UM Hoops.com

David Merritt and John Beilein at the IMU Launch Party

David Merritt the basketball player is nothing new. He was a co-captain last year who started 14 games and was an instrumental part of Michigan’s first trip back to the NCAA tournament since 1998. Beyond David Merritt the basketball player there is David Merritt the entrepreneur. Merritt started his own apparel company this summer – IMU, The Inside Out. Because David graciously agreed to do a quick interview, I’ll leave the explaining to him.

Dylan: For those who haven’t been paying attention… tell us about IMU…
David Merritt: IMU is you Dylan. It’s me.  IMU is a people brand focused on spreading happiness while appreciating the people and experiences that make us who we are.  The IMU Brand wants to create the feelings associated with hearing the words “I Miss You,” making people feel happy, special, and valued. We plan on doing that through our clothing, our customer service, and our innovative community service component.

Michigan assistant Jeff Meyer and Zack Gibson at IMU launch party

Dylan: How did the launch party go last week?
DM: The Bringing The Inside Out Launch Party went well. Real Well. We are forever grateful to everyone that came out and supported IMU’s takeoff  We sold a lot of shirts and got a lot of good feedback so I was pleased.

Where can people find IMU products? Online? In stores?
DM: People can find IMU Products exclusively through our website, www.imutheinsideout.com.  All you have to do is click on the IMU Collection when you get there, and voila, IMU is yours! Shipping, unfortunately, will not begin until September 21st because we are working extremely hard on creating a wonderful packaging experience for our customers.  But trust me my friend, the wait will be well worth it!

Dylan: Now that the company has launched, what’s the next step for IMU?
DM: The next step for IMU is to start our community service projects and continue to get the word out about The IMU Brand. Our first service event is this Saturday from 10 AM to 12 PM. IMU is partnering with Community Action Network, a network of four community centers providing a variety of services to under-resourced and low-income communities in Ann Arbor. On Saturday, we will be providing services such as neighborhood cleanup, painting, and administrative tasks in our first step to improve communities across the globe. People can email us at imu@imutheinsideout.com if they’re interested in helping out.

Dylan: Let’s talk hoops for a minute… If you had to pick just one, what was the highlight of your career at U-M?
DM: Highlight of my career. That’s an easy one. Selection Sunday, hearing our name called in the final bracket as a 10 seed. One of the best feelings I’ve ever had in my life.

Dylan: One of the biggest questions facing next year’s team is who plays the point guard spot that you and CJ manned last year. If you could give one word of advice to next year’s starter what would it be?
DM: The guys that are playing that position this year will be just fine. But if I was giving advice to them, I would tell them how important it is to be confident and tenacious at the point guard position.  It means so much to the other players when the point guard knows what he is doing, takes control, and believes in himself and the other guys.

Dylan: Laval, Darius, and Stu’s names have been thrown around as potential replacements, how do you see their games translating to the point in Beilein’s offense?
DM: It should be interesting to see who gets the nod. (smiles) I’m really excited to see how it plays out. I don’t think people realize how skilled Stu is. He can handle it, shoot, and has some great vision.  Laval is extremely athletic and can shoot it and get inside. I also like what I’ve been able to see from Darius. I love his size and strength. He’s gonna be a good one.  It’s tough because I’m friends with all of them, so I’ll just let it play out (laughs).

Dylan: Thanks to David for taking the time to do this interview and make sure you check out IMU today.

Darius Morris & Open Gym Reports

MGoBlue.com continues their series of profiles on the incoming class with a look at Darius Morris. Darius talks about the transition from the west-coast, his relationship with Jordan Morgan and his family, as well as his faith. Darius also reiterates his feelings for Beilein and the Michigan program:

“I knew in my heart that Coach Beilein could turn it around and he did. He told me that he was very confident and that if I committed, I could contribute to the turnaround as well. I just have faith in him and his philosophy in basketball, the way he teaches the game,” Morris said of the third-year coach.

Judging by his quotes, it sounds like he’s adjusting quite well. He doesn’t appear to be having much trouble on the court either. A respected message board poster at TheWolverine, socalgoblue, posted a nice recap of the open gym action that he recently got a chance to view. Darius Morris is apparently playing very well with his new teammates:

Darius Morris was also a guy that really stood out. At this point, for me, the only question I have on Darius is how quickly D-Mo will pick up the offense. Otherwise, D-Mo is definitely a guy that will bring a lot to the table. He is fearless attacking the basket and understands how to find his teammates. His shot is still a bit funky, but its not horrible. But Darius is a high IQ bball player and I think he understands what he needs to do to help this team. Given that his such a smart kid, I think the learning curve should be pretty smooth.

Check out the full post for thoughts on Cronin, Vogrich, DeShawn, Manny, and Stu. The report on Stu are very encouraging, especially because he a guy who might be in for one of the biggest transitions this year.

