Comments on: Game 5: Norfolk State at Michigan Post Game http://www.umhoops.com/2008/11/26/game-5-norfolk-state-at-michigan-post-game/ Michigan Basketball News, Recruiting, and Analysis Fri, 24 Jun 2011 03:53:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Ky Fox http://www.umhoops.com/2008/11/26/game-5-norfolk-state-at-michigan-post-game/comment-page-1/#comment-8732 Ky Fox Fri, 28 Nov 2008 05:51:54 +0000 http://www.umhoops.com/?p=534#comment-8732 I think Ant just needs to round out his game a little bit more. He is indeed a threat from deep so if he is tightly guarded on a shot he needs to pump fake and either drive if its open or dribble in and dish it off. He should take shots when he is open and im sure JB has given him the green light to do so...but on the flip side it should be a little bit more controlled, and in saying that I think a lot of that has to come from Ant. He knows when he is feeling it or not...you just know...anyone who has played basketball at a organized level knows when they are in the zone, and when your not you should pass it off for one of your teammates or another way to get on track as a shooter is to take higher % shots...meaning driving in or getting some putbacks and going to the line...and thats what I think Ant needs to do to become even more of an asset to the squad. When does Ant ever really turn the ball over? the answer is not very much at all...he is a superb passer...he rebounds... he is only a sophomore for goodness sakes. He needs to continue getting better at his weaknesses and become a better judge of his own shot selection..meaning he needs to realize that after 2 or 3 miss fires in a row he should find other ways he can become a threat..he will get better, mark my words. I agree that he should come off the bench...he is a good guy to put in there because he is a threat, but there must be a reason that JB starts him...theres an old saying "dont fix it if it aint broken" and so far its been working...and JB should ride it until it seems its not. Its what we have to work with right now. Bottom line is we need a bit more athletic ability in that position. I think Ant just needs to round out his game a little bit more. He is indeed a threat from deep so if he is tightly guarded on a shot he needs to pump fake and either drive if its open or dribble in and dish it off. He should take shots when he is open and im sure JB has given him the green light to do so…but on the flip side it should be a little bit more controlled, and in saying that I think a lot of that has to come from Ant. He knows when he is feeling it or not…you just know…anyone who has played basketball at a organized level knows when they are in the zone, and when your not you should pass it off for one of your teammates or another way to get on track as a shooter is to take higher % shots…meaning driving in or getting some putbacks and going to the line…and thats what I think Ant needs to do to become even more of an asset to the squad. When does Ant ever really turn the ball over? the answer is not very much at all…he is a superb passer…he rebounds… he is only a sophomore for goodness sakes. He needs to continue getting better at his weaknesses and become a better judge of his own shot selection..meaning he needs to realize that after 2 or 3 miss fires in a row he should find other ways he can become a threat..he will get better, mark my words. I agree that he should come off the bench…he is a good guy to put in there because he is a threat, but there must be a reason that JB starts him…theres an old saying “dont fix it if it aint broken” and so far its been working…and JB should ride it until it seems its not. Its what we have to work with right now. Bottom line is we need a bit more athletic ability in that position.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.umhoops.com/2008/11/26/game-5-norfolk-state-at-michigan-post-game/comment-page-1/#comment-8731 Kevin Thu, 27 Nov 2008 22:01:28 +0000 http://www.umhoops.com/?p=534#comment-8731 Has anybody else noticed that Stu appears to be almost scared to finish near the hoop. A couple times at MSG and last night once or twice too. Hasn't really hurt us too bad (seems able to make the pass), but it seems like he should be finishing when he gets that close. Has anybody else noticed that Stu appears to be almost scared to finish near the hoop. A couple times at MSG and last night once or twice too. Hasn’t really hurt us too bad (seems able to make the pass), but it seems like he should be finishing when he gets that close.

