Michigan Basketball: 3 ways Wolverines can improve next season
The development of talent already on the roster
One of Michigan’s top assets is Beilein and it’s not just because he can recruit or because he is a great basketball mind. It also has to do with his ability to develop players.
While he has never landed the one-and-done, sure-fire NBA prospects, Beilein has seen a bunch of players go to the NBA and during his tenure, seven players have been selected in the first round. A major reason for that is Beilein’s ability to help his players improve and that’s the best way Michigan can be better next season.
In key losses to Texas Tech and Michigan State, those teams exposed the Wolverines lack of one-on-one scoring. Michigan basketball struggled to score in isolations and when teams switched screens and forced them to try and get an edge one-on-one, they struggled.
I’m sure most of you guys already saw this but I’ll post it just Incase.
— Idiot With So Many Followers Corner (@WolverineCorner) March 29, 2019
Beilein says he doesn’t expect Matthews to be back, just like we all thought. And anything can change but it just didn’t sound like he’s worried about losing anyone else. But who knows I guess. pic.twitter.com/OHgZKplEio
Jon Teske has advantages inside on post-ups but his offensive game needs more development. He has grown a lot but if Michigan is going to run the offense through him in the post, he needs to be more of a threat and has to finish better in the paint.
That’s one option for improvement. Another is helping Brazdeikis and Poole develop mid-range games. That is what was missing down the stretch against Michigan State and throughout the loss to Texas Tech. That cuts down on 3-point reliance and helps get open looks for other players, something both Iggy and Poole have struggled to do.
Other guys like Colin Castleton, Brandon Johns, David DeJulius and Adrien Nunez, who are all freshmen, need to take the leap we have seen so many others make over the years. Isaiah Livers will also be asked to do more and with all the talent available, even if Iggy or Poole is lost, as long as one remains, Michigan will be among the favorites in the Big Ten.