...what each team was missing and would be a continued concern for the upcoming season, through their offseason actions.
The QB concerns were probably kept quiet and in-house as much as they could be, but it was obvious that there would be issues when Jack Tuttle was asked by Coach Moore to "come out of retirement" (he was supposed to take on some kind of coaching role) after surgery to "try to play again".
Many saw this as a huge red flag. I was hoping at the time it was for depth and experience, but that theory went down the toilet once the season started. The QB room was devoid of starter-level talent.
Mea Culp, I'll admit that I was wrong to think of Tuttle's announced return as a player as a good sign, but instead was the reality of a bad QB room, as an injured Tuttle was probably the only hope of the coaches.
Tuttle's return also makes it clear that Jadyn Davis was not even seen as a possibility to develop before at least one full offseason of coaching. This was another idea I bucked, and I'll admit, I was wrong about at the time.
As for Coach May, his "mad scientist" way of putting together a team was fascinating to watch; Though I did wonder aloud and post on this board the question of "why was Michigan still aggressively recruiting Point and Combo G's after already having 3 true freshman PGs, Donaldson, Jones, as well as Gs like Burnett and Gayle, who can handle the rock in a pinch.
But after watching the system in action, closely, I truly see how this offense has a need for two true veteran CG/PGs to handle the ball at all times, as well as make timely shots.
I remember Michigan and Coach May still seemed to be aggressively recruiting Aidan Mahaney and Aden Holloway, even after commitments from Trey, Roddy, and Nimari announcing his return.
Today, even though Mahany isn't playing well for UConn, I can see exactly why his profile was a fit for this offense. Holloway, however looks like exactly what we could've used: 10.8 PPG in 20 minutes off the bench, 47% FG, 40 % #PT, 81% FT, 1.8 APG. Take a handful of minutes from Trey, about half of those minutes that Jones (19 MPG) has been eating up, and a few from Burnett and Gayle and we get 20 for the other true PG, that Day made it obvious this offseason the team needed.
Michigan is one veteran PG short, which requires too much decision-making by guys like Burnett and Gayle who are built to be finishers. Jones is smart, but not explosive. Donaldson is great, but to run up-tempo, it may be too much for one guy. The young PGs are, I'm sure developing behind the scenes- It looks like Pippen is in line to pick up a few minutes, but it's obvious that the team is without a playmaker when both Donaldson and Wolf are on the bench.
The QB concerns were probably kept quiet and in-house as much as they could be, but it was obvious that there would be issues when Jack Tuttle was asked by Coach Moore to "come out of retirement" (he was supposed to take on some kind of coaching role) after surgery to "try to play again".
Many saw this as a huge red flag. I was hoping at the time it was for depth and experience, but that theory went down the toilet once the season started. The QB room was devoid of starter-level talent.
Mea Culp, I'll admit that I was wrong to think of Tuttle's announced return as a player as a good sign, but instead was the reality of a bad QB room, as an injured Tuttle was probably the only hope of the coaches.
Tuttle's return also makes it clear that Jadyn Davis was not even seen as a possibility to develop before at least one full offseason of coaching. This was another idea I bucked, and I'll admit, I was wrong about at the time.
As for Coach May, his "mad scientist" way of putting together a team was fascinating to watch; Though I did wonder aloud and post on this board the question of "why was Michigan still aggressively recruiting Point and Combo G's after already having 3 true freshman PGs, Donaldson, Jones, as well as Gs like Burnett and Gayle, who can handle the rock in a pinch.
But after watching the system in action, closely, I truly see how this offense has a need for two true veteran CG/PGs to handle the ball at all times, as well as make timely shots.
I remember Michigan and Coach May still seemed to be aggressively recruiting Aidan Mahaney and Aden Holloway, even after commitments from Trey, Roddy, and Nimari announcing his return.
Today, even though Mahany isn't playing well for UConn, I can see exactly why his profile was a fit for this offense. Holloway, however looks like exactly what we could've used: 10.8 PPG in 20 minutes off the bench, 47% FG, 40 % #PT, 81% FT, 1.8 APG. Take a handful of minutes from Trey, about half of those minutes that Jones (19 MPG) has been eating up, and a few from Burnett and Gayle and we get 20 for the other true PG, that Day made it obvious this offseason the team needed.
Michigan is one veteran PG short, which requires too much decision-making by guys like Burnett and Gayle who are built to be finishers. Jones is smart, but not explosive. Donaldson is great, but to run up-tempo, it may be too much for one guy. The young PGs are, I'm sure developing behind the scenes- It looks like Pippen is in line to pick up a few minutes, but it's obvious that the team is without a playmaker when both Donaldson and Wolf are on the bench.