]]> By: Giddings http://www.umhoops.com/2008/11/26/game-5-norfolk-state-at-michigan-post-game/comment-page-1/#comment-8730 Giddings Thu, 27 Nov 2008 17:13:24 +0000 http://www.umhoops.com/?p=534#comment-8730 Anthony was never expected to do much... seemed more like a last minute move by Tommy to simply fill a roster spot at the time. When he arrived in Fall '06 he must have weighed at least 270 or 280 lbs and Tommy had no idea what to do with him (he had a shooter's reputation in HS but Tommy didn't want to play him as a guard due to his weight and slowness). Since then, the kid has worked his butt off to lose more than 30 lbs, improve his agility, and become a better rebounder and passer. Not to mention he's one of the best students on the team. Last year Beilein's opinion was that Ant was the best catch-and-shoot guy we had... if you want to question Beilein's assessment of shooting go ahead. As for recruiting... I think JB stayed away from him at WV mainly because of his weight issues. There's just no way that Ant could have played in Beilein's system at his HS weight. And we're witnessing first-hand with Stu and Zack why it doesn't mean so much if they aren't offered by more "major" schools. We'll see... I think against better teams Ant will be a little more selective with his shooting. Obviously we can't have him taking and missing 50% of the team's shots, but I do think we need him in our front court rotation. With Peedi, Gibson, Shep, and Ant we will still be undersized but all of those guys are capable of scoring and rebounding (well, except for Zack maybe). Cronin is a backup plan in the worst case scenario of some injuries. Anthony was never expected to do much… seemed more like a last minute move by Tommy to simply fill a roster spot at the time. When he arrived in Fall ’06 he must have weighed at least 270 or 280 lbs and Tommy had no idea what to do with him (he had a shooter’s reputation in HS but Tommy didn’t want to play him as a guard due to his weight and slowness).

Since then, the kid has worked his butt off to lose more than 30 lbs, improve his agility, and become a better rebounder and passer. Not to mention he’s one of the best students on the team. Last year Beilein’s opinion was that Ant was the best catch-and-shoot guy we had… if you want to question Beilein’s assessment of shooting go ahead.

As for recruiting… I think JB stayed away from him at WV mainly because of his weight issues. There’s just no way that Ant could have played in Beilein’s system at his HS weight. And we’re witnessing first-hand with Stu and Zack why it doesn’t mean so much if they aren’t offered by more “major” schools.

We’ll see… I think against better teams Ant will be a little more selective with his shooting. Obviously we can’t have him taking and missing 50% of the team’s shots, but I do think we need him in our front court rotation. With Peedi, Gibson, Shep, and Ant we will still be undersized but all of those guys are capable of scoring and rebounding (well, except for Zack maybe). Cronin is a backup plan in the worst case scenario of some injuries.

]]> By: Voice of Reason http://www.umhoops.com/2008/11/26/game-5-norfolk-state-at-michigan-post-game/comment-page-1/#comment-8729 Voice of Reason Thu, 27 Nov 2008 16:10:46 +0000 http://www.umhoops.com/?p=534#comment-8729 Dylan: I realized how it read after I had posted it. That is not what I intended at all. Plus I live in a city where AI played and I fully know what he has done for his teams and the Olympics. He didn't do it all by himself...trust me, I've watched the team play every night. Plus as you know no 5' 10" guard can do it by themselves. I didn't mean to imply that "ANT" was a selfish player. I'm sure he is a great young man who has outstanding character, and a pleasure to coach and be around. I just don't think that he is a good enough player to be starting for a D-1 school. I believe there was a reason why he wasn't offered by another major school. I can understand the arguement of a player being a perfect fit for a system in spite of ratings but I just don't see it here. But I hope you're right and that he works out because he's currently starting for us. I do wish him well. Dylan: I realized how it read after I had posted it. That is not what I intended at all. Plus I live in a city where AI played and I fully know what he has done for his teams and the Olympics. He didn’t do it all by himself…trust me, I’ve watched the team play every night. Plus as you know no 5′ 10″ guard can do it by themselves.

I didn’t mean to imply that “ANT” was a selfish player. I’m sure he is a great young man who has outstanding character, and a pleasure to coach and be around. I just don’t think that he is a good enough player to be starting for a D-1 school. I believe there was a reason why he wasn’t offered by another major school.

I can understand the arguement of a player being a perfect fit for a system in spite of ratings but I just don’t see it here. But I hope you’re right and that he works out because he’s currently starting for us. I do wish him well.

