The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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2011-12 basketball preview Analyzing Michigan Tim McCormick Weighs In On The 2011-12 Wolverines C By John Borton would be a positive. I still think they On how much not having Darius Morollege basketball analyst Tim have a ways to go. I need to see it. I ris hurts this team: ���I don���t know. I McCormick likes what he need to see them beat Ohio State and haven���t seen Trey Burke in the maize sees out of Michigan basketWisconsin and Michigan State. I need and blue yet. He is the most imporball for the coming year. At to see them go and beat those teams tant player on this Michigan team. the same time, he knows head coach on a consistent basis before I���m able ���There are talented players at each John Beilein will be dealing with to say, yeah, they���re better than a different challenge than he has them. in perhaps any other season he���s ���In the past, John Beilein has been in Ann Arbor. McCormick had the luxury of seven or eight shared his thoughts exclusively players on his team. Minutes are with The Wolverine ��� never a problem. Chemistry is reOn playing with expectations this ally good. season, as opposed to last year: ���It���s ���The biggest challenge coaches a completely different challenge. face is when they have a full It���s much more difficult when complement of 13 good playpeople are more excited to play ers. That���s what he has now. against you. Last year, Michigan That���s a major concern, in terms was somewhat of an afterthought of minutes. When guys start when they played the better to look at the stat sheet at the teams in the conference. They end of the game and say, ���I���m had some really, really impresnot getting as much opportusive games, to almost beat Duke, nity as I had last year,��� or ���That Ohio State and Kansas, and to guy has passed me in the rotabeat Michigan State twice. tion,��� those are really important ���I don���t think those teams rethings to watch early.��� ally respected and took Michigan On seniors Stu Douglass and Zack as seriously as they should have. Novak, and the chance for a third That sneaking up on the oppoNCAA Tournament in four years: nent will not happen this year. ���They provide very good leaderBut it���s a good problem to have, ship. Those are good programto have expectations and expect Senior guard Zack Novak enters his final season at building players. John Beilein to get to the NCAA Tournament.��� Michigan with career averages of 7.7 points and 4.6 knew what he was looking for, On how crucial the Maui Invita- rebounds in 32.1 minutes on the floor per game. kjeldsen high-character guys. photo by per tional games are early on: ���It���s a ���I remember a conversation I combination. You need to win, behad with Coach Beilein when he took of the other spots, and there is good cause you are going to be measured over the program. He asked for some depth. He does something that will four months from now based on how thoughts. I said, ���The biggest chalfree everybody else up. you do today. When your name is up lenge you���re going to face is that you ���Much of Tim Hardaway���s success on the board and the selection comdon���t have anybody in your program last year was based on all of the good mittee is picking apart your pros and to recruit.��� work that Darius Morris did, by getcons, you need victories to be able to ���Parents and recruits come into ting him shots and facilitating the ofsolidify a position. town, and they want to spend time fense. If Trey Burke is that kind of ���That being said, it���s more imwith good, high-quality, high-charpoint guard, then Tim Hardaway still portant to build cohesiveness and acter guys that are fun and that you continues to flourish. If Trey Burke is get a strong rotation and to build want to compete with. He didn���t a really good point guard, Stu Dougconfidence, so you can have a good have any of that. He brought in Zack lass doesn���t have to play with the ball enough season that you warrant and Stu, and they did a good job of in his hands. He can roam the perimNCAA consideration. You have to recruiting and leading the program. eter and do the things he���s so good at. win, but you also have to start play���From what I can tell, he has a ���I expect him to be a good picking well and develop good habits. whole roster of guys that can recruit and-roll player, and that���s where Jor���I would expect that to be a top now ��� guys that can speak, get it dan Morgan comes into the picture. priority for Coach Beilein, more than done in the classroom, that can meet Again, Trey Burke is the most imporanything else ��� solidify positions parents and represent the university. tant player on this team.��� and roles now, so you build momenThat���s the No. 1 program starter that On projecting a U-M finish in the Big tum.��� you need.��� ��� Ten: ���Upper half. I���d say four or five 64��� the wolverine��� ������ November 2011