Michigan Basketball: 3 takeaways from win over Minnesota

Does Beilein need to give young guys more run?

At this point and for most of the year, Michigan basketball has played only seven or eight guys and you have to wonder if that lack of depth is starting to take its toll.

Last season, the Wolverines went 10 deep with guys like Duncan Robinson, Eli Brooks, Jordan Poole, Teske and even Jaaron Simmons. This year, however, behind the first seven guys are mostly younger players and it doesn’t appear John Beilein trusts them just yet.

One freshman has played some significant minutes and that was Brandon Johns, who scored eight points and grabbed eight rebounds in a win over Indiana. Yet, he has been basically non-existent since despite a solid shot and some athleticism around the rim.

The stretch Michigan is in the middle of right now is grueling. The Wolverines will play five games in nine days and all of them will be against NCAA-caliber teams and three of the games will be on the road.

With the poor shooting efforts the last two games and averaging only 56.5 points, you have to wonder if tired legs are becoming an issue. The Big Ten is always a battle of attrition and unfortunately, on the depth front, Michigan is a little shorthanded.

At the end of the season, it might not matter as every team pretty much shortens the bench, but during this difficult stretch, at some point, the Wolverines might get gassed. They might be a little already.