Michigan Wolverines Basketball

John Beilein’s Michigan Wolverines went through the gauntlet in 2014-15. But Beilein won’t blame a 16-16 finish and absence from the national postseason on the loss of three underclassmen to the 2014 NBA draft, season-ending injuries to Caris LeVert and Derrick Walton Jr. or a rash of unforeseeable and unfortunate circumstances.

No, that’s life in college hoops. Guys get hurt. Teams hit slumps. Tournaments are missed—and Beilein, who’s coached seven teams including Michigan, knows that better than most.

“You know, I’ve learned so much about basketball in every year—not just years like this,” he said during a conference call Sunday night. “[This season] was, you know... I think I continue to try to evolve as a coach. What’s important to winning for some teams may be less important or more important with other teams. That’s the big thing. I do know what I did learn, and it’s you get the right young men on the team, at least you can go together—you can take on this adversity together.

“Nobody blinked. They just kept going through it. Even though we didn’t see it on the scoreboard, I know we saw it in the way the team was individually getting better.”

Despite the lack of an NCAA tournament or NIT berth, Beilein, who texted his players with the season-ending news at 9:15 p.m. Sunday, saw “spots of what could be a brilliant future for the program” in 2014-15.

He has good reason to be optimistic, too.

Aubrey Dawkins, a high-scoring, high-flying freshman, made incredible strides this past season. So did Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman, another diamond-in-the-rough Beilein prototype guard.

Forward D.J. Wilson redshirted due to knee issues but will be back next season. At 6’9” and 220 pounds, he’s limber, agile and capable of making a living above the rim. He'll likely do wonders for the inside game in 2015-16. 

Kam Chatman needs work, but the 6’7”, 200-pound freshman played some of his best ball during the late stretches of the season, as evidenced by a seven-point showing during a 66-56 loss to Maryland and a 13-point effort during a 79-69 win over Rutgers.

And don’t forget about the six silky points he scored during eight minutes versus Ohio State—that 64-57 win happened to be Michigan’s best of the season and a great snapshot of Chatman’s potential.

There's Mark Donnal up front. Zak Irvin, who's becoming a "multi-position player," will be a junior waiting to truly emerge as a top threat. 

Plus there’s Duncan Robinson, a smooth-shooting transfer. The 6’8”, 190-pound sophomore is the team’s best shooter, according to Dawkins and several other players.

And of course, Walton will return to the point, where he belongs; his backup and 2014-15 unofficial team MVP, Spike Albrecht, will be a senior next year. And if everything works out in Michigan’s favor, LeVert will return for his senior year.

The bases seem to be covered. Beilein has the makings of a Big Ten contender.

Then there’s Ricky Doyle, who has the potential to be a bruising, basket-scoring knockout artist in the near future. The 6’9”, 245-pounder represents better days for the Michigan frontcourt. Statistically, the Wolverines were the worst rebounding team in the Big Ten, ranking No. 14 overall in offensive rebounding and No. 13 in defensive rebounding.

Doyle had his ups and downs. He wasn’t always as even-keeled as Beilein would have liked, but more times than not, the freshman showed his mettle when it mattered most.

“There was consistent improvement,” Beilein said. “There was the typical freshman type of games where he just wasn’t where he will be consistently in the future. But overall, I just loved the direction he was going because he was virtually playing against guys three and four years older every night.

He didn’t back off at all, including against [Wisconsin’s Frank] Kaminsky the other night [in Big Ten tournament]. So I love the way he’s making great progress—he is a workhorse as far as getting in the gym. That could be a separator for him. So we just got to make sure he spends so much time in the gym and stressing the right habits in the gym and not overuse in the gym and the wrong things. He’ll put his time in, that’s for sure.”

Doyle scored 12 points on 6-of-6 shooting during 18 minutes versus Wisconsin, which went on to beat Michigan State 80-69 in the Big Ten tournament championship. Kaminsky, of course, got his with 16 points—but those buckets didn’t come easy. Doyle helped momentarily subdue the National Player of the Year candidate.

Doyle didn’t string together a double-double this year, but one is certainly around the corner. However, he scored 10 or more points seven times, which was a clear indication of his ability. During the season, Beilein often complimented Doyle’s awareness around the rim.

