Michigan moved to 3-0 with wins over Wake Forest and TCU last week, but it wasn’t pretty. The Wolverines needed overtime to beat Wake Forest in Detroit and a late comeback to escape Fort Worth with the road victory. Dylan and Eric discuss the week, assess the level of concern, and dive into some player thoughts on key contributors at this point in the season.
The UM Hoops Podcast · Episode 224 · 1:15:07
Show notes
Michigan is 3-0 after beating Wake Forest 85-84 in overtime and TCU 67-63, but neither game was clean. Dylan and Eric trace the problems to defensive rebounding and transition against Wake, and a heavy turnover rate against TCU's pressure. Eric rates his concern about a 3 out of 10.
They weigh the early three-big starting lineup, Yaxel Lendeborg's defensive effort and usage, and what the early efficiency numbers say. The back half covers Trey McKenney's rise, the guard minutes squeeze on Nimari Burnett and L.J. Cason, Will Tschetter's shooting role, Aday Mara's swing between games and Morez Johnson Jr.'s defense.
- turnovers
- three-big lineup
- defense
- freshman guard play
- rotation
- rebounding
- aday mara
- yaxel lendeborg
Worth hearing
49:44 · Trey McKenney and Nimari Burnett
“He’s so mature for a freshman. It’s crazy. Like he knows where to be defensively and so little switches that are a problem involve him given that it’s, he’s in his 3rd college game.”
Eric Shapiro
6:14 · Work in progress: turnovers and transition
“Michigan had the best shot quality rating from Synergy of any game in the Dusty May era. And like the worst shot making, right?”
Dylan Burkhardt
39:08 · Defense and the turnover outlook
“It’s like, we’re gonna just grind you into dust and then play better defense down the stretch.”
Dylan Burkhardt
Prediction15:23 · The three-big starting lineup
“I think Morez and Aday are just going to be elite defensively. for this team when they’re on the court in really any role.”
Dylan Burkhardt
Prediction29:42 · Lendeborg's defense and usage
“I think this team should really be dominant on the offensive glass, especially with him at the 3.”
Dylan Burkhardt
Prediction36:20 · Defense and the turnover outlook
“I think by the time we’re in January, they’ll be like 13th in the Big Ten, 14th in the Big Ten in turnover rate.”
Dylan Burkhardt
55:47 · Guard minutes, Cason and the rotation
“L.J. Cason is more of a Trey McKenney, like in his ideal role than an Elliot Cadeau.”
Eric Shapiro
1:09:06 · Morez Johnson Jr. and the road ahead
“He’s guarded the perimeter really well. And I think that’s a big key to that 3 big lineup working.”
Eric Shapiro
Chapters
- Setting the table after two close wins
- Work in progress: turnovers and transition
- The three-big starting lineup
- Lendeborg's defense and usage
- Defense and the turnover outlook
- Early efficiency rankings and rebounding
- Trey McKenney and Nimari Burnett
- Guard minutes, Cason and the rotation
- Aday Mara's two very different games
- Morez Johnson Jr. and the road ahead
Games discussed
- Michigan at TCU W 67-63
- Michigan vs. Wake Forest W 85-84
- Oakland at Michigan W 121-78
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Join the conversation · 6 replies on the forum
The conversation
6 repliesJoin the discussionRoyalman10
For some reason this podcast really makes me wanna eat Dylan
DMB43
While I think there’s no scenario Michigan is an average or better turnover rate team, I think there is some clear path for improvement and potential optimism.
I’d argue the main cause for turnovers last season was each individual player was stretched too far and were playing roles too big for them. I think we have the opposite this year. I think as Dylan has said we have a lot of overqualified guys and as a result will play simpler roles than they previously have. I think this lack of “stretch” can potentially make it easier longer term once we figure out cohesion and natural time of playing together to not turn the ball over as much. I’d also potentially suggest that our turnovers this year might be matchup dependent this season as opposed to last season it really didn’t matter because we were gonna turn the ball over no matter what. I think this stems from of our distinct personnel. My best guess would be Aday, Elliot, and LJ lead us in turnover percentage and I hope it’ll be somewhat reasonable so everyone else who hopefully doesn’t have turnover woes can combine to be a below average turnover team.
This is probably my only true major concern long term. I think talent and cohesion will ultimately prevail and this team will be dominant offensively BUT with the caveat that turnovers absolutely put an artificial self-imposed cap on your ceiling
vanarbor
I’d like to see Yax up there in TO% as counterintuitive as it may be, or else I’d be worried we aren’t involving him enough in the half-court.
I don’t see how we can reach our full potential with Yax being merely an off-ball type of guy.
umhoops
I don’t think Yax has to turn it over to prove he’s not an off-ball type of guy. I also think he played with the ball a ton against TCU and was pretty good.
DMB_Dad
He had a 3rd foul early in the second half, correct? I thought he was really good. Without the foul trouble and fewer turnovers overall, he is probably putting up 10 shots and scoring close to 20 points with 10 rebounds and 5 assists. You can’t ask for much more than that.