Five takeaways from Michigan Media Day

Much was talked about during Media Day as Michigan prepares for its 2012-13 basketball season. Michigan coach John Beilein got the day started with a press conference before players were made available in the Player Development Center. Here are five takeaways from the unofficial start of Michigan’s season.

Defense toughest basketball transition for freshmen

The five freshmen getting ready to start their first season with Michigan make up the most heralded classes in the program’s recent history. According to the upperclassmen, they have fit in well on the court and are learning quickly through open gyms and the few practices the team has held this fall.

However, both Nik Stauskas and Mitch McGary highlighted one area of the college game that has been surprisingly tough to adjust to: defense.

When asked which part of the transition on the court has been hardest to make, McGary’s answer was immediate.

“Just defense. A lot of defense,” McGary said. “Prep school was just up-and-down, but here it’s a whole different story.”

The upperclassmen have been working with McGary to make sure he knows where he needs to be in various defensive sets. Many Michigan fans are as excited about what the 6-11 freshman will contribute on that end of the floor as what he can contribute offensively.

Stauskas said defense is his main focus of improvement leading up to the offseason.

“Just defensively, getting stronger and faster. I think that’s something coach Beilein preaches a lot is good team defense,” Stauskas said. “So that’s something I definitely need to work on.”

For what it’s worth, Michigan assistant Lavall Jordan said he thought all of the freshmen were coming along defensively.

“I think they’re doing great. They’re coachable, they’ve got great attitudes and they want to be good,” Jordan said. “Coach Beilein has emphasized the defensive end of the floor, so in the fall it’s been a lot of defensive techniques and concepts.”