With an offseason tuneup, the young Floridian could morph into a dominant big man. He just needs to work on the particulars of the game and learn how to put his power to more effective use.

“Well, I believe it would be nice if he could make a little 15-footer, because I think he can,” Beilein said with a slight chuckle. “He just didn’t have that many opportunities this year, but that would be good—and then playing where we can throw him the ball down near the box, and playing off him and through him a little bit more. There were times when we did that—not enough. That was part of an issue in passing as well.

"As he grows, right now, all of our other guys are learning to pass it into the post better, and I think he’ll be more efficient in there. I think his stamina and his endurance will grow now he’s been through [one season]. He came last May to start summer school early and start training early. It’s been a long year for him…”

Beilein could dwell on 16-16 and could throw a fit about missing the NIT. He’d probably have a legitimate gripe, too, but that’s not his style.

Instead, he’s taking lessons learned from 2014-15 and filing them in his mind along with the countless other experiences that have shaped his illustrious career, and he plans to apply them the next time around. 

Beilein doesn't spend a lot of time looking back; he's too focused on what he sees down the road. 

Beilein: Spike Albrecht told him that he wished next season was here tomorrow; others said they were all in and ready to go.

— Rod Beard (@ajcRodBeard) March 16, 2015

 

Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan Wolverines basketball writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes and references were obtained firsthand by the writer via press conference, press release or other media availability. Stats were obtained from BigTen.org and player bio info came via MGoBlue. 

During this past fall, Moritz Wagner was likely beginning to plot the next steps of his basketball journey. He’s always wanted to attend college—and Michigan is among his top choices—but he also has the option of signing with a professional team in Europe once he turns 18 on April 26.

However, before setting a definite course for a new destination, the 6’10”, 200-pound German sensation will likely thoroughly explore options, according to Berliner-Zeitung (via UM Hoops’ Dylan Burkhardt).

#Michigan recruit Moritz Wagner hamming it up with the ushers. Even Gov. Snyder got into the love fest. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/0jIvJnCLbR

— Yvo 〽️ (@_YV0) March 7, 2015

This past Saturday, Wagner visited the Crisler Center and watched the Wolverines end their regular season with a 79-69 win over Rutgers. The lanky and versatile prospect could easily be the recipient of coach John Beilein’s lone scholarship for 2015.

With that said, Saturday was most likely Max Bielfeldt’s final game with Michigan. After the win, the senior forward said that he wouldn’t rule out staying at Michigan, but he also said that transferring to finish his eligibility was a distinct possibility.

The bottom line is that Biefeldt’s spot will probably be open next year—and Wagner could fill that spot, giving Beilein a much-needed boost in the paint and on the boards.

Statistically, the Wolverines were the worst rebounding team in the Big Ten this season, finishing No. 14 in total margin (minus-3.3). They had the No. 14-ranked rebounding offense and No. 10-ranked rebounding defense in the league, too.

Adding insult to injury, they finished dead last in blocked shots, averaging a paltry 1.7 per game.

Again, Wagner is 6’10”, incredibly agile, long-limbed and aggressive. He could essentially evolve into another T.J. Leaf, who was one of Beilein’s biggest targets before committing to Arizona’s 2016 class. Leaf and Wagner represent the type of player Beilein wants to add to the mix of Ricky Doyle, Mark Donnal and D.J. Wilson.

At 6’9” and 245 pounds, Doyle, who has bowling balls for shoulders, brings the physical angle. He just has to perfect his technique.

Donnal is roughly the same height and weight as Doyle, but he’s built a bit leaner. His game is slightly different too—he’s more of an inside-outside guy, whereas Doyle is leaning toward inside-inside.

Wilson redshirted this past season, but once healthy, the 6’9”, 220-pounder will provide athleticism comparable to that of Wagner and Leaf.

Pairing Wagner with Wilson, Donnal and Doyle would give Beilein the best of everything up front. The need for a Wagner-like addition is necessary if Beilein’s forwards and centers are to take the next step in competitive development.

