MAAR – Hard to see his minutes disappearing when LeVert is healthy. He really stepped up once again. Getting to the rim consistently when Hammons was rejecting everything else in sight. 25 pts, Zero TO.
Granted, they still lost badly, but without MAAR it would have been much worse.
Gotta wonder if a starting lineup of Walton/MAAR/LeVert/Robinson/Donnal would give us the most playmakers.
I don’t agree with that don’t think you can really take Irvin out but I do love how MAAR has been playing. I would almost say swap him out with Walton but I don’t see MAAR as a very good creator for others. Although I would much rather have MAAR in there for Walton when he gets stuck with the ball in his hands at the end of the shot clock.
Not sure Walton really creates for others either. He’s better at it than Rahk but he seems to be much better playing off the ball than with it. He hasn’t show an ability to break down a defense in the halfcourt. His assist totals have always been low. He’s a good spot up shooter and plays well in transition but if he’s your primary creator, then you’re in trouble. I think Walton is a solid player but he’s a pretty run of the mill Big 10 PG.
There are enough minutes available for Walton and MAAR to both get 25+. MAAR is playing much more efficiently this season than he did last year and has earned his minutes. He has earned his minutes.
Between the 1, 2, 3, and 4 there are 160 minutes available.
35 LeVert
30 Irvin
30 Walton
25 Robinson
25 MAAR
15 Dawkins
Give or take 5 minutes either way depending on who is playing well.
It’s really funny you mention that. I’ve said since his freshman year that Walton is basically our shooting guard while our “2” has been our actual point guard and dominant ball handler. I got confirmation on that recently when I checked our kenpom most frequent lineups and it lists Caris Levert as point guard 69% of the time (was 80% before the injury) and Walton at SG 58% of the time. I was very high on Walton earlier but he looks absolutely miserable as our lead guard with Levert out.
I’d like to see a lineup with MAAR at the point when LeVert is back. DWalt has definitely been struggling lately. I love how MAAR attacks and he is a solid defender, definitely a sleeper in last years class.
Can MAAR and Levert co-exist on the floor together?
Is it possible for both of these guys to have big games at the same time given their style of play on the offensive side? I don’t think so.
I understand why Rahk can’t be the point guard. I also understand that he needs to be on the floor not only because of his relentless scoring ability (last night he looked like a rugged poor man’s Iverson), but also his defense. So why not run him out there at the two and shift Caris to the point?
Caris is the best passer on the team so I think he can certainly play more one. It boils down to whether MAAR can create the spacing with his perimeter shot when he’s not creating with the ball in his hands. He’s starting to do a better job of being at least a threat from three.
There has to be more opportunities for MAAR if/when Caris comes back. Dribble drive attackers that can finish are very valuable commodities in today’s college bb. Walton can’t create effectively in the half court and in reality is an off the ball catch and shoot guy that can’t finish. There is certainly an intriguing opportunity going forward to see if Caris and MAAR can play effectively together.
Walton is also pretty good at defending opposing PGs, especially smaller quicker guys, although he had some rough moments yesterday. He was very good against Garner in the PSU game. I don’t think you’re going to see Walton just fade out of the rotation because he’s had a few bad games.
I think the best way to use MAAR is to kind of build a bench unit around him and draw plays up for him around the time when you are trying to make your subs at the 12 to 8 minute mark in the first half. Then see how it goes from there. I also feel like he has the tendency to defer when other guys are in the game and when things start going wrong he just puts his head down and goes. Not a bad thing, but it is interesting how there will be games where he kind of just blends in.
Honestly not trying to troll you, I just disagree that this is the best way to use MAAR. He definitely tends to defer to other guys sometimes, but is there a chance that this is a result of constant messaging (and game-planning) that Caris, Walton, and Zak are the “leaders” and he is a “role player”? He definitely rises to the occasion when his number is called – maybe it’s time to treat him as one of the “leaders” and see if he can give them a spark.
Depends on match ups for Walton being a good defender against opposing PGs. He routinely gets trucked by bigger more physical opponents who bully him on straight line drives. This team is desperate for another option when “good” teams defang their perimeter prowess with solid D. Having another attacker vs. a stand in the corner catch and shoot guy is a necessary element when 3 game is choked off, regardless of spacing. MAAR gets to the rack, Walton does not. Derek isn’t going anywhere, but what is plan B when real teams can overmatch you with suffocating perimeter D? Late in the shot clock forced contested 3s? I’m intrigued by MAAR and Caris getting some run together going forward. IF Caris comes back.
I’m not questioning that Walton has played three pretty horrific offensive games in a row. Michigan needs more from him. But he’s also the same guy that had a triple-double a few weeks ago, had 7 dimes and three threes against Texas, and is one of Michigan’s best rebounders.
MAAR has been fantastic the last two games and he’s played more minutes than Derrick in both of them because of it. He’s a great luxury to have and unfortunately he’s really the only backup at the 1 and the 2 spots.
He’ll play an important role, but for this team to be really good they need Derrick to play the way he can play and the way we’ve seen at times this season. Right now that version of Walton has come and gone.
Derek needs to step it up, no doubt. Always amazed at his rebounding prowess in games. My continuing concern is/will be, what is plan B when good teams choke off our perimeter game?
Meaning what? I honestly think Michigan’s offense with LeVert has enough threats to counter that. Even last night, Purdue but Stephens/Cline/Mathias on MAAR and he was able to take advantage. The killer was that Irvin couldn’t take advantage of the Swanigan mismatch.
If you add LeVert to the mix, Rapheal Davis isn’t face guarding Duncan Robinson for 30 minutes and then the offense starts to open up.
There will/have been games that our offense has been completely shut down by teams with great perimeter D. IF that happens it would be nice to have another attacker on the floor to get to the rim. Our offense looks great against what good teams we’ve played this year? Texas? Your confidence in its functionality is compelling, I hope your right going forward. I have my doubts against good teams however, because I’ve witnessed it’s over reliance on perimeter success to many times. We shall see.
The biggest reason I don’t want to see MAAR-Walton-Levert on the court together means that Dakich would have to get some court time. We shouldn’t be seeing Dakich on the court at all.
Well duh. of course we don’t want to see Dakich. but that’s what happens when your back-up retires. That said, i’d prefer to see MAAR-Levert-Irvin on the court more.
Why can’t MAAR be the backup for Walton so we don’t need to see Dakich?