward come to mind!
Not too many, I just happen to know him I’ll never forget hearing Charles say, “what the hell is going on” when DJ announced he was leaving, smh. Was he right in leaving? Absolutely. Just didn’t end as he told people it would.
I’m glad to have Charles back. We would have been OK if he left, but we’re better with him. Here’s hoping he has a big year and moves up into the first round of the 2019 draft.
I don’t know how OK we would have been without him. We would only be returning one starter. We would be losing 3 seniors in addition to our two best players and replacing them with 5 talented but unproven freshmen. Our upper class men leaders would be Teske and Simpson. Charles coming back, IMHO, takes us from middle of the pack to conference favorites.