Do-alls at the 3, 4 and 5 have changed college basketball. Teams either get with the times or get beaten by guys like Wagner, who, according to European Prospects, excels in each of the aforementioned disciplines:

He can shoot from outside, either on catch-and-shoot situations or in the Pick and Pop when being the screener. Wagner can also put the ball on the floor which works particularly well when used against taller power forwards. He is also able to drive with direction changes and finish against stronger or taller players in the paint. Athletically, he is looking good and with his overall length, he is a good vertical presence on both sides of the court. Wagner really needs to be used on the wing positions in the future as he has the tools to become an interesting long small forward in the future. It will be interesting to see if ALBA can do this as they will lack some inside presence in the next generations of their NBBL roster so that Wagner risks to be used as a pure PF or even center next season.

The scouting report provides a bit of reassurance. But watching a few minutes of his highlight footage says a lot more than “interesting” prospect ever could.

While in the post, Wagner appears to have one thing on his mind: Get to the basket. He has moves, but he doesn’t waste a lot of energy. Point A to Point B is the quickest route, and Wagner’s flying left-handed layup is quite the connector.

With Aubrey Dawkins, Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman, Spike Albrecht, Derrick Walton Jr. and (maybe?) Caris LeVert returning next season, the Wolverines will have plenty of offensive and defensive prowess at the guard positions. Beilein will have the complete package.

Wagner wouldn’t only complete the forward/center position, he’d complete Beilein’s roster.

Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan Wolverines basketball writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81.

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes and references were obtained firsthand by the writer.

Michigan Wolverines guard Spike Albrecht has revealed that he has been fighting through a hip injury all season.  

In a Sunday report from MLive.com's Brendan F. Quinn, Albrecht suggested that he'll need a medical procedure in the offseason to address the issue.

"Most likely, but I'm not sure," said Albrecht. "We'll re-evaluate at the end of the season."

Quinn also reported what Albrecht said after Saturday's Big Ten contest versus Maryland, which painted a bit more of a positive picture.

"Yeah, that'll be a problem for awhile, but it's no big deal, I'm feeling a lot better," said Albrecht. "This is probably the best I've been feeling all season. That's the good news."

Michigan Basketball noted Saturday how proficient Albrecht has been as a distributor in spite of the nagging injury:

Lead by example, @SpikeAlbrecht does! pic.twitter.com/EWbsbsxZ7H

— Michigan Men's Basketball (@umichbball) February 28, 2015

The junior star has managed to play quite well for a Wolverines squad that has faced a fair share of adversity in 2014-15. With a 14-14 record, it is a down year in Ann Arbor for coach John Beilein's bunch.

In an ideal scenario, Albrecht will be fully healthy entering his senior season and able to play at an even higher level. With whatever influx of talent Michigan brings in with its next recruiting class and its returning contributors, the program should be trending up again next season.

Spike Albrecht doesn’t care about personal stats. The Michigan junior doesn’t track his own numbers, he only monitors team wins.

He doesn’t care about being noticed, either. His priorities far exceed those of personal gratification. He’s 5’11” and 175 pounds of heart and soul, highly coachable, team-first and me-last—or in other terms, a coach’s dream.

Albrecht’s qualities often go overshadowed, as he shares the floor with abundant talent. It’s easy to get overlooked when you play next to superior athletes such as Caris LeVert , Derrick Walton Jr. and Zak Irvin. 

However, skipping past the blond kid isn’t always wise, just ask the Louisville Cardinals, who got a healthy dose of the scraggly haired freshman in the 2013 national title game before winning, 82-76.

Coach Rick Pitino probably didn’t think Albrecht would bust loose for 17 points and hit four of five from three-point range. The guys guarding Albrecht probably didn’t either.

More recently, Albrecht has emerged as one of coach John Beilein’s key players, not just a plug-in guy who can produce on short notice. Now a mainstay, Albrecht has all but taken control since LeVert and Walton suffered season-ending injuries back in January.

He’s scored at least 10 points in the past six games, often doubling his season average of 6.8. His value can’t be denied. If not for his pair of crucial and timely threes, the Wolverines—who were without Walton Jr.—wouldn’t have forced Michigan State into overtime on Feb. 1. Michigan lost, 76-66, but Albrecht’s season-high 18 points prompted hope on the road.

He scored 12 points during Michigan’s 80-67 loss Feb. 17 to the Spartans—but again, things would have been much worse had Albrecht not taken the leap forward.

