15-0, who saw this?
Well, here we sit in January with the Conference game slates starting to stack up a little. Did anyone have Michigan 15-0 at this point in the season? Coming off an unexpected Big-Ten Tournament title, and an astonishing run to the NCAA Tournament Final last season, Michigan was not expected to repeat those feats this season. They lost their most valuable player, and ultra loveable goofy big-man, Moe Wagner. They also lost two other big time senior contributors, all around Guard/Forward Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman and Three-Point marksman Duncan Robinson. That’s not to say they weren’t expected to be a good basketball team who could compete for the Big-Ten Title this season, because they were. However, being ranked 19th/20th in polls in the preseason had to feel like somewhat of a slight for a team coming off such a successful campaign. So when the season came fast and heavy for Michigan with a matchup against the team that took away the title they coveted what did they do?
The season has went a little like this:
Undefeated, thrashing teams like UNC and getting revenge against Villanova(down year or not, they were a top team when the game was played), was not the consensus Michigan projection at all, however. Nevertheless, here they stand at 15-0 (5-0 Big Ten), having amassed many more double digit wins(13) than single digits(2)! They have been able to stomp and smash through the competition with very few hiccups so far, save Western Michigan giving them a great game which still ended comfortably enough in an eight point win for the Wolverines. Pre-Season projections are always a crapshoot, and Michigan is blasting the media’s expectations this season. The Wolverines look more and more like a number one seed every game, now approaching near lock status for a number one slot in March. The preseason rankings probably added extra fuel to an already flaming hot fireball of momentum Michigan was riding off their 2nd almost NCAA championship under Coach John Beilein
Ignas Braz..uhh deikis. Whatever, just call him Iggy.
Spelling of his last name aside, Brazdeikis is smooth. The way he’s been able to not only adjust, but also at times downright dominate, is much farther along than even the most optimistic of Michigan fans had hoped for coming into his Freshman season. He was a top-50 recruit when he signed on for Michigan, but like I said, he’s looking more like a one-and-done type of prospect every game he’s played thus far. There was just about nobody who saw him leaving as a remote possibility, but his performances in the first half of the season have been magnificent. Senior Guard/Forward Charles Matthews had said before the season that the newcomers were going to be huge for the Wolverines this season, while not naming any player directly one must assume he was referring to Iggy. Preseason he wasn’t even on NBA draft radars, now after helping Michigan to an undefeated mark this late in the season he is in the top-30 prospects on most draft boards(and only climbing by the look of things). What he lacks in athleticism, he more than makes up for in basketball skills. He’s 6’7’ , with a solid build but he could certainly use more seasoning under coach B. The numbers have been there, and have been consistent all season.
16 points per game, 5.3 rebounds per game, and 1 steal/1 Assist per game is what Brazdeikis has been able to out forth this season, playing right around the 30 minute per game mark.
When Michigan originally pitched Brazdeikis on joining the team, it was for the 2017 recruiting class, not 2018. In the end, Brazdeikis decided to play an extra year of high school basketball, hoping to get his body more physically prepared for Big-Ten College Hoops. After watching the run his team went on last season, you have to think he may have been second guessing his decision to wait a season. The extra year seems to have paid major dividends for the Lithuanian born, Canadian youngster out of Ontario. Coming into the season, coach Beilein turned some head when the decision was made to start the freshman over the returning sophomore Isaiah Livers. That decision has proven to be a season changer. Livers is a great piece, don’t get that mistaken, but what Brazdeikis brings to the table is a guy that can go get his own buckets when the offense is breaking down. Losing Moe after his breakthrough season as a go to scorer left Michigan searching for that piece. Matthews is a leader, alongside the super spark plug lead guard Zavier Simpson, but there is no doubt who the go to scorer is for Michigan.