]]> By: Dylan http://www.umhoops.com/2008/11/26/game-5-norfolk-state-at-michigan-post-game/comment-page-1/#comment-8728 Dylan Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:07:35 +0000 http://www.umhoops.com/?p=534#comment-8728 Voice of Reason: I think that's way too harsh. I don't think Ant is anything like AI. First AI is a great player and a leader and has taken teams far (NBA Finals by himself). Ant Wright is still young and I don't think you would find anyone on the team that says he is a selfish player. Beilein wants the kids taking open shots and thats what he does. Voice of Reason: I think that’s way too harsh. I don’t think Ant is anything like AI. First AI is a great player and a leader and has taken teams far (NBA Finals by himself).

Ant Wright is still young and I don’t think you would find anyone on the team that says he is a selfish player. Beilein wants the kids taking open shots and thats what he does.

]]> By: Voice of Reason http://www.umhoops.com/2008/11/26/game-5-norfolk-state-at-michigan-post-game/comment-page-1/#comment-8727 Voice of Reason Thu, 27 Nov 2008 05:26:44 +0000 http://www.umhoops.com/?p=534#comment-8727 IMO, Wright is just like AI (Allen Iverson), he will take 100 shots in order to get his 20 points, and the teams that Iverson is on usually never go very far for very long. He's a selfish player. I wouldn't bring Wright off of the bench, I would glue him to the bench. Wrights "best games" seems to have been against weak teams if we're talking Brown, Illinois (last year) and Penn State and now Norfolk State. You need to be able to shoot well when you have quality players in your face, and Wright can't seem to do that. Any gym rat will light it up in practice every now and then, and shine against weak competition. Keep it up and he will be the key factor in why Michigan will lose a close game to Northwestern or Iowa or some other dribble they face this year. I would go so far as to say, that if Beilein had his choice, he would not have even recruited Wright for his team. Wright should be playing for a MAC team or for a Norfolk State and not Michigan. IMO, Wright is just like AI (Allen Iverson), he will take 100 shots in order to get his 20 points, and the teams that Iverson is on usually never go very far for very long. He’s a selfish player. I wouldn’t bring Wright off of the bench, I would glue him to the bench. Wrights “best games” seems to have been against weak teams if we’re talking Brown, Illinois (last year) and Penn State and now Norfolk State.

You need to be able to shoot well when you have quality players in your face, and Wright can’t seem to do that. Any gym rat will light it up in practice every now and then, and shine against weak competition. Keep it up and he will be the key factor in why Michigan will lose a close game to Northwestern or Iowa or some other dribble they face this year.

I would go so far as to say, that if Beilein had his choice, he would not have even recruited Wright for his team. Wright should be playing for a MAC team or for a Norfolk State and not Michigan.

]]> By: Dylan http://www.umhoops.com/2008/11/26/game-5-norfolk-state-at-michigan-post-game/comment-page-1/#comment-8726 Dylan Thu, 27 Nov 2008 03:03:31 +0000 http://www.umhoops.com/?p=534#comment-8726 He must be doing something right in practice because Beilein and company keep drawing up plays for him to shoot it and keep starting him. It just seems like we have been waiting since last year for him to have a couple good shooting games in a row... He must be doing something right in practice because Beilein and company keep drawing up plays for him to shoot it and keep starting him. It just seems like we have been waiting since last year for him to have a couple good shooting games in a row…

]]> By: Giddings http://www.umhoops.com/2008/11/26/game-5-norfolk-state-at-michigan-post-game/comment-page-1/#comment-8725 Giddings Thu, 27 Nov 2008 02:24:40 +0000 http://www.umhoops.com/?p=534#comment-8725 Haha ok, it is fun to have a spirited discussion with actual stats to back up our arguments (thank you!) so I'll keep going. Here are some of the games I'm referring to where Ant "couldn't miss": (all from last year) 3-6 from 3-pt against Brown (also 8 rebounds) 5-8 from 3-pt at Illinois 3-5 from 3-pt against Penn St As for this year, 2-5 against Michigan Tech is at least solid, and even last night he went 2-6 which is not that bad. You won't really see any 2-2 or 3-3 or 4-5 nights for him because when he starts making threes he will keep shooting until he misses (which Coach B is fine with). His numbers in the BTT weren't great percentage-wise (both of those games were quite ugly offensively) but if you remember back to the Iowa game it was Ant who hit the looooooong three to break our 10-minute scoring drought and give us the momentum to finish the game. His career 3-point percentage is quite low (29%?) but I think part of that is him forcing shots when we were trailing by big numbers last year. Beilein ran lots of plays for him and there were several times where he shouldn't have pulled the trigger but had to based on the score and the fact that we weren't generating offense any other ways. He's not the best shooter on the team but I would still call him a "shooter" (streaky). Here's how I would rank the "shooters" this year: 1) Stu 2) Zack Novak / LLP 3) Ant / Kelvin 4) Peedi / Manny / CJ / Merritt 5) Zack Gibson 6) Shep 7) Cronin / Puls One more thing on Ant... I've seen him play in at least 3 practice scrimmages now, and his shooting is consistently one of the "buzz" items afterwards. At the "Garden Party" he must have gone 6-8 or so from 3-pt range. I know, I know... as AI would say, "We talkin bout PRACTICE?" but still it just shows that he is capable. Again, my opinion is that Ant should come off the bench as a spark, but deserves the amount of minutes he's been getting (20-25). Haha ok, it is fun to have a spirited discussion with actual stats to back up our arguments (thank you!) so I’ll keep going.

