The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/382426
in tight areas on the move and put the ball in the basket. "Ricky is showing the ability to re- ally give us a low post presence and a finisher around the basket. Left- handed and right-handed he finishes cleanly, which is a real gift and a strength of his. The challenge for him and Mark is to develop their defen- sive awareness and presence on the court. We are hedging so many ball screens, and they need to be our help man on baseline drives. That's where we're going to miss Jordan. "We'll continue to bring the young fellows up to speed through October and November." Senior big man Max Bielfeldt (6- 7) and freshman forward D.J. Wilson (6-9) will be included in those seek- ing playing time this fall and winter, and though both were injured and didn't play, they were also extremely engaged in what the team was doing on the court. All in all, there were no negatives, Beilein said — only positives for a young team with plenty of potential. "The number one thing is that we got extra days of practice, and we also got to play these four games," the head coach said. "Close to that in im- portance is the relationship building we were able to do on this trip. From player-to-player, player-to-coach and coach-to-player, that was really tre- mendous." The bonding was noticeable, Wal- ton said. "It's brought the team a lot closer together," he noted. "We have a lot of young guys that we've only seen for a couple months. Being able to room with them, talk with them and learn about their personal lives, it brings us closer together on the court. It makes for better continuity out on the floor. "Mostly, it built confidence. For the freshmen, being able to come out and play with us, to get a couple of games under their belt, gives us team chem- istry." And memories they'll never for- get. ❏ Projected Starting Five One thing that surprised Michigan junior point guard Spike Albrecht most about Michigan's August trip to Italy was just how much depth this team seemed to have. There are several in the mix to play, but this starting five seems likely: Derrick Walton Jr., Soph., PG: Walton averaged 7.9 points per game and shot 41 percent from three-point range a year ago. "I thought when Derrick got the mindset to attack, which he did the last two games, he got very comfortable," assistant coach Jeff Meyer said of the four-game Italian exhibition. "We become a much more potent team offensively when he's in attack mode. He did a really nice job of that, particularly the last two games." Caris LeVert, Jr., SG: This could be LeVert's last year in a Michigan uniform. The second-team All-Big Ten selection averaged 12.9 points in 34 minutes per game and shot 40.8 percent from long range last winter. "He's he first one in the gym, the last to leave and works his tail off," junior point