Most impressive player was Stu…his upper body is really developing. He is not a hulk by any stretch, but his shoulders are broadening and seems much stronger. No one works harder in the open gyms. Stu really looks good coming off of screens and shooting or talking the ball off the bounce. I’m not sure Stu will ever be a guy that will get to the rim regularly, but he definitely has the ability to get in the key and create offense for himself or others. He was uber aggressive off the dribble and looked really comfortable in this role. Very encouraging.

As always, open gym reports should be taken with a grain of salt. But at the very least, they are something to get us through the summer.

Casey Prather

Fresh off the news from Jerry Meyer that Prather is planning a September visit to Ann Arbor, the Tennessee native has cut his list to seven schools.

The final seven include: Kentucky, Florida, Memphis, Michigan, North Carolina, Clemson and Vanderbilt. At this point North Carolina and Kentucky have not offered.

The cut to seven is interesting because a recruit can only take 5 official visits. The next step will be figuring out which schools to visit which will likely result in another cut. As long as Michigan gets a visit, I really think they have a shot in this recruitment. A big time offer like North Carolina would definitely hurt but the Michigan staff has put in a lot of hard work into this recruitment.

Spencer Turner

Spencer Turner is arguably the best shooter in the state of Indiana class of 2011. The 6-foot-3 shooting guard was lights out for long stretches this summer and high major programs are taking notice. Michael Johnston from the Louisville Examiner caught up with Turner for an interview.

Turner mentions that IPFW has offered and Wisconsin, Ohio State, Illinois, Michigan, Purdue, and Minnesota have been keeping his phones busy. He adds that he doesn’t have a favorite at the time and is just enjoying the process.

Turner also has kind words for John Beilein, calling his Elite camp one of the best he attended and complimenting his offense:

I liked it. He has two shooters in there, so I feel like that fits me pretty well. Beilein is a great guy. He really knows the game. I sat down and talked with him for abut an hour and he really knows the game. I like his style and I feel it fits me well.

The 2011 class will be very interesting because there are a very limited number of scholarships to give (Michigan has 3 more to give between the 2010 & 2011 classes). With top ranked recruits like Carlton Brundidge, Brandan Kearney, Patrick Lucas-Perry, Percy Gibson, and Amir Williams giving Michigan very serious looks it puts the staff in a bind with a guy like Turner.

But we know how much John Beilein loves shooters and Turner appears to be the best shooter that Michigan is recruiting in the class of 2011.

Dave Merritt

I briefly mentioned Dave Merritt’s upcoming apparel company earlier this summer and it appears to be progressing nicely. AnnArbor.com posted an update about Merritt and his plans over the coming months.

The official company announcement is due on August 12th and the launch is scheduled for sometime in September. Make sure you follow Dave on twitter (@davidmerritt15) and check out his latest YouTube short.

Evan Smotrycz Heads to the Bronx

Evan Smotrycz can play. Every time that Evan Smotrycz ends up at a premiere AAU event, he performs. Smotrycz took his talents to the Rumble in the Bronx over the weekend and NYCHoops.net was on hand:

The 6’9 point forward shoots the ball surprisingly well from long range for his size. He also displayed solid defense, an ability to attack the hoop and good passing skills. His size and versatility make him a threat at all times.

NYC Hoops calls him a point forward and even describes him as a back court player in the article. Smotrycz clearly isn’t going to be playing the guard spot in Beilein’s offense but his combination of size, skill, and shooting ability continues to paint him as a perfect fit in John Beilein’s offense.

This summer’s Smotrycz exhibition will continue over the next month when Evan heads to the NBA PA camp (June 17-21) as well as the Vince Carter Skills Academy in Orlando featuring the top 20 wing players in the country (June 23-26) and the LeBron James Skills Academy featuring the top 80 prospects in the country (July 5-7).

Summer Camps

We are quickly approaching camp week in Ann Arbor. Beilein’s camps have been a huge success and welcome change from the previous regime but a recent article about Minnesota’s lack of an “elite camp” raises some issues regarding hosting an “elite camp”.

The article mentions that there are no rules against inviting prospects to camp, but it is prohibited to host invitation only events. Michigan, Wisconsin, and Penn State are the only schools in the Big Ten that are hosting elite camps this year.

As chairman of the NCAA ethics committee, it is only natural that Beilein weighs in on the issue:

“We want to clear up what is the right way to deal with those issues,” Beilein said in a NCAA news article. “People can see how to exactly conduct their camps. They can develop the game in youth basketball without getting into the shadowy areas of recruiting.”

The article also sheds light on several other issues including staffing, paying high school or AAU coaches to speak at camps, as well as recent rule changes regarding middle school prospects.

The value of these elite camps cannot be understated and it will be interesting to see what, if any, changes are made to the rules governing summer camps.

