Fiery discussion today! Working on some thoughts on his fit coming up soon. A lot to unpack!
13 Likes
This is also something that could be worth keeping an eye on for Eastern. Might be why he transferred as well.
2 Likes
Not the best look for Painter with his rant yesterday, but not sure this is a good look for M either to be taking from a league rival in this manner. In fairness, I do think he was in the portal for longer than just āyesterdayā. Painter and Beilein had a very good relationship, but I wonder if this will affect Painter and Juwan. Hope we play Purdue twice next year (Iād even settle for a third with a BTT title rematch!)
The team is super young next year. Besides Johns, thereās a chance not one other player will have played significant minutes. Zeb, Dickinson, Williams and Nunez all will be back too but jury is still out on how many minutes those guys will get if they are back next year.
2 Likes
Totally agree with you on this. I think Eastern has significant strengths and weaknesses that donāt, in my opinion, match those of next yearās team. I think Eli defends the 2, Wagner the 3, and Livers (or Johns) the 4 well enough that any trade-off to Eastern for defense takes way too big a cut offensively. While Iām concerned about defense at the 1, Iām skeptical of Eastern and Brooks playing together, as neither is a primary ball-handler, and Iām much rather hope Smith works and live with his D, then watch the offense without a creator.
If he sits one, things are so wide open, all three of those guys I mentioned at the 2/3/4 probably arenāt here, and Eastern is an easier fit, as we can build a sensible team to survive his problems.
I have always been intrigued by Eastern. Welcome aboard!
5 Likes
how strange
1 Like
Iām not sure āthinks heās a proā is a negative you can assign to Eastern. Iād wager that 90% of guys on scholarship in a power conference think theyāre pros.
13 Likes
And 100% of their parents.
23 Likes
Dylan, assuming Eastern is eligible for the coming season, in your opinion, does this take UM out of the running for Chaundee Brown and Jalen Coleman-Lands? Iād like to see UM still add JCL.
3 Likes
Okay and what happens if any of those players become injured? We need experienced gaurd depth in the worst way, both this year and next.
2 Likes
I just wonder if the minutes exist for JCL AND Eastern
1 Like
well, Iād argue that if an all-big-10 caliber player gets injured weāll be in trouble, even if heās replaced by Nojel Eastern.
I can see a way for JCL and Eastern to both get on the floor. I think hitās harder to see with Brown. Eastern is so unique (the kind way to put it offensively, that itās somewhat tough to imagine the lineups weāll put together with him on the floor.
1 Like
Oh no. Yuck yuck yuck yuck.
I feel dirty even thinking about this.
1 Like
Ugh... ...
3 Likes
The thing is you can play Franz when you have to go to Eastern and Brooks. We were already talking about Franz making a potential jump into a role where he could be the primary ball handler at times next year. I think Franz will be able to do that like 5-10 mins a game.
Beilein definitely didnāt want Spike going to Purdue which is why he originally placed restrictions on it. Then Spikeās dad went to to the media and Spike sat silent. Beilein took a lot of crap for it. Got to go to Purdue. Painter canāt be mad now after he benefited.
2 Likes
Also FWIW current and recently graduated players seem pretty excited. Iām assuming they know Nojel.
10 Likes
I guessā¦Franz had 27 assists in 27 games, and 8 of those were either the 100 point win against Iowa, or the drubbing of NW @NW.