It is just so tough to project “readiness” for a kid to play as a freshman. There are so many variables (need, physical maturity, mental maturity, feel for the game, etc.) that go into the equation. I don’t think it would be right to count out Bajema as a guy who could play minutes because Michigan definitely needs elements of his game (and right away) if both Poole and Iggy stay in the draft.
I worry more about the level of competition that he’s faced than being skinny (it is basketball not football) but we will see. I love his game and I was hyping him up here long before most.
Stu saw major playing time for four years but never truly excelled at the thing we most wanted him in to do - shoot. He was a career 34.0% 3pt shooter. I don’t think you can put that on the coaching staff.
Didn’t really want to get involved in this whole argument but you guys have to remember that the head coach’s job is to use the player in the best way to help the team win. A player can also say that he thinks being used in a different way would have been best for his game.
A lot of people were supportive of Iggy leaving because of his age and only one year of college film evaluation.
Leave at your youngest before the NBA book is out on your very real limitations.
Figuring he’d be even more exposed with another year of college and obvious athleticism shortcomings.
Innate passing ability and marginal natural athleticism and quickness are usual stagnant for future growth.
Iggy’s a scorer who’s going to have potential real difficulty scoring over NBA length not to mention beating anybody off the bounce with less than average quickness.
Not to mention who can he effectively matchup with defensively in the NBA?
Won’t be surprised at all if he doesn’t get the feedback that he wanted to hear.
That’s fair. I don’t really mean to knock him. But I do think in this day and age that if you’re the starting 2, shooting a high percentage from downtown has to be the first thing you bring to the table. (Unless you’ve got some other major attribute, like great size or athleticism.)
I think Iggy will play the 2 or the 4. I don’t think the 3 is an option. Has to do with JB’s offense and Iggy being a lefty. Notice what side of the floor Matthews always played on (left side).
I would bet Simpson PG, Iggy SG, Livers (3), Johns (4) , Teske (5). Wilson, Franz (I have a hunch we will get him) backing up the 3/4. Pierce is the one that can shake this up.
It’s in the bullet list that leads off the Roundtable here. Little more than tea leaf reading based on extant interviews, but I didn’t think we had entertained this prospect much and became curious what the team might look like. . . I’m with Brian a little. I sort of gulped when I first thought about it, because another year of straight-line drives with the head down, having to defer to someone who obviously CAN get buckets, looks like a recipe for a pretty static offense to me. If he comes back, though, it’s almost undoubtedly going to be with the advice that he work on D and passing, so. . .
Well, at least you’ve been consistent in slamming the kid from day one.
Stauskas had athleticism limitations - at least as far as the NBA - yet improved a ton and became a lotto pick by returning. So did Luke Kennard at Duke.
Iggy’s limitations are that he’s not a freak athlete.
You make it seem like he can’t jump over a phone book. In reality, he gets to the rim, he can finish with both hands, and he dunks at the rim a fair amount. He’s athletic enough to score in the paint consistently, and he’s a good open shooter. If he comes back, I’ll bet he scores 17-18 a game next year and cracks the first round.
love your optimism re johns… i do wonder if wagner has a better handle than both johns and livers, and can generate his shot easier, but maybe johns makes that jump, if so i love that starting five even more from a size perspective
Both of those almost always are true to some extent on every team. No one wants to be a role player in their ideal scenarios. In the perfect world, everyone is a star and gets NBA looks. I imagine Brooks would think something like this is true right now. Brandon Johns as well. Just reiterating what you are saying.
I absolutely agree with you on, frankly, every point. Projecting whether freshmen will be ready to play, either out of the gate or even by the end of the year, is very difficult.
I know he played a rather low level of competition, but I also saw him in the last video against much better competition, and that was impressive. Still, it is difficult to project. I mean, there is a world of difference between playing in the B1G as an incoming freshman and being a “star” in high school.
I, too, am very high on Bajema and believe he will be an outstanding player for Michigan. The ideal scenario would have been for him to “play” for a year behind JP or behind JP and Eli. Maybe by the end of the year get 6-8-10 minutes a game in spot minutes, and then be ready to make a big jump as a sophomore. Looks like that’s not gonna happen.
If we don’t find someone to play the two, and assuming JP leaves, Bajema may have to play a bit, and then take on a bigger role as the season progresses. I don’t know, though, JB may have some magic that he can pull out of his hat. We’ll see!
