23rd Annual Abla Report
The 2021-2022 University of Michigan Men’s Basketball Team Scouting Report
Reviewed after the game against Buffalo on 11/10/2021.
By Tim Abla
0 Adrien Nunez (Sr.)
third sub off the bench…was that just for this game or will it stick…has to improve on defense for that to stick…has a really nice 3pt shot…in warmups at least…likes shooting it from the corner…surprisingly shaky FT shooter…has to hit shots to keep his playing time…earned the rare first game technical…before it became the popular thing to do in this game…not much PT in the second half…probably more indicative of how his PT will go
1 Hunter Dickinson (So.)
started…works a lot on his FTs in warmups…and it shows quite well for a big man…makes large men look relatively small…pretty spin move for a dunk…followed by a nice baby hook…will lead the team in scoring…18 ppg at least…as everyone knows needs to be able to go right as well…didn’t show that tonight…struggled at the defensive end tonight…proved last year to be an excellent defender though…at least against bigger guys…could push for conference MVP…has a soft touch for a big man…but that range only goes to about 14 feet…somehow hits those baby hooks when it doesn’t even seem like he’s looked at the basket yet
2 Kobe Bufkin (Fr.)
got some PT in the first half…could use a little more bulk…pretty skinny…lefty…first shot attempt probably won’t be his best…good ball-handling skills…didn’t show much in his PT so not much to evaluate
3 Zeb Jackson (So.)
didn’t play…not a good sign when so many others did play…looked settled in warmups at least…the spin on his shot is sideways, which I’m never a fan of…but he made most of them in warmups…I believe he’ll get some PT, especially when there is backcourt foul trouble or the team needs a change of pace or taller backcourt…but needs to make the most of it when he does play
4 Brandon Wade (Sr.)
did not play will not play (DNP/WNP)
5 Terrance Williams II (So.)
second sub off the bench tonight…powerful body…nice dribble drive early on…fortunate 4 point play on a bank shot three…not sure he called “glass”….FT looked good… looked so much more comfortable on the offensive end…could be a really solid rotation piece if that remains consistent…8+ ppg possible this year…showed several different skills on the offensive end that he never showed last year…has a definite Big Ten body…earned his late game minutes tonight…got stronger as the game went on…really influenced the game down the stretch…strong rebounder…
10 Frankie Collins (Fr.)
can dunk, in case you weren’t sure…couldn’t miss from 3 during warmups…either shot 3s or did bounce-to-himself dunks during warmups…fourth sub of the game…likes to attack the rim…but can get blocked down low…quick and athletic…shot release is maybe a little bit low…could have a tough time getting it off against taller guards…not sure he’ll be a high-end shooter yet…likes to attempt highlight reel dunks even in the layup line… wouldn’t mind seeing a a little more, you know, layups…didn’t feel overwhelmed running the point as a freshman…grabbed some nice rebounds for a smaller guy
11 Isaiah Barnes (Fr.)
did not play…we’ll see if he earns some minutes early in the season
12 Devante’ Jones (Grad Student)
started…no neck, goes straight from shoulder to head…and they are some broad, strong shoulders…almost looks like he has a two-handed push release on his 3 pt shot…not sold on it being a reliable shot yet…for some reason I thought he was taller than he is… does not shy away from contact…had a couple of nice steals early…sat for a long stretch in the first half for a starter…I think because he had 2 fouls…thought he looked a tiny bit winded before that…muscled his way to a nice layup to start the second half…FT looked ok…but for some reason I’m not a fan of the no dribbles before a FT…has to watch the fouls…enjoys a physical game…not sure his jumpers are a good idea… I’m not sold on him being an upgrade yet…but foul trouble didn’t lend itself to a solid first game evaluation…sells fouls well on the offensive end…loved his low fives with nobody after a made FT late in the game when the other four players were not in the paint…8 ppg
13 Ian Burns (Fr.)
DNP/WNP
14 Moussa Diabate (Fr.)
first sub off the bench…could use a little more weight but isn’t a beanpole… legs are relatively thick for a thinner guy…weight gain is needed more up top than in the legs…long… fast, long stride when running the floor…almost air-balled a FT…did airball a jumper during warmups…not a huge fan of his jumper yet…really gets down the floor in a hurry…strong defense…can stay in front of his man when defending…can get up and block the ball… best when attacking the basket…not a good FT shooter…like could be below 50%…but gets to the line a lot…game needs to slow down a little for him at the offensive end…kind of a wildcard this year…could be anywhere from solid to a pretty high ceiling…didn’t look 6′ 11″ to me
22 Caleb Houstan (Fr.)
started…first two touches offensively were really nice…make that his first three…pretty FT…does not look like a freshman out there…this game did not appear too fast for him…solid rebounder…good passer…make that very good passer…needs to watch the fouls…looked comfortable bringing the ball up the floor…3 pt shot looked good minus one airball…loved his 1 on 4 rebound on a FT late in the game…could be a one-and-done…good defender…active hands…is going to have some strong games…9 ppg
23 Brandon Johns Jr. (Sr.)
started…looked like he’s all business in warmups… the team is so much better when he is actively involved…really nice FT…can’t afford to disappear for stretches…but that seems to happen relatively frequently…needs to stay active…always good when he gets a few touches early…seems to get blocked a little too much in the paint…has shown he can hit the three…is streaky from out there…likes the corner three…maybe 9 ppg
25 Jace Howard (So.)
leader of the bench overreactions…which are priceless… not a great spin on his jumper…got the longest hug from Juwan during the ring ceremony for some reason :)…don’t think he’ll earn much playing time outside of blowouts
42 Will Tschetter (Fr.)
didn’t play…another freshman who could see the floor early in the season but likely not be a main rotational player…actually had a few nice dribble-drive moves during warmups…need to see something in a game though of course
