TheWolverine.com - Borton's Blog: McCormick on the Wolverines

November 6, 2007

John Borton
TheWolverine.com Senior Editor

The Big Ten Network's Tim McCormick found himself courtside for Michigan's basketball exhibition opener against Ferris State. McCormick sat in on the U-M shoot-around that day before broadcasting the game, and took plenty away from both his observations and discussion with coach John Beilein.

Here's what McCormick had to say, about?

The game day: "I was extremely impressed with their shoot-around practice ? the detail, and there is just a real commitment to education. The players' eyes were wide open, and everything Coach Beilein said, they were just soaking it in.

"It was a real positive experience, just watching the teaching and the detail. Every time I'm at his practice, I just find myself learning a lot.

"One the game started, I wasn't sure what to expect. I think it's difficult from players who have been doing something for 15 years to change their colors. A zebra doesn't become a horse ? he is what he is. But I was really impressed.

"First of all, DeShawn Sims ? I think he will play in the NBA someday, based on the fact that John Beilein is going to redefine his game. Those 6-8, back-to-the-basket post players don't typically make it in the league. His height is an NBA small forward size.

"John Beilein is teaching him how to move his game to the perimeter, make three-pointers and look very comfortable. That's a great sign.

"I really liked the way K'Len Morris played. I don't think he's a pure point guard, but I thought he looked very good. I hadn't seen him play since high school. I thought he looked great.

"I thought Zack Gibson looked like he's going to be a very productive player. It was fun.

"Some of the guys seemed a little bit lost with the new system. That can cause problems, because when you have half the players who understand it and they go where they're supposed to go and do what they're supposed to do, and there are a couple of guys who don't, it causes some turmoil. But that will get ironed out."

Michigan's 19 turnovers: "That will come. Michigan is still not a real creative team off the dribble, and that may create some issues. This is not a roster of ballhandlers.

"I don't think you worry too much about the turnovers in that game. It got a little bit sloppy, but John Beilein will not accept 19 turnovers in a game. He's going to tighten things up. He'll also learn what kind of sets, offensively, his players can handle, and will emphasize those and deemphasize other ones, as he learns his personnel a little more."

Freshman Manny Harris: "I was surprised at Manny, because he looks like he's grown a couple of inches and he's definitely bulked up. He was extremely skinny prior to his senior year in high school, and he looked really good.

"I believe he can be like Daniel Horton ? not necessarily as a player, because they have different strengths. But I believe he can step in and, from the start of the season, be Michigan's leader and possibly best player.

"I would say DeShawn or Manny will be the team's leading scorer this year. Manny is not a talkative guy. He's very quiet. But he may provide that leadership like, 'I know how to play. I know what to do. Follow me.' The players really seem to respect him."

On how far Sims might advance by the Big Ten season: "It's not like you're trying to take a scorer and make him into a passer, or a guy that scores a lot, deemphasizing his role and turning him into a rebounder.

"Guys love to score. I was watching the cuts the players were making during the shoot-around, and some guys were thinking before making the cuts. DeShawn, more than anybody else, seems like he's got the high basketball IQ, where he just understands what is expected. It's a natural thing.

"I believe when you watched John Beilein and his teams at West Virginia and at Richmond, one of the things that made his system unique was that he was able to have mismatches at the power forward position. He's always had a power forward can make three and handle the ball.

"In the Big Ten, that's a really good thing, because you can have a lot of mismatches. Big Ten power forwards for the most part are pretty big and prefer to stay in the paint. Now you're asking them to come out against a guy who can handle and shoot jump shots. He's going to find himself in a lot of very comfortable positions, and he's going to do very well, I believe."

(More from McCormick later in the week, leading up to Friday's season opener)

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