first off, this is Zavier Simpson's team. The junior point guard is never going to be a great shooter, but as we wrote today, he's a leader and a winner. You win with guys like him.
Simpson had about three assists inside, a pair to big man Jon Teske. The junior Teske also hit a jump shot at the top of the key and looks much more aggressive offensively. Defensively, he's a stud. He's like Jordan Morgan plus four inches and has more length — he knows where to be on the floor and how to direct traffic.
Simpson also burned frosh David DeJulius off the dribble through the middle of the lane a couple of times and finished.
DeJulius was quiet, missing on his only shot (a long, forced triple).
Sophomore Isaiah Livers hit a nice catch and shoot three off a screen and grabbed a couple boards. And it wasn't a corner three ... it was from right of the top of the key, and it looked pure.
Freshman Brandon Johns was quiet except for one play late on which he backed fellow frosh Colin Castleton down, faked and finished left to right on a really nice move.
Frosh forward Ignas Brazdeikis got into the lane with ease, but he only finished one of three. He was also fouled in transition and made a pair of free throws. Still — he's going to be a good one.
Redshirt junior Charles Matthews hit a short jumper in the lane and missed on another, finished at the rim once. He looks solid, and his defense is lights out. This is going to be a great defensive team. As we told you earlier today, U-M won its "secret scrimmage" against Toledo, dominating both halves, and they did it in large part with stifling defense.
Sophomore Eli Brooks hit a nice corner three set up by Simpson and also nailed a floater in the lane. He played well off the ball and kept the ball moving.
Freshman Adrien Nunez missed all three of his triples, though he has nice form.
Sophomore Jordan Poole missed his only shot, but he had a couple of nice drives and dishes, including one to redshirt sophomore big man Austin Davis. Davis finished an Alley-oop and also had another nice finish inside. He'll play this year.
Castleton missed on his only jumper, but he moves well. He finished once inside.
Bottom line — there is a lot of talent out there on the floor, and these guys seem to be ahead of the curve when it comes to piecing the puzzle together. It's going to be interesting to see who gets the minutes in the early going, but as of now it's eight guys ... Teske, Brazdeikis, Matthews, Poole, Simpson, Livers, Brooks and Davis ... with Johns and DeJulius hoping to get in the mix.
Simpson had about three assists inside, a pair to big man Jon Teske. The junior Teske also hit a jump shot at the top of the key and looks much more aggressive offensively. Defensively, he's a stud. He's like Jordan Morgan plus four inches and has more length — he knows where to be on the floor and how to direct traffic.
Simpson also burned frosh David DeJulius off the dribble through the middle of the lane a couple of times and finished.
DeJulius was quiet, missing on his only shot (a long, forced triple).
Sophomore Isaiah Livers hit a nice catch and shoot three off a screen and grabbed a couple boards. And it wasn't a corner three ... it was from right of the top of the key, and it looked pure.
Freshman Brandon Johns was quiet except for one play late on which he backed fellow frosh Colin Castleton down, faked and finished left to right on a really nice move.
Frosh forward Ignas Brazdeikis got into the lane with ease, but he only finished one of three. He was also fouled in transition and made a pair of free throws. Still — he's going to be a good one.
Redshirt junior Charles Matthews hit a short jumper in the lane and missed on another, finished at the rim once. He looks solid, and his defense is lights out. This is going to be a great defensive team. As we told you earlier today, U-M won its "secret scrimmage" against Toledo, dominating both halves, and they did it in large part with stifling defense.
Sophomore Eli Brooks hit a nice corner three set up by Simpson and also nailed a floater in the lane. He played well off the ball and kept the ball moving.
Freshman Adrien Nunez missed all three of his triples, though he has nice form.
Sophomore Jordan Poole missed his only shot, but he had a couple of nice drives and dishes, including one to redshirt sophomore big man Austin Davis. Davis finished an Alley-oop and also had another nice finish inside. He'll play this year.
Castleton missed on his only jumper, but he moves well. He finished once inside.
Bottom line — there is a lot of talent out there on the floor, and these guys seem to be ahead of the curve when it comes to piecing the puzzle together. It's going to be interesting to see who gets the minutes in the early going, but as of now it's eight guys ... Teske, Brazdeikis, Matthews, Poole, Simpson, Livers, Brooks and Davis ... with Johns and DeJulius hoping to get in the mix.