Those were certainly two of his better offerings.

But then this past Sunday came along, and that showing of left-handed high-glass layups, gutsy dives toward loose balls, lockdown defense and raw emotion probably topped them all.

Even the 17 points versus Louisville.

But Albrecht wouldn’t brag or boast about it. He wouldn’t beat his chest, either, although he had to know that he almost single-handedly dismantled Goliath.  Steve Kornacki of MGoBlue wanted to know if Albrecht considered that a best-ever moment.

At the moment, the thought hadn’t even crossed Albrecht’s mind.

“I think that’s for you guys to decide—I don’t know,” Albrecht said with a laugh and a smile. He also had several unexplained blood stains scattered along the bottom of his un-tucked jersey. “I don’t really pay attention to any of it. We got the win. I wasn’t going to let us lose that game. I did not want to lose that game. And that’s all I was thinking about out there.”

Albrecht’s mentality of "hit the floor now and ask questions later," not to mention his selfless nature, is one of the reasons why the Wolverines (14-13, 7-8 Big Ten) haven’t totally bitten the dust this season.

“There was a lot of pride on the line,” he said.

Albrecht has earned his stripes, one floor burn, one bruise and one elbow to the face at a time. He's one of the scrappiest players in the Big Ten, and he's easily one of the most determined and energetic to play for John Beilein at Michigan. 

Back during the 2013 national tournament, the Detroit Free Press' Mick McCabe quoted former Michigan standout Jon Horford saying that "Spike is loved," which probably sums up the way most of the Wolverines feel about Albrecht.  

People have been singing his praise for three years; however, recent recognition from an injured star teammate says it all. The simple compliment carries weight, especially since it comes from a player who led Michigan in scoring before being sidelined with a broken left foot. 

@SpikeAlbrecht is the man lol

— Caris LeVert (@CarisLeVert) February 22, 2015

He wasn't supposed to evolve into one of Michigan's leading men. Likewise, he certainly wasn't supposed to become the general this season, either. But none of that matters to Albrecht, who's continuously beaten the odds and outplayed those who are perceived as far superior athletes. 

He's always played as if he had nothing to lose and everything to gain. 

"Coming out of high school I didn't get many looks," he said in 2013, according to McCabe. "To be honest, I always thought I was a little bit better than the offers I was getting."

Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan Wolverines basketball writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes and references were obtained firsthand by the writer via press conference, press release or other media availability. Stats were collected from ESPN/UMGoBlue player bios. 

Michigan took the floor at the Crisler Center on Tuesday night looking to split its regular-season home-and-away slate with Michigan State.

This didn’t happen. The Wolverines, injury ridden and undermanned, lost 80-67, largely due to Travis Trice’s efficiency and the fact that we can’t find the jetpack hidden on Branden Dawson.

Michigan basketball fans would’ve liked a better showing, but they can at least take solace in the real-time moment of Zen that was Jim Harbaugh eating a slice of pizza on national television. 

Cameras swung in on Michigan’s newly hired head football coach during a break in the first-half action. Harbaugh, joined by his daughter, was just one of the many UM and MSU figures of present and past in attendance at the game. He was, however, the only one caught massacring ‘za on camera.

Sitting down the floor from Michigan head basketball coach John Beilein, Harbaugh dined in old-school fashion, opting for the box-on-the-knees approach.

Jim Harbaugh has pretty good seats for Michigan State-Michigan... and some pizza. pic.twitter.com/2Z12uqvtYp

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 18, 2015

The pizza appeared fairly hot.

OOH HOT HOT! pic.twitter.com/o5qc3jbgtC

— Dan Carson (@thedoctorcarson) February 18, 2015

Harbaugh’s daughter, a born warrior, did not look inclined to share with Beilein. 

Harbaugh's daughter ready to throw hands if Beilein gets an inch closer to their pizza. pic.twitter.com/DKN6XfQvIP

— Dan Carson (@thedoctorcarson) February 18, 2015

Harbaugh eventually noticed he was being watched and toasted the crowd with his slice.

