41-38 Creighton at the half.
The first half seemed like it would never end. Michigan players looked exhausted. Michigan looks like they have no competitive advantage.
First, the criticisms that were bound to come post-Beilein: sloppy passing; poor spacing; bad strategy, playcalling, and clock utilization.
Obviously, they are trying to go faster.
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I have a theory. Why are Michigan fans so critical? Why are others, e.g., some Michigan State fans, so sick?
Why are people on forums like mgoblog.com 24/7?
The answer is that something is missing in their lives. They think being a Michigan insider or know it all is the answer.
Today I was in a bit of a bad mood and decided to write about Juwan's new role. It is also the first game against a real opponent and the first one I have seen this season.
"You cannot relax. You cannot relax on defense."
Juwan in the huddle.
Second reactions: Livers is a scoring machine. Castleton is fairly dorky; he is not good in the post--he gets stuffed a lot--also. DDJ plays because somebody has to. We had heard that Eli Brooks has emerged and that is true. Simpson made a 3 earlier but he looks like the same right-hand driving, stoppable point guard.
Michigan players are committing a lot of sloppy, one-handed passes. Some are resulting in turnovers. Juwan is letting them play fast.
There is always news in what and who is not there. I had heard Nunez was starting. I have watched since about 10-8. If he is playing he is terrible/nonexistent. If he is not playing... We have not seen Austin Davis either. Nor Cole Bajema.
This is a really thin team. Even with Franz.
So now that I have found it, not a lot sticks out. I think I saw Nunez on the bench. I don't know.
57.8 remaining. Michigan has pulled away by 9. How?
Creighton? They are in the Big East via Nebraska. Wayne State College, where Greg McDermott formerly coached, is also in Nebraska.
I still couldn't find Nunez on the bench. I think that was the ballboy.
CONCLUSIONS
If this was a very good team Simpson would play less. That is a bold statement that is probably ignorant too. He is an indispensable part of the team with his tenacity and on-ball defense. He is often the reason they win against poor and average teams. We have seen before that he is vulnerable against the best teams.
Will Michigan lose more games this year because more teams look best? I think so.
Last year Jon Teske took a very big step up. This year Howard is asking even more from him. It is a good thing. He is capable. He is expected to provide post play and be more athletic, with more stamina, on the break. He is their best player.
Isaiah Livers is smart, talented, and versatile. Correction: he can be a scoring machine.
Castleton needs some work. Does he have a jumping problem? For a guy his size he seems to get blocked a lot. He is exclusively a post player, and not a very good at that.
David DeJulius is a fast, small player.
Eli Brooks is a D1 and Big Ten player also. As is Brandon Johns.
Juwan after the game sounded like a real coach rather than just a smiling figurehead. Michigan did play aggressive, athletic defense and that was probably the difference in the game. Creighton was missing their starting center and against Michigan and was very small; they did not look like an especially tough opponent, inside, outside, or driving to me.
I think it is fair to say that is what Coach Howard wants: athletic and aggressive. He is going to need some transfers or something.
RECRUITING
As I wrote, this is a dump on Juwan day. It remains to be seen if Isaiah Todd will sign during the early period.
I think we all knew the 5-star recruiting thing was not going to work at Michigan. It just is not a deep team, and without Teske and Simpson it is not going to be a good team either.
This does not inspire confidence.
This is my last gripe. I am not going to like it if Juwan's son is on the team. Even if he is good, it is a lot like claiming your son or daughter is a water polo player or rower when they are not. Nepotism is the opposite of diversity. It is depriving someone else and Juwan is going to have to find people who are deserving. More importantly, it is about growing up and finding your own way like every other player and student. That goes for Josh and Juwan.
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