The Michigan Wolverines are 3-0 overall, with their last two games resulting in nail-biters against unranked Wake Forest and TCU.
As the No. 6 team in the country, the expectations are sky-high for head
coach Dusty May and company. While the team is winning, questions still remain regarding the effectiveness of the offense, the lingering turnover issues from last season, and the overall potential of Yaxel Lendeborg, who has started the season a bit slow.
The Wolverines have nine players averaging more than 15 minutes per game through the first three contests, with seven of them averaging more than eight points per game. With only five spots available on the floor, it has created a continuous rotation for May and his staff, consistently playing with different combinations to maximize the team’s productivity.
On one hand, the multiple combinations can be an advantage for Michigan, forcing the opposing defense to constantly change up how they choose to defend. But on the flip side, it has been a steep learning curve for the Wolverines’ players, figuring out how to fit with so many schemes.
“We have three games of data now with our roster,” May told the media on Monday. “We have some combinations that have played really well together on both sides of the ball, and then we have some other lineups that have been really good on one side of the ball but not so efficient on the other side of the ball.
“If you have a guy that’s on the fringe and he comes in and the team functions better with him on the court and he’s brings this or that quality of the game, obviously we probably need to figure out a way to implement that. But I think we have enough really good players that if it’s not happening for you, you have to be willing to sacrifice your minutes in that game because someone else is playing well.”
One of the biggest challenges for May so far has been finding ways to get Lendeborg the ball. He has gotten off to a slow start (for his standards), averaging just 12 points, six rebounds and three assists per contest. He is shooting better than 50 percent from the field, but he only has 23 shots over those three games. As a result, Lendeborg has found himself on the bench in late-game situations, forcing May to go with the hotter hand rather than relying on Lendeborg.
“We have to figure out a way to get Yaxel in space better, and he has to trust his jump shot more,” May said. “He’s a good shooter that is not trusting his three-point shot. When he’s open, he needs to shoot it … but when you look at our big possessions, our dunks and layups and wide open shots, he had a big role in it. When you look at the cuts to the baskets, it usually started with a quick swing from Yaxel to Roddy (Gayle Jr.), quick drive and then our spacing was good and our cutting was good. So just finding different ways — he just wants to play good basketball.”
May knows they need to do a better job getting out in space and allowing Lendeborg to be used in creative ways with his unique abilities. May even said that happened last season with Danny Wolf, admitting he was at his best when he rebounded and led the break. May believes that could also be the case with the UAB transfer this year.
“If Yaxel, being a really good rebounder, can rebound and lead our break, I think we can add maybe three or four more really efficient possessions throughout the course of the game,” May said.
The Wolverines rank 314th nationally out of 365 D1 programs in turnovers per game with 15.7. Yet, they are 76th in offensive efficiency and 80th in defensive efficiency. If the Wolverines can cut down on the mistakes with turnovers and spacing while utilizing their best player’s strengths, they not only would be winning the games they have already played, but they would win by a lot more.
The Wolverines will face Middle Tennessee State at home this Wednesday before facing San Diego State and No. 22 Auburn in the Players Era Championship in Las Vegas. While these games are still non-conference matchups, all three programs match size with efficient shooting through the early part of the year. The Wolverines will need to put their best foot forward to compete in all these games and set themselves up for success once Big Ten play comes up.