Here are some of the games I’m referring to where Ant “couldn’t miss”: (all from last year)
3-6 from 3-pt against Brown (also 8 rebounds)
5-8 from 3-pt at Illinois
3-5 from 3-pt against Penn St

As for this year, 2-5 against Michigan Tech is at least solid, and even last night he went 2-6 which is not that bad. You won’t really see any 2-2 or 3-3 or 4-5 nights for him because when he starts making threes he will keep shooting until he misses (which Coach B is fine with).

His numbers in the BTT weren’t great percentage-wise (both of those games were quite ugly offensively) but if you remember back to the Iowa game it was Ant who hit the looooooong three to break our 10-minute scoring drought and give us the momentum to finish the game.

His career 3-point percentage is quite low (29%?) but I think part of that is him forcing shots when we were trailing by big numbers last year. Beilein ran lots of plays for him and there were several times where he shouldn’t have pulled the trigger but had to based on the score and the fact that we weren’t generating offense any other ways.

He’s not the best shooter on the team but I would still call him a “shooter” (streaky). Here’s how I would rank the “shooters” this year:
1) Stu
2) Zack Novak / LLP
3) Ant / Kelvin
4) Peedi / Manny / CJ / Merritt
5) Zack Gibson
6) Shep
7) Cronin / Puls

One more thing on Ant… I’ve seen him play in at least 3 practice scrimmages now, and his shooting is consistently one of the “buzz” items afterwards. At the “Garden Party” he must have gone 6-8 or so from 3-pt range. I know, I know… as AI would say, “We talkin bout PRACTICE?” but still it just shows that he is capable.

Again, my opinion is that Ant should come off the bench as a spark, but deserves the amount of minutes he’s been getting (20-25).

]]> By: Kevin In GR http://www.umhoops.com/2008/11/26/game-5-norfolk-state-at-michigan-post-game/comment-page-1/#comment-8724 Kevin In GR Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:45:44 +0000 http://www.umhoops.com/?p=534#comment-8724 Link to today's Beilien interview on WTKA http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/basketball/index.ssf/2008/11/beilein_on_wtka_two_seniors_fi.html#more Link to today’s Beilien interview on WTKA

http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/basketball/index.ssf/2008/11/beilein_on_wtka_two_seniors_fi.html#more

]]> By: gpsimms http://www.umhoops.com/2008/11/26/game-5-norfolk-state-at-michigan-post-game/comment-page-1/#comment-8723 gpsimms Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:28:29 +0000 http://www.umhoops.com/?p=534#comment-8723 man, giddings you got me going: on top of all that above, even if he did have good streaks, streaky is not a starter. He goes 0-5 to start against duke and that translates to a L. We just lose to good team. We beat Norfolk because they're not good. But if ant takes 5 of our first 10 shots, and misses all of them, we will lose to a good team. We can't give him that many looks to start a game. If he can't stop shooting that much, then he needs to be benched. man, giddings you got me going: on top of all that above, even if he did have good streaks, streaky is not a starter. He goes 0-5 to start against duke and that translates to a L. We just lose to good team. We beat Norfolk because they’re not good. But if ant takes 5 of our first 10 shots, and misses all of them, we will lose to a good team. We can’t give him that many looks to start a game. If he can’t stop shooting that much, then he needs to be benched.

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