Same Five Each Time Out
15 games, same starting lineup for each contest. There is obviously time for something unforeseen to happen, but the consistency in the starting lineup and rotation has been a major reason for Michigan’s success thus far. This is not a ball club that is going to run ten deep in their rotation, they just do not contain the depth pieces necessary for in and out lineup changes. Rounding Brazdeikis minutes up 0.3 from 29.7 to 30.0 would mean Michigan has four starters playing 30 minutes or more per game. On most nights, Michigan gives around six-seven players meaningful minutes. To put it into context, here are the four other AP top-5 teams rotation situations:
• Duke Blue Devils:
• Four starters (Zion, Reddish, Jones, and Barrett) have started all 14 contests. Marques Bolden(9) and Javin DeLaurier(5) have moved in and out of the starting-5.
• Two players Average over 30 minutes per game(Barrett and Jones) eight players average double digit minutes per game(Jordan Goldwire averages just under, at 8.9 MPG)
• Tennessee Vols:
• Four Starters(Schofield, Bone, Alexander, Williams) have started all 14 contests. Jordan Bowden(5) and Yves Pons(9) have moved in and out of the starting-5.
• Three players average over 30 minutes per game(Schofield, Bone, and Williams), eight players average double digit minutes per game(Jalen Johnson averages just under, at 8.4 MPG)
• UVA Cavaliers:
• Three Starters(Guy, Jerome, and Hunter) have started all 14 contests. Salt(11), Diakite(8), Key(5), and Clark(4) have all been moved around the starting-5 and bench.
• Two players average over 30 minutes per game(Guy, and Jerome), seven players average double digit minutes per game. Jay Huff, and Marco Anthony are just under at 9.0 MPG, and 7.3 MPG respectively.
• Gonzaga Bulldogs:
• All five starters(Hachimura, Clarke, Norvell Jr, Perkins, and Kispert) have started all 16 contests.
• Three players average over 30 MPG(Hachimura, Norvell Jr, and Perkins), Kispert (28.8) and Clarke (27.5) are right there as well. Eight players average double digit minutes per game. Greg Foster (6.1MPG) is an oft used player.
The only other AP top-5 team to trot out the same starting five for every game so far has been Gonzaga. The downside as you can see from a pure numbers stand point, Michigan doesn’t use more than seven guys really, and six actually have good minutes. Every other team above has much more depth than Michigan. Beilein has been known to have players blossom late in the season, much like tournament hero Jordan Poole last season, so there is time for another player(possibly Brandon Johns?) to come along and add some depth to the squad. Having the consistency to be able to start the same five, night in and night out is massive for a team lacking options behind the first unit. It hasn’t been an issue so far, but during the big ten tournament it’s completely possible the Wolverines could be fatigued enough to slip up and drop a game.
Toughest Remaining Games
Okay, I know we slightly touched base on the possible troubles laying ahead for Michigan in their attempt to win back-to-back Big-10 Tournament Championships, but since that is an entirely different beast on it’s own, we will stick to contests remaining during the regular season. Lets just face the facts, it’s looking like a down season for the Big-10 conference in terms of possible NCAA At-Large Tournament bids. It is not going to be a seven or eight tourney bid season, so the Big-Ten schedule is certainly favorable for Michigan the rest of the way. That is not to say that there are not tough matchups ahead for the Wolverines, because there are definitely at least a couple tough stops left on the calendar.
They have away games against Indiana, a team they defeated comfortably last weekend, and against bitter rival(more so football, but still) Ohio State. Those games will definitely test the Wolverines, but ultimately their undefeated hopes rest on their home and home with in-state rivals Michigan State University.
After an early season letdown against Louisville, hell maybe considered a meltdown honestly, MSU has looked very much dominant since. They are both destined for top-5 finishes this season, and their two matchups could very well decide not only the Big-Ten race but also a spot on the number one seed line come March. Against MSU, the dynamic backcourt duo of Joshua Langford and Cassius Winston will prove to be the toughest defensive task they will face until at least the NCAA Tournament. Michigan has played flawlessly thus far for the most part, but it will be all for not if they are unable to at the very least split the pair of games against MSU. If Michigan is to navigate a full season unscathed, they must take care of business against Michigan State, no question about it. Circle both games, because they will truly have massive implications on the 2018-19 NCAA Mens Basketball season.
