The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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2012-13 BASKETBALL PREVIEW something we will work toward. It's very similar to Jordan Morgan when he first arrived in the fact that when those guys get tired, that's when you can see them running around like they have a piano on their back." He's got a knack on the offensive glass, however, and a nice touch around the rim with improving range. He's also better than given credit for as a passer. "He has shown a really keen abil- ity, especially in the middle third of the floor, to pass the basketball," Al- exander said. "He has the ability to attack out of the high post and make other players better. He's picking up the offense well, though shooting is an area for growth. His passing and screening ability is at a high level, as well as the rebounding." They entered the last week of Octo- ber prepared to try him out at center, too, hopeful he could grasp at least some of the concepts of another po- sition. Finally, Robinson III isn't going to be U-M's full-time four — he's at his best on the wing, and his talents will be used accordingly — but he's more than capable of filling that role when called upon. Alexander also used Beilein's NBA line in describing how they hoped to use the explosive freshman this season. "We want to be able to play him as Robinson since the summer, primar- ily on post moves. "A kid his size, 6-6 220, he has the ability to post guards," he said. "Now he's learning the geometry of the game, being able to create an- gles in those scenarios. Scoring over people is something we've worked diligently on in the preseason along with coach [Jeff] Meyer." a three, slide him over when teams go to small-ball scenarios," he said. "You see it quite a bit whether we talk about Indiana doing it in our league, Northwestern being able to do it … even Ohio State has done it from time to time with Deshaun Thomas. "We'll use Glenn as a multi-faceted player, but the great majority of his time has been at the three." Alexander has worked plenty with It didn't take long for the Michigan student body to notice incom- ing freshman big man Mitch McGary. At 6-10, 250 pounds, the power forward/center stands out in a crowd, and the questions came fast and furious when students saw him on campus. The attention has been great for one reason only, McGary said — it shows that U-M is a basketball school after all. He's worked hard in the early going to prove he belongs, understanding nothing will be handed to him and ready to earn his minutes. The transition has been tougher than he expected, he acknowledged at the start of fall practice. "School-wise it's a lot harder, tougher too, but especially defense … there's a lot of defense. Prep school was up and down, but here it's a totally different story. Veteran walk-on Josh Bartelstein has played the veteran role in taking " he said. "Basketball has been a lot " McGary under his wing off and on court, continuing a friendship that started during the recruiting process. On the court, veterans Jordan Morgan and Jon Horford have shown McGary the ropes on both ends. Though surrounded by talent, McGary anticipates getting his share of looks in the offense. "In this system, the four man and five man touch the ball a lot, "That's always going to help just being able to be part of the system." It helps, too, that there are several other familiar faces on the roster. " he said. McGary and fellow frosh Glenn Robinson III are good friends, having played together during AAU ball. Redshirt freshman big man Max Bielfeldt and true freshman point guard Spike Albrecht also spent time with the SYF Players AAU program, creating a natural chemistry on the floor when they're all together. There will be no cliques, however, McGary insisted. Championships are the goal for a team the coaches ranked No. 5 in the preseason, but comparisons to the Fab Five stop at the number. "We're five freshmen coming in and trying to make a great program even better," McGary said. second. "Teammates. Asked what the quintet would like to be called, he paused for only a " — Chris Balas Freshman big man Mitch McGary was a Parade All- American, and he averaged 12.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 blocked shots per game for a Wolfeboro (N.H.) Brewster Academy team that finished 33-1 and ranked No. 1 nationally. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN NOVEMBER 2012 THE WOLVERINE 61 One thing is certain — the bench will almost assuredly be longer this year given the talent level. Nobody — not even the coaching staff — is certain who will be playing where, but they do know they have players. "The six or seven we've seen over the past couple seasons, it could eas- ily progress to as deep as nine de- pending on circumstances, maybe even 10 players," Alexander said. "We don't know which way we'll go yet, but there's potential to track that way." u Freshman Big Man Not Interested In Being The Big Man On Campus