Dorian Dawkins

The news out of East Lansing this weekend can be described as nothing less than tragic and heart breaking. 14-year-old Dorian Dawkins, son of Saginaw HS head coach Lou Dawkins, died after collapsing during a basketball game at the Izzo Shootout.

It is safe to say that the entire state of Michigan basketball community will have Dorian and the entire Dawkins family in their thoughts and prayers. I think Izzo hits the nail on the head with his comments:

“As a coach, and even more so, as a parent, I grieve, pray, and suffer with the Dawkins family and the many people in Saginaw and beyond who mourn the passing of a wonderful young man, Dorian Dawkins,” Izzo said in the release. “This tragedy calls us to come together to support Lou, Tish, and their family, and to celebrate the life of a beloved son, brother, and teammate.

“Athletic competition can sometimes divide people, and we in the arena of top-level athletics face constant challenges to focusing on the right priorities in life. The hours I spent last night with the Dawkins family have reminded me in a dramatic way that, like in coaching, the ‘basics’ are ultimately what it’s all about.”

David Merritt After Basketball

David Merritt has been busy this summer while attempting to get his own apparel company off the ground. Merritt hasn’t released many details yet (not even the name) but he has released a YouTube video.

If you want to keep up with the project, I suggest following Dave on twitter.

Other Notes

• Trey Zeigler and his dad made the trip to East Lansing on Friday for an unofficial visit.
• Brandan Kearney and Team USA arrived in Argentina today, they open play on Wednesday at 5 PM ET.
• Patrick Lucas-Perry ($) and Devin Oliver ($) both went head-to-head with Keith Appling at the Izzo Shootout.
• Jim Calhoun was hospitalized when he c0llapsed after a 50 mile bike race. He finished the race despite falling 12 miles into the race and breaking 5 ribs. You can say what you want about Calhoun’s recruiting or attitude but he certainly has resolve.
• USC’s basketball program continues to fall apart. Lamont Jones, Derrick Williams, and Noel Johnson have all been released from their LOIs. Solomon Hill and Renardo Sidney both reneged on their verbal commitments and DeMar DeRozan, Daniel Hackett, Taj Gibson, and Marcus Johnson all put their names in the NBA draft. My question is, with NCAA sanctions looming, what sane person will take the job at USC?

As a casual Pistons fan, it has been painful to watch the franchise spiral from a model of chemistry and hard work to a team that doesn’t even look interested in the playoffs. I was reading a post by Matt Watson over at Detroit Bad Boys that hit the nail on the head in regards to the Pistons. There just isn’t anyone on the Pistons that you would call a leader.

What’s even more frustrating than the lack of on-court production is the apparent lack of fire. For all the talk about how the Celtics would have been a better matchup, Kevin Garnett actually seems to instill more fire and confidence in his teammates than any of Detroit’s starters — and he’s yet to even don a uniform.

The scary part for me is wondering how this will apply to next year’s Michigan team. Dave Merritt’s pre-game speeches have been well documented and CJ Lee’s hustle and grit arguably saved the season. Both Merritt and Lee had been through thick and thin and were mature enough to lead this team. Their styles complemented each other perfectly and their leadership warranted their combined 30 minutes per game.

For those of you that want proof in the difference that CJ Lee made. Michigan’s efficiency margin after CJ Lee’s first start at point guard took a pretty noticeable jump. There was also a noticeable jump in eFG%, both the offensive and defensive numbers improved by over 6%.

                                      Opp.
                      Pace    PPP     PPP      EM
With CJ Lee           60.1    1.05    1.02   +0.03
Without CJ Lee (Conf) 61.2    0.99    1.06   -0.07

Next year there is no pair of fifth year seniors and it is a mystery who will step up and lead this team. Common wisdom would point toward DeShawn Sims or Manny Harris. DeShawn is a senior and the second leading returning scorer on the team. Manny is unquestionably the most complete and best player on the team. But at second glance it’s tough to imagine either Harris or Sims taking on a similar role to Lee or Merritt. After all, Sims admits to having mental lapses and Harris was not without his own issues last year.

Now I’m not saying these two don’t have it in them. Go back and watch the Purdue game again. Manny was vocal and passionate, he pushed Sims and Sims responded. There are other instances of the two players putting the team on their back but that was the best performance from a leadership standpoint that I have seen from Manny. The duo has to take the next step. Harris cannot afford performances like his games at Penn State and Iowa. Likewise Sims needs to avoid drifting and dozing off against teams like Clemson or Ohio State.

Sims and Harris are the assumed candidates but the leader of a team doesn’t always have to come from the top. Looking up the roster for next year, I’m not particularly sold on anyone else. Zack Novak is probably the most competitive kid on the team but he’s also only a sophomore. Zack Gibson will be a redshirt senior next year but his play has been underwhelming over the last two years. Stu Douglass provides a bit of moxie with the ball in his hand but again he is young and not very vocal. Anthony Wright has experience but I think he falls closer to an easy-going guy than a motivator or leader.

I am not trying to say that Michigan is destined to a Piston-esque season next year. In fact, I’m quite confident that this team will improve by leaps and bounds next year. There will definitely be a transition period during the first month or so of the season. The team returns nearly everyone statistically but removing the leadership from a team is akin to pulling the wrong block in Jenga.

The encouraging part to me is that this happens all the time in college basketball. Michigan State will go through the same thing with the loss of Travis Walton and that is just one of many schools that will experience a similar situation. In college basketball more than the professional game, players take on the identity of their coach. These coaches’ ability to create leaders is what separates the pretenders from the contenders and is essentially what differentiated this season from the last decade. I am confident that Beilein understands this because one of the dimensions he stresses the most is team chemistry.

After a rough first 9 minutes, Michigan regrouped and took care of business. This one was a tale of two halves, Eastern got out to an early 18-11 lead and Manny Harris went to the bench with 2 fouls when the Michigan “role players” stepped up. Everyone is calling for David Merrit and CJ Lee’s minutes to go to Laval Lucas-Perry but they at least gave Beilein something to think about today.

A couple of notes about the teams performance in general. The turnover percentage was phenomenal, Michigan turned it over on only 7.1% (5 out of 70) of their possessions and had 24 assists. Michigan also shot the ball very well, 52.2% (48.5% 3pt) for an eFG% of 64.2%. This is starting to look a lot more like patented “Beilein ball”, hold onto the ball and make 16 threes (school record!).

The only glaring flaw was the poor rebounding (also typical of Beilein ball). Eastern Michigan rebounded 37.2% of their missed shots and Michigan didn’t really get a body on anyone to box out all night. Jerry Dunn actually went with man to man almost exclusively in the 2nd half and scrapped the 1-3-1. I would assume this had to do with Eastern getting some easy looks coupled with the poor rebounding and going with something he’s more comfortable with.

Player Bullets:

• Dave Merritt: Dave had a big first half and really stepped up when Michigan was down early. In the first half he made both of his three point attempts and also had 3 rebounds. Merritt finished the game with 8 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and a steal.
• CJ Lee: CJ and Dave showed exactly why they are chosen as captains. CJ also hit a pair of three pointers in the first half when Manny went to the bench and Michigan was down. CJ isn’t the best shooter but those were just huge shots and he was ready when he was called on.
• Manny Harris: Manny decided to put on a clinic in the second half. Manny was held to 2 points (and 3 assists) in 8 minutes in the first half after picking up his 2nd foul. In the second half he decided to show off his three point shooting, including a stretch where he hit two threes in a row and scored 11 straight Michigan points. Manny finished the game with 22 points in 23 minutes on 8-16 (4-7 3pt) shooting, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 TO.
• Jevohn Shepherd: Shepherd is another guy who had a huge first half. In the first half Shep was 6-7 for 13 points. He didn’t get going in the second half but he wasn’t afraid to make plays in the first. Shep’s improvement is clear and he has established himself as the starting 4 on this team. Overall it just seems like the game has slowed down for Jevohn, as someone that has been a fan since he was a recruit I’m glad to see him playing well.
• Kelvin Grady: Yet another guard who had a huge first half. Kelvin was letting them rain from long range with 3 three pointers in the first half. Kelvin added a layup in the second and finished with 11 points on 4-5 (3-4) shooting and had 3 assists and no turnovers. He looks far more comfortable and confident on the court and that’s going to pay dividends down the road.
• DeShawn Sims: DeShawn looked to be on cruise control today. He scored 18 points but was only 7-17 (1-5 3pt) and really seemed to be settling for decent shots instead of getting inside.
• Zack Gibson: Scored some points in garbage time but is really struggling with his confidence. Michigan is going to need him this year so hopefully he can get it together.
• Eric Puls: He’s got the Beilein stroke! Great to see him get in there and make a three late.
• Ben Cronin: Cronin not getting in the game pretty much seals his fate as a redshirt. I noticed Pat Beilein talking to Ben for a while during the last time out and it looked like he was explaining the situation to him. I also got an email that Beilein mentioned Cronin would redshirt at an alumni function before the Maryland game.
• Others: Quiet day for the freshman, it was good to see Stu make a three but Novak never really got going. Anthony Wright didn’t get many minutes but didn’t force things either.

Overall Michigan took care of business and got the easy win. It was a little sloppy early but I think not having Beilein on the bench could be part of that. Hard to complain about a 31 point win no matter who it’s against. Hopefully Beilein can rest up and is ready to go next Saturday’s game at the Palace which should be the debut of Laval Lucas-Perry.