CBB: Michigan's maturation reason for 11-0 start
5th ranked Michigan has began the season scorching hot and are sitting at 11-0, a year after reaching the national title game. In the Wolverines' last 25 games, they're an unbelievable 24-1. After winning the Big Ten tournament last year and making a run to the Final Four and beyond, most people didn't expect them to be as good this year. They lost three of their top six players: Moritz Wagner, Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman, and Duncan Robinson. Even Stu Douglass, former Michigan shooting guard, was a bit hesitant to begin the year. "I know they have a really great class, but you just never know how game ready guys will or won't be when the season starts," he said. But through Ignas Brazdeikis' first 11 games, he's been outstanding, averaging 15.8 points and 4.8 rebounds on 50.4 percent from the field.
Not many thought Brazdeikis would be this good, this early in his career, but John Beilein has helped form this team into a serious title contender and the freshman is directly at the center of that. It's also impressive just how much the other players have developed throughout their careers under Beilein. Zavier Simpson went from a seldom-used freshman two years ago, to the starting point guard averaging 6.1 assists and 30.9 minutes per game. He is arguably the best on ball defender in the Big Ten, and his backcourt mate: Jordan Poole, has emerged as a potential star in his sophomore campaign. Poole is putting up all-conference numbers with 13.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists on 48.1 percent shooting from three. And he isn't the only one who is continuously getting better.
Jon Teske might be the best example of that. He barely saw the court in his freshman year, and then last season he still needed time to adjust. By the end of 2017-18, Teske was a much improved player, and he looks like a totally different man now. He likely has the inside track on Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, as he is putting up 6.8 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game. Douglass spoke to that, saying "I was always defensively focused playing at Michigan and that has helped me in my career now." He later said: "Michigan is a great place to play college basketball, and especially under Beilein's program." The Wolverines will look to get to 12-0 against Air Force. "I believe they have the potential to make multiple deep tournament runs in the coming years," Douglass proclaimed.
Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated.
