The Buzz about next year, but then what?

Michigan Basketball
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After last season’s run to the title game, I, like many of our fans, was very excited about the '13-'14 season. Assuming Mitch and GRIII came back, our future looked bright. And, indeed, it’s been a pretty special season. The B1G is a very tough conference, and, for most teams, has been quite the meat grinder. That’s what makes all of M’s success on the road this year even more enjoyable to watch.

Even with all this success, it seems that on every M message board, people are already getting hyped about next year, because they’re trying to imagine how good we can be if Mitch stays and GRIII stays, based on many people’s opinions that neither will be ready for the NBA after this year (unfortunately, Robinson’s reasons are a bit different from Mitch’s). Now, since Stauskas has been held in check in recent games, people are thinking he could still be around. For his sake, I hope he can move on, but that’s a topic for another thread.

Recently, I was reading a thread where people were actually concerned that, if all three stay, we will be in the awkward position of having oversigned, and could be cornered into pulling a Tom Crean, by forcing somebody out. I pray that does not happen. But if it does, we may be facing a huge drop off after the '14-'15 season. Here’s what I see potentially happening. The obvious - Mitch, GRIII, Stauskas are gone. Now there’s talk of LeVert going in '15. In addition, I’ve felt from the time Walton committed, that he’d be the next in line for our 2-year point guard cycle, i.e., after '15, he’s also gone. Even though he started out slowly, he has started to show the skills that brought him the high school senior stat line of 26 points, 7 reb, 7 assists per game. In other words, we better get a pg for '15! Thank God at least Spike will still be around. Last, but not least, Horford will finish his 5th year. In other words, just in terms of sheer numbers of bodies, we could be in for a tumble.

No doubt we’ll still have some very talented players, with Donnal, Chatman, et al, but we could be in for some challenges. I’d love to read everyone else’s thoughts.

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win - win

if they leave, we have more pudding to show that we can develop players and put them in the NBA.

if they stay, we have a potential Final Four team.

It’s nice having Spike because we know he’s a smart, 4 year player. We can see how Walton & Levert do next year without panicking.

2015 and 2016 look like potential beast classes. But a lot of time and a lot of factors left to see who will come and who is leaving.

Personally, I think at least 1 leaves early this year.

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The buzz is that Hatch will be on a medical scholarship and it’s unlikely all 3 come back anyways…

No NBA scouts are checking for Walton. Walton is a 4 year player imo and 3 years at minimum. Even smaller than Burke and he won’t get the volume of shots and playmaking he’ll need with everyone returning.

Walton-Irvin-Chatman-Donnal and maybe LeVert is a top tier core two years out plus whatever recruits we bring into the fold.

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Walton-Irvin-Chatman-Donnal and maybe LeVert is a top tier core two years out plus whatever recruits we bring into the fold.

I expect Irvin to fill the Stauskas role after Nik leaves. Right now, he mainly goes for the 3-ball, as Nik did as a freshman. But Zak is a very good athlete who has some ability going to the basket; it’s just not been required of him this year in this offense. He will shine even more next year.

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Idk about that…

Caris will probably be the guy operating off ball screens along with Walton… Chatman will get in on some of that action, too.

Irvin can shoot and is starting to put it on the floor but here is no indication that he can dribble or pass well enough to operate PnR… I think he is more a Tim Hardaway kind of player who either rises up off hand offs or slashes to the rim of close outs

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Mixed message in OP. Could be over signed or take a tumble in terms of sheer bodies.
We will know in April who is or isn’t going pro, which will leave us plenty of time to sing additional bodies for 2015 (if needed).

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Walton-Irvin-Chatman-Donnal and maybe LeVert is a top tier core two years out plus whatever recruits we bring into the fold.

I expect Irvin to fill the Stauskas role after Nik leaves. Right now, he mainly goes for the 3-ball, as Nik did as a freshman. But Zak is a very good athlete who has some ability going to the basket; it’s just not been required of him this year in this offense. He will shine even more next year.

In no way, shape, or form is Zak Irvin a good athlete. Below average lateral movement and vertical speed. There are times where he appears downright slow. Not a good jumper either. Length yes, athleticism no.

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MattD, you may be right about his athleticism. Kind of tough to tell, at this point, as he has not been asked to show much of it thus far with how’s he’s been used. Perhaps I made a bad assumption, mostly based off the fact he was Mr. Basketball in Indiana. He looked decent finishing that fast break against OSU.

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Walton-Irvin-Chatman-Donnal and maybe LeVert is a top tier core two years out plus whatever recruits we bring into the fold.

I expect Irvin to fill the Stauskas role after Nik leaves. Right now, he mainly goes for the 3-ball, as Nik did as a freshman. But Zak is a very good athlete who has some ability going to the basket; it’s just not been required of him this year in this offense. He will shine even more next year.

In no way, shape, or form is Zak Irvin a good athlete. Below average lateral movement and vertical speed. There are times where he appears downright slow. Not a good jumper either. Length yes, athleticism no.

LOL. Always with the lateral movement.

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Irvin is long and has an excellent frame… I’ll reserve judgement on his athleticism til he has a season weight lifting and works on his ballhandling

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Ball handling and athleticism are 2 distinct spheres. In terms of athleticism Irvin just looks like he’s moving in concrete shoes. He’s simply not quick or fast by any measure. He gets beat baseline often, which can be a good indicator of lateral quickness because you have an extra defender in the baseline to aid you. If you can’t beat the offensive player to the spot baseline that’s a problem if you have that type of length.