Michigan Basketball: Grading Each Wolverine Player on His Play This Season

The Michigan Wolverines (No. 19) have taken care of business thus far.

Through 11 games, they are 9-2, with notable wins against Memphis and UCLA, while their two losses came against Duke and Virginia.

A few of their wins have not been pretty (see Western Illinois and Iowa State), but the Wolverines have put themselves in a good position. With a great field-goal percentage (49.5) they are one of the most efficient offensive teams in the country.

As the Wolverines get ready to begin Big Ten play, let’s take a look back at the first 11 games and grade each player’s performance so far.

1. Trey Burke

Trey Burke has been everything the Wolverines could have asked for and more through the first 11 games. When Darius Morris left for the draft last year, Michigan was left with a gaping hole at the point-guard position. Burke has stepped into the starting role and not looked back.

Burke is averaging 13.1 points, 4.7 assists, 3.2 rebounds and one steal per game. He is also draining two three-pointers per game and shooting 45.3 percent from the field. His intangibles are as impressive as his numbers. His ability to control the tempo of the game, and his presence on the court are remarkable for a freshman.

With Burke playing almost 33 minutes per game, he has been gaining invaluable experience quickly. He has certainly been a bright spot for the Wolverines, and has stepped up as a young leader on this team.

Overall Grade: A

2. Tim Hardaway Jr.

Tim Hardaway Jr. is off to a nice start in ’11-’12. He is leading the Wolverines in scoring with 15.4 points, grabbing three rebounds and dishing out three assists per game. His field-goal percentage is up from 42 percent last year to 46 percent this year; however, his free-throw percentage is down to 69 percent.

Hardaway Jr. is an excellent NBA prospect, but he still has much to work on. He needs to show more fight on the court. In other words, he tends to disappear if his shots are not falling. Hardaway Jr. needs Kobe Bryant’s scoring mentality, that killer-assassin instinct on the offensive end.

There is no doubt that Hardaway Jr. has the talent to become an incredible player. If the Wolverines want to make a deep run into the NCAA tournament, they will need him to be great. In order to do so, he needs to start demanding the ball on offense and become the scorer that everyone knows he can be.

Overall Grade: B+                       

3. Evan Smotrycz

Evan Smotrycz has been much-improved so far this season. Last year, Smotrycz was criticized for his poor shot selection (he shot 40 percent from the field).

In ’11-’12, Smotrycz is shooting an impressive 56.2 percent and 55 percent from downtown.

He is averaging 11 points and just over six rebounds per game. Smotrycz has come on strong as of late though, putting up 17.7 points per game in his last three games.

His major flaw in his young career has been foul trouble; he is averaging just over three fouls per game. In order to become the most effective player possible, Smotrycz needs to keep himself on the floor and learn to control himself on the defensive end.

Overall Grade: B

4. Zack Novak

Zack Novak is having his best season as a senior, averaging just under 10 points, almost five rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He is also shooting 53 percent from the field, 43 percent from beyond the arc and 88 percent from the free-throw line.

Novak is the definition of a hustle player. If there is a loose ball, you can bet Novak will be on the ground fighting for it. He guards opposing power forwards and will always come up with a big rebound when it’s needed.

As captain, Novak has emerged as the true leader of the Wolverines. He is a guy that forces you to look beyond the stat sheet in order to evaluate his play.

Overall Grade: A-

5. Jordan Morgan

Jordan Morgan has looked solid so far in ’11-’12. He bulked up from last year, and at 6’8” is an imposing figure in the paint.

Morgan’s scoring has taken a dip. Last season, he averaged 9.2 points per game, and this year, his average is down to 7.1 points per game. However, he is shooting an incredible 74 percent from the field. If he was qualified (not enough shot attempts yet), he would be the fourth-most efficient shooter in the country.

Morgan is averaging fewer than five rebounds per game, which as a starting center, needs improvement. He is also blocking less than one shot per game. Morgan must become more aggressive on the defensive end, but not to the point where he is on the bench with two fouls and 17:00 minutes remaining in the first half.

The Wolverines need Morgan to be a big-time defender and rebounder, as they will have to go up against the likes of Jared Sullinger and Cody Zeller in the Big Ten.

Overall Grade: B-

6. Stu Douglass

Stu Douglass has been the most disappointing player on the Wolverines thus far. He is averaging seven points, 3.5 rebounds and two assists per game. He is also shooting 40 percent from the field and 30 percent from three-point range.

With Douglass, it is not so much about the numbers as it is his court presence. Too often he does not make the right play, have a defensive lapse or force up a terrible three-pointer. As a senior and a captain, more should be expected from him on both ends of the court.

As the backup guard, Douglass needs to step up his game. He needs to start taking better shots and become a more efficient defender.

Overall Grade: C-

7. Jon Horford

Jon Horford has shown improvement in limited minutes this year. Through 11 games, he has seen an average of 11 minutes. In this short amount of time, he is grabbing almost four rebounds, scoring three points and blocking one shot per game. Per 40 minutes, this translates to 10 points, 13 rebounds and almost four blocked shots.

Horford has nice size (6’9”, 220lbs) and should see increased time in Big Ten play. He shoots free throws extremely well for a big man, as he is at 86 percent on the season.

The Wolverines will need Horford to be solid throughout the rest of the season, as their depth at PF and C is extremely thin.

Overall Grade: B-