If you listen to the "experts" almost to a man they say that a team cannot win championships without great guard play. Michigan just won the regular season championship in hands down the toughest conference in the country with a "middle-of-the-road" 3-star recruit and an Ivy League transfer playing probably 70% of the minutes at the two guard positions. Personally, I love it when kids outplay their "star rating" and I think it's safe to say the Mike Smith and Eli Brooks have done just that. It has to be obvious to anyone that this team is nowhere near what it is without the contributions of each of these young men. You can also add the name of Chaundee Brown to the list although he was a 4-star recruit coming out of high school. I think this season is a confirmation of the character and perseverance of these three. I also think it shows that both John Beilein and Juwan Howard are pretty good at judging the "intangibles" that a young man brings to the table. And, without question, it demonstrates the importance of veteran leadership on a team. Having a bunch of 4 and 5 star kids on your roster can be a great thing but having a Mike Smith and Eli Brooks is just as important.
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