Never forget the day Jim Harbaugh toasted us with pizza. pic.twitter.com/75pbLmtPSK

— Dan Carson (@thedoctorcarson) February 18, 2015

SB Nation noted that the sight of Harbaugh shoveling cheese and bread into his mouth is a much happier vista than Urban Meyer shoveling cheese and bread into his mouth.

Michigan is beating Ohio State in Pizza Happiness: http://t.co/J17hTSRBCW pic.twitter.com/Xxev25yNJV

— SB Nation (@SBNation) February 18, 2015

Now, there’s no wrong way to eat a pie (unless you’re a folder who should be locked up for your own safety), but it’s a lot better consumed with a smile.

Eat pizza like nobody is watching. Eat like Jim Harbaugh. 

Dan is on Twitter. He is now starving.

Regardless of results, statistics and the like, Michigan’s fight can’t be questioned—not after this year.

Back in the preseason, the Wolverines (13-11, 6-6 Big Ten) were pegged by the AP Top 25 poll as contenders capable of finishing among the top three or four in the Big Ten—or, for lack of a better description, finding a spot in the tier just below Wisconsin.

Things haven't gone as planned, but not even nonconference home losses to the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Eastern Michigan were enough to completely write off John Beilein’s bunch.

Not in December. 

Shadowed by a cloud of public skepticism, the Wolverines somehow maintained composure and went on to win five of their first seven conference games.

Things weren’t perfect by any means, but head coach John Beilein managed.

Just as long as his regulars continued to carry their usual load, the rest would follow their lead—that was the popular thought, anyway.

But then disaster hit. Shortly after beating Northwestern 56-54, Michigan announced that Caris LeVert, the team’s star junior wing, would miss the rest of the season due to another injury to his left foot.

The 6’7”, 200-pounder led the Wolverines in every pertinent category, but they found a way to take two of their next three games in spite of the circumstances.

The absence of LeVert, who had a successful surgery shortly thereafter, meant that Zak Irvin and Derrick Walton Jr. would have to step up their games.

Hampered by a flat jumper earlier in the year, Irvin has recently come around, but he has yet to find his stride. He’s topped out at 23 points twice, most recently versus Indiana, and averages nearly 14 points per game.

But then there are other examples, such as the seven-point effort during a 72-54 road loss to Iowa, not to mention the 11 points on 5-of-14 shooting—compounded by a scoreless extra session—during a 76-66 overtime road setback to Michigan State.

Lethal at best and a mere afterthought at worst, Irvin, a 6'6", 215-pound sophomore, is most certainly the offensive key for the Wolverines.

Now that Walton’s out with a foot injury, the fate of Michigan is anything but certain. According to Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press, Beilein hopes Walton can return this season.

Beilein’s Mastery Keeps UM Going

Thin doesn’t even begin to describe Michigan’s lack of depth. Sure, freshmen Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman and Aubrey Dawkins have shown spurts—which will be covered later—but a team won’t win many games when it has to rely upon walk-on talent.

The Big Ten just doesn’t work that way.

That’s not a slam on Andrew Dakich or Sean Lonergan. It’s just a simple truth of life in the big leagues. Wisconsin’s not dominating with practice squad guys. Neither is Maryland.

Nevertheless, the Wolverines aren’t mathematically eliminated from reaching the top four—oddly enough, they’re just one game behind Indiana in the win column for fourth place. And they’re there without LeVert, Walton and D.J. Wilson, a 6’9”, 220-pound freshman who was deactivated after playing five games.

They also lost three underclassmen—Nik Stauskas, Glenn Robinson III and Mitch McGary—to the 2014 NBA draft. On top of that, power forward Jon Horford transferred to Florida.

How has Michigan survived? Beilein. That’s how.

Throughout the year, he has often talked about the importance of remaining patient and carefully approaching each hurdle. His methods make Michigan hoops go round. Stating his case for B1G Coach of the Year would be a huge stretch, but an honorable mention may soon be in order.

Coaches vote, too. They know what he’s dealing with.

Kids Can Play

Abdur-Rahkman and Dawkins have been two of the lone bright spots. Their development has been one of the more enjoyable aspects of Wolverines basketball this season, especially lately.

With the exception of Sunday’s 70-67 loss to Indiana, Adbur-Rahkman has emerged as a quality scorer. Don’t be fooled by