1. The offense looks a lot different (at least from what i could see on the horrific BTN plus feed. Much less of guys pounding the dribble, less pick and roll or pick and pop, more ball and player movement including back cuts, curl cuts in the lane, and interior passing out of the high post. Frankly, it looked more to me like pre-Michigan Beilein than what we've seen in the last seven years since Darius Morris emerged as a soph.
2. We played really well for the first 15 minutes or so, built up a 43-17 lead, and then got sloppy, committing some bad turnovers, getting beat to rebounds on our defensive glass, and not contesting some deep 3s we were all over at the beginning. First game or not, it's hard to maintain focus when you blow a D2 team out of the gym early on, but that's an area we have to tighten up.
3. GVSU or not, Charles Matthews can play. His shot looks better, he's athletic, he's aggressive on both ends, and he had some very nice passes late which didn't wind up in the assist column because we missed the shots, but showed some vision. His handle needs some work, and he forced a few things late in the first half/early second half. That said, he's going to be really good.
4. Surprise of the game--Jon Teske. Disclaimer--this was GVSU--but that said, he fought for rebounds and he can really pass the ball on the offensive end. Second surprise--Ibi Watson's shot looked good, and he was aggressive and athletic during his time on the court.
5. The PGs were solid. I thought Zavier Simpson ran the offense well and defended very well, though he missed badly on his only 3 point attempt. Jaaron Simmons is very good in transition and hit a nice 3. He needs to get more comfortable with the system on both ends--when that happens, he's got the ability to run this team and get his own. Eli Brooks has the most upside of the three, at least from an offensive perspective. Right now though, until he learns the offense better, he's more a 2 than a 1, though that will change.
6. The upperclassmen--Mo, MAAR and Duncan--forced some things, perhaps in an effort to adjust to new roles. Mo made some clear mistakes--not reacting to a double team, running past a 3 point shooter, giving him a free offensive rebound, etc.--but was active on the glass. MAAR was tentative early on, and then didn't shoot it well. Duncan was more or less Duncan, though he passed it really well and made a few bad turnovers trying to be more of a playmaker.
7. Isaiah Livers rebounded well and ran the court. He didn't seem to be in the offensive flow.
8. Right now, numbers 11 and 12 on the roster are Austin Davis and Jordan Poole (who could still be redshirted). Poole seemed lost, though he was playing with walk-ons. Plainly, Davis is behind Teske.
9. Overall, I saw some good things out there. We played with great intensity early on defensively, passed the ball exceptionally well, and found the guys playing well in the moment (Matthews in the first half). No selfishness at all. If our upperclassmen (in particular, Mo and MAAR) make the transition to larger roles and we get solid play at PG, we could be very good. If one of the PGs steps up and is more than solid, we'll be even better. Of course, the caveat is that this was GVSU. We'll see what happens as we move along the schedule.
2. We played really well for the first 15 minutes or so, built up a 43-17 lead, and then got sloppy, committing some bad turnovers, getting beat to rebounds on our defensive glass, and not contesting some deep 3s we were all over at the beginning. First game or not, it's hard to maintain focus when you blow a D2 team out of the gym early on, but that's an area we have to tighten up.
3. GVSU or not, Charles Matthews can play. His shot looks better, he's athletic, he's aggressive on both ends, and he had some very nice passes late which didn't wind up in the assist column because we missed the shots, but showed some vision. His handle needs some work, and he forced a few things late in the first half/early second half. That said, he's going to be really good.
4. Surprise of the game--Jon Teske. Disclaimer--this was GVSU--but that said, he fought for rebounds and he can really pass the ball on the offensive end. Second surprise--Ibi Watson's shot looked good, and he was aggressive and athletic during his time on the court.
5. The PGs were solid. I thought Zavier Simpson ran the offense well and defended very well, though he missed badly on his only 3 point attempt. Jaaron Simmons is very good in transition and hit a nice 3. He needs to get more comfortable with the system on both ends--when that happens, he's got the ability to run this team and get his own. Eli Brooks has the most upside of the three, at least from an offensive perspective. Right now though, until he learns the offense better, he's more a 2 than a 1, though that will change.
6. The upperclassmen--Mo, MAAR and Duncan--forced some things, perhaps in an effort to adjust to new roles. Mo made some clear mistakes--not reacting to a double team, running past a 3 point shooter, giving him a free offensive rebound, etc.--but was active on the glass. MAAR was tentative early on, and then didn't shoot it well. Duncan was more or less Duncan, though he passed it really well and made a few bad turnovers trying to be more of a playmaker.
7. Isaiah Livers rebounded well and ran the court. He didn't seem to be in the offensive flow.
8. Right now, numbers 11 and 12 on the roster are Austin Davis and Jordan Poole (who could still be redshirted). Poole seemed lost, though he was playing with walk-ons. Plainly, Davis is behind Teske.
9. Overall, I saw some good things out there. We played with great intensity early on defensively, passed the ball exceptionally well, and found the guys playing well in the moment (Matthews in the first half). No selfishness at all. If our upperclassmen (in particular, Mo and MAAR) make the transition to larger roles and we get solid play at PG, we could be very good. If one of the PGs steps up and is more than solid, we'll be even better. Of course, the caveat is that this was GVSU. We'll see what happens as we move along the schedule.
