He could fill those 8 minutes (unless he’s filling the 39 of Levert’s)
Yeah… Dakich wasn’t playing meaningful when LeVert or Walton were playing.
MAAR played 39 minutes last night, it’s not like he could have really played any extra minutes. He only played 30 against PSU, but that game was out of hand. He also played 37 at SMU when Walton was out.
I agree that Caris is the best passer on the team, however, he still has a score first mentality just like MAAR does. I think this team can turn the corner IF Caris moves himself away from the score first mentality. MAAR doesn’t have that ability yet.
Another way to counter having 2 Alpha’s on the floor together would be to run Sets for each player and run a lot of them. I’ve yet to see this from JB in 9 years, so I’m not holding my breath.
This is starting to sound like an OKC problem. Not that the quality are nearly comparable but it begs the question if your top two scorers are iso type guys, how do you really run your offense?
I think MAAR is Michigan’s best player now and our brightest hope going forward.
Where others may have plateau-ed, he’s only getting better all the time.
I like what you have to say about MAAR. Reading what you said last month regarding MAAR’s tendency to defer and possibly attributing it to messaging from the coaches and players that the leaders are Walton and Irvin. I wonder the same thing–I suspect you are right. I also wonder if there will be a shift in the messaging which includes MAAR as a leader and primary option. I sense that is beginning to happen. It might be happening naturally–I mean I jave a hard time imagining our defense stopping him practices…
Going forward this year, MAAR needs to replace Irvin full time as the player the offense is designed around. It’s been a pleasure watching MAAR develop this year. This is his team now.
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MAAR excels because JBs offense creates huge driving lanes. You get 2-3 guys who have the ability to get to the cup and that’s what you will see. It’s a shock we don’t have more guys on the roster can do this.
I expected Walton to be better in this regard.
Agreed Alum but I think height hurts him
I think his foot injury set him back. He had a very nice take last night where he should have got an and 1. I believe he had a similar one against Maryland where he showed good body control absorbing the contact and finishing.
I actually don’t mind Walton’s overall play. Yeah, he’s had some brutal shooting nights this year but I also never thought he was the type of player to carry a team. So he’s being asked to do more than he’s capable with our current roster. He’s a solid big ten pg.
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I hope MAAR starts drawing the opponent’s best defender. If he can maintain his play while occupying the other’s team best perimeter D guy, that’s going to make things a lot easier for Walton and Irvin.
Either way, we need one of those three guys playing at a high level consistently.
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Yeah…what a concept…who would have thought that a guy that with a career three point percentage of 34% would excel in JBs offense simply because he can attack the hoop.
Ugh. More of that please!
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Walton does try and drive but he is just too small. He gets blocked the majority of the times.
My worry with Simpson
The big change for MAAR has been that he’s gradually starting to pass the ball. It’s hard to run an offense through a guy that is a below-average passer and slowly but surely he’s doing a better job of that.
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That’s why I’ve been begging for JB to grab an athletic big man to pair with him. I love simpson’s game but he isn’t putting a team on his back anytime soon. Pair an athletic big with him, let him break down the defense and lob it up.
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MAAR seems like a “feel” kind of guy. I think for any guard it’s hard to come in and play spot minutes effectively, but MAAR moreso than others seems like he has to feel out the defense, pace, what works, etc.
Seems like with big minutes he produces pretty well. Spot minutes he seems to disappear.
I wonder if the passing has improved simply because he’s getting more comfortable.
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In my opinion, there best offense right now is the high pick and roll with MAAR and Donnal. Not exactly Burke and Morgan, but the best they have. I think there may be some ego issues with this team right now. Irvin wants to be the man but he is just way to inconsistent! Walton is a solid player but not the go to guy. I am amazed at what MAAR has become as a little known 2 star.
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I think the best offense changes game by game.
At Maryland it was MAAR in iso with Donnal as a drop off. Other games Irvin has been more effective in the PNR passing over the top. Walton had some great moments in the PNR last night too.
I think that each guy gives Michigan something different in the PNR or ISO game and depending on matchups, scheme the answer changes.