Agreed. Poole, Iggy and Matthews were the 3 players that could create their own (shot or drive). Although I feel good about Zavier, Teske and Livers returning and agree they are quality players, they really can’t create their own shot on a consistent basis.
I think every good team needs/has a player you can give the ball and say “get us a bucket or get to the line” and I’m concerned as to who that will be.
I foresee a big junior bump from Livers. Think he’ll be a superb shot creator for himself, and showed a bit of that last season.
I think the offense creates open looks from 3 and does a better job of that than almost any college player is going to do creating in ISO for himself or others. This offense generates clean looks from 3 in its sleep. In the future I think we’ll see more diversity of shot creators, but next year it’s Z’s ball. Few teams are going to have PG/C combos like ours. And, really, it’s a lot easier for any creator when the D can’t sag off your wings.
A bit of that, as in like 10 times total last season? I kid but that number may not be entirely inaccurate. I do agree that it may be better to get a creator rather than a pure shooter. But at the same time we desperately need shooting.
The problem is when you have a PG and C that are erratic from three and the PG has no mid range game, you can just switch and stay on the shooters (if you have athletic bigs)
what makes Cassius/Burke/Stauskus/Lavert/Walton so dangerous was they could rise and fire, hit floaters/pull at elbow or get to rack AND could pass… plus once you add a big that picks n pops… good night
there is no pick n pop threat from teske (consistently) and X is either attacking the hoop or passing, making them less dangerous creators
Poole and Iggy were more multiple, BUT when the other three players are X, Teske and Matthews, you’re not worried about them from three and can help on D. Plus Iggy didn’t pass and JP decision making was inconsistent.
So open three don’t just easily happen, unless you have the right creators in the PnR game
I cant speak for Nunez, but I have a distinct memory of being an underclassman in high school and playing garbage minutes, but still having my nerves taking over. It wasnt until later, when I could settle into any rhythm that the game actually clicked. Considering the small sample size and he is still a freshman… I dont think any conclusion should or could be made about his future at Michigan
For whatever reason, the open 3s did happen. Probably because teams chose to sag off and let guys shoot, but they kept coming last year too, when the shooters were more respected and Mo on the perimeter and the lane wide open. Beilein’s offense gets good looks from 3.
I agree that Simpson isn’t the offensive nightmare like those triple-threat guards, but he’s who we have, and we’re obviously all delighted about that. I think it’ll be easier to work around his shooting weakness because there are enough 3&D candidates on the wings.
So back to Iggy since I would take him over all of the other options being discussed here… if he were to come back (which I don’t think he will) I would love to see JB put him in the PnR with both Z and Teske. Would be a nice way to put him in a position where he needs to be thinking about passing due to the nature of the action.
agree that the downgrade in defense losing matthews will benefit floor spacing on offense with a better shooter for X. and gonna need at least one other guy that can work in the PnR. Livers doesn’t have the handle currently, so gonna need another guy (Franz, Johns? or whoever we get to play 2)
still gonna have to figure out a different solution against msu
He is a bit slight, Mattski, but he is very skilled. He’s actually been playing a bit with the pros in Europe, and I just feel that he would come in ready to play. Would he have to get stronger? For sure, but by the middle of the B1G season…Yeah, I think he’d be a very valuable addition. I also think Isaiah would play the four with Franz at the three, so he wouldn’t be matched up with the 6’7-6’9 220-230 pounders. I’d love to have the kid, IF we can’t have Iggy, and a lot of guys think Iggy’s not coming back.
Franz currently 6’7 180… add 5-10 pounds and he is basically Caris’/Stauskus Size (both those guys 6’6 ish 185 ish)
Thats big enough, he won’t finish as easily at rim as Iggy, but his game will also be different
It’s nice to hear that Franz is ready to go, because we’d need that.
They couldn’t really create their own shot though. At least not against decent competition. We were desperate for an ISO type player against teams that switched on defense. Iggy and Matthews were straight line drivers with tunnel vision. And I imagine alot of their successful drives were against closeouts. Couldn’t pass or do anything to help set up others. Poole was more capable, but he seemed very indecisive IMO.
I agree that it’s a big concern for us next year, but I’m not sure Iggy or Poole returning fixes it. They both have alot to develop in that area.
“still gonna have to figure out a different solution against msu”
JMO, but Izzo always thrives when he has a few seniors surrounding whomever runs his offense, and they are going to really miss McQuaid and Goins. Even as strong as they were this year, they had very little margin of error in most of their big wins. Michigan was in a position to fart away 10-15% of its possessions and still win 2 of those 3 games. MSU was not. They had to play perfectly, did, and it was in no small part because of those two senior starters. They may be replaced by more-talented guys next year, but that won’t necessarily make their team better or raise the ceiling. MSU’s not gonna be crap next year if Winston is back, but they aren’t going to be as good as they were this year.
i meant tillman dynamic specifically in terms of teske/X being able to work effectively vs MSU
agree if winston doesn’t come back they will be hurt
assuming he/everyone else does they are a top 3 team.
Langford > McQuaid and if they have ward/bingham/others to try there in place of goins
I LOVE this post, Buckets! In answer to you and adamsmith86, I just think IF Poole leaves, we need a shooter at the two. I think Quinones can come in and be that guy for us. He was my number one want after we had Jalen Wilson in the fold and before we got Bajema.
To me, it depends a lot on what Coach B knows, and he KNOWS a lot more than we do or than any of the pundits do. I think he knows what Jordan Poole is thinking and, of course, he knows how he (JB) feels about the JP situation. He has a pretty good idea what Iggy is thinking. Coach B has so much more knowledge about all of this than we do.
Having said that, I would only take Quinones ahead of Beverly because of his ability from three. When I watched Beverly in that game with IMG, I was SO impressed with him. He has so much ability, and such great athleticism. I understand his outside shot, especially from three has gotten better. But Quinones could be an elite three point shooter, and he has some athleticism, too.
I’ll say this, if JB wants Beverly, he has to be willing to say to him, “We want YOU. You are our first choice if Poole leaves. If Poole leaves we WILL take your commitment above anyone else at that position.” I say that because of the history and the notion that he wasn’t prioritized by us sooner.
So for me, yes, Quinones/Beverly for Poole’s spot and Wagner for Iggy’s spot, if we have two spots would be my preference. I will also say, if neither Q or Beverly works out, I’d love a good grad transfer at the two which would give Bajema time to grow stronger and learn the system. Don’t sleep on Bajema.
Franz being ready to go is just my opinion based on the little I’ve seen (that latest video with the “take” to the basket and the really cool reverse layup was great), what I’ve heard (which has been all good), his experience with Alba, and his pedigree. I loved me some Moe, really from the first open practice at Crisler! 
If Winston dosn’t come back, IMO, they won’t be relevant at all. I don’t know that Langford replaces McQuaid – not the same range, and everybody always said he was inefficient with his long twos when healthy. I think that’s a net loss. Henry was a non-shooter this year, and from our perspective, I would love to see them trying Ward at 4. It could be far easier to pack the paint against them next year. They’ll still be damn good as long as they have Winston, but no way as good at this year.
Beverly isn’t ball dominant at all. He usually was pretty decisive with the ball at Montverde
Beverly definitely isn’t ball dominant. More of a catch-and-slash kind of guy. Play off the ball and then attack close outs, etc. Quinones is the better shooter though (both percentage wise and in terms of volume)