The key isn’t whether they’d normally play the 2 in this offense. Wagner isn’t a guy who generally would. The key is if they’re a better option there than the other options (Brooks, DeJulius, Nunez). I forget who it is, I think Beilein, but someone always says you are who you can guard. We know Brooks is at least an average defender at the 2 and is somewhat functional on offense (he at least knows how to run it). Can the other options say both of those things? We don’t know yet.
As for Pierce it, I personally think he’d slide in pretty naturally to the 3.
I would say Pierce is probably a 4/3 and Wagner is probably a 3/2. What’s tricky is that many of the other forwards (Livers, Wilson) are probably 3/4 types as well.
With Simpson potentially dominating the ball next season, I think the need for a “2” is minimized, at least offensively. Spread em out and let X find the open man.
Defensively Brooks can defend the two, and hopefully DeJulius as well. Nunez is unknown, but he has a shot (no pun intended). Of the other players on the roster, I would say Livers has shown the best ability to move his feet and stay in front of a ball handler.
Of the 4 potential recruits, I would say Hyland is the one most likely to be serviceable defending a 2.
Euro players don’t get invites, and a few top prospects like Zion typically let them know they aren’t interested. Also, some higher ranked prospects pull out of the draft before the invites go out, like Dosunmu already has. So if Poole is around 60-70 he’s a virtual lock for an invite.
Yeah, this is basically going to be the plan. You don’t really gain a lot taking the ball out of Simpson’s hands, so really what you want around him is quality shooting and the ability to attack off the catch.
Dylan I was wondering why the general consensus is that poole will stay in the draft? We knew iggy and JP would test the waters and iggy seems as if he intends to stay. However Jordan’s comments seemed like he was 50/50 on staying, saying he wanted to look at all options and make the best decision. So I’m just curious why the media and a lot of people think he’s 100% gone. I know there could be friction with JB and his father. But other then that I’m thoroughly confused
If that is the case won’t every team pressure X like crazy even forcing the ball to someone else, in the big lineup who is alleviating that pressure? Some great discussion in April and will be an interesting few weeks.
I didn’t see a ton of games this year but read a couple places where there wasn’t as much of JBs off ball action, does that come more into play?
Some of those folks may have it directly from Poole or his family, but you don’t have to go that far…both Hyland and Quinones (who are both clear guards, i.e. Poole replacements) have said point blank that there is an opportunity at Michigan because of attrition to the draft.
My understanding is, Beilein can use Iggy’s and Poole’s scholarship how he sees fit and if later either Iggy or Jordan wants to return, if U-M can’t find a scholarship for them, then Iggy or Poole would be free to transfer without having to sit-out.
If that’s the case the last thing I’d want is to end up facing an angry Jordan Poole at some point during the season, I know he’d take all the bad shots, but he’d likely hit them all against us.
I’m surprised Michigan hasn’t kicked tires (or at least hasn’t publicly been linked to kicking tires) on former Vanderbilt F Matt Ryan. He would seem to be a prototypical Beilein taller shooting wing. Started his career at Notre Dame (was a key player in eliminating UM from the tourney), transferred to Vanderbilt and got caught in the wash of a poorly designed offensive system. But as a grad transfer, he should have the academics to qualify.
I saw him play several times in person this season. His shot looks fundamentally good; his 37-42% 3pt shooting at Notre Dame follow much more in line with the visual look of his shot than his struggles this season. He’s done it versus high major competition in the ACC & SEC. He’s not a “high ceiling” player, but he’s a relatively “high floor” player — very confident he can provide at worst 15-18 mins of average defense (more likely to guard the 4 than the 3) w/floor spacing shooting ability.