44 Jaron Faulds (Sr.)
DNP/WNP
55 Eli Brooks (Grad Student)
started…looks like he has bulked up a little…such a calming presence on the floor…one of the best at sneaky layups…had at least two of them tonight…solid all the way around…especially on defense…has improved SO much since those first couple of years…12 ppg should be the floor…top PG when Jones isn’t on the floor…maybe even when he is…I believe he’ll be the regular late game PG over Jones….better shooter, much better FT shooter, plenty of ball control…I want him on the line at the end of games…proved to be the team’s glue last year…when he went out the team struggled…leader of this team
Miscellaneous Team Notes
this had to be a record for technicals in a first game…looks to be a solid FT shooting team but a definite step back from last year’s team…could be a strong rebounding team…I don’t often say that in these Abla Reports…good active hands on defense…didn’t feel like a sloppy first game performance…until the team went cold late in the first half…got to 50 points quickly then stalled from there…Buffalo is much better than most first game opponents though…picked top win the MAC…this Michigan team is really deep…some guys won’t see much PT who would have played for previous Michigan teams a few years back…will be interesting to see how playing time evolves…back court height isn’t a strength… especially if Zeb Jackson isn’t in the rotation…3pt shooting may not be a strength either…with Dickinson and Diabate on the floor together the team should have really strong interior defense…but there were a few too many breakdowns tonight…in fact Buffalo had way too many points in the paint throughout the game…their athleticism gave Michigan a little trouble tonight
Other random thoughts
was fun watching the team get their Big Ten Champion rings before the game, and watching them raise the banner… let’s do that again soon
Coaching Notes
I love seeing Martelli still on the staff…don’t think I expected him to still be here…staff retention/consistency has been a bonus
Most important questions for the season
1) This team is deep, what’s the rotation going to look like?
Your etched in stone starters are Dickinson, Brooks, Houstan, and Johns. For now Jones is the starter at PG, but I’m not willing to say that is etched in stone for the season yet. Tonight wasn’t his best game due to foul trouble, but I expect better most nights. We’ll have to see if his game translates to the Big Ten as well. He may establish himself as the clear starter (which I expect), or he could move to a bench role like Jaaron Simmons did a few years back. Terrance Williams II is a great first guy off the bench, along with clear roles for Diabate and Collins. There’s your top 8, and from there it gets to “inconsistent playing time” guys. Several other guys will get spotty minutes, but those top 8 will be your main rotation.
2) But who’s on the floor during crunch time?
I believe the ideal lineup at the end of close games is different than the starters. First, Brooks needs the ball in his hands at the ends of games for FT purposes. He is the late game PG, not Jones. Brooks is also an excellent defender, and he proved to be the team’s glue last year. Second, non-starter Williams showed a toughness and effectiveness late in the game tonight that is invaluable at the ends of games. He got loose balls, tough rebounds, and hit his FTs. But who would he replace? If Houstan can guard the 2, maybe Williams just replaces Jones since Brooks can slide to PG and Houstan to the 2. Otherwise Johns or Houstan has to come off the floor if Williams is getting late-game minutes. Both Johns and Houstan are good FT shooters and decent on defense, so it’s tough to say who would come off. I’d say choose the two who are playing the best in that game from Houstan, Johns, and Williams. Dickinson of course needs to be on the floor at the ends of games
3) Who takes the last shot down 1 or 2?
This one is easy, there is no doubt you get the ball to Dickinson. He can either score, get fouled, or draw a double and dish it to an open shooter. He hits his FTs at a good clip. The offense has to go through him late in the game. That said, he still needs to show that he can go to his right to maximize his effectiveness late in games.
4) Who takes the last shot down 3?
This is much less clear. Your primary options will include Brooks, Houstan, Nunez, and maybe Johns. Even Williams showed a nice 3pt shot tonight. Nunez might be the best warmups shooter but it’s never translated to game time. Johns is streaky, and I’m not quite ready to hand it over to Williams yet, so it has to be Brooks or Houstan. Houstan needs to prove it over a few games, in particular against tougher competition, so until then I’d have to lean towards Brooks being the guy for this shot. Down the road Houstan could be the man, especially since he can probably get the shot off cleaner than Brooks.
5) This year’s surprise?
By far it was Terrance Williams II. His offensive game was night and day from last year. Looked confident and effective. Last year I had a little fear when he had the ball. Also brought a ton of energy tonight on defense, and really all over the floor. Junk yard dog kind of player you love to have (but not dirty). Was on the floor late in a tight-ish game and it felt right. Would never have said that last year or thought it heading into this year. Tonight’s MVP. Keep it going and he’s up for any Most Improved Player award. And even though I said above that Johns is etched in stone as a starter, there’s a small chance Williams could start over Johns down the road. Either would be a solid guy coming off the bench.
Predictions (I’m typically on the conservative side of things but this year I’m going big. YOLO.)
32-7 overall
10-1 in non-conference
15-5 in the Big Ten (plus 3! wins in the Big Ten tourney)
1 seed in the NCAA Tournament (with 4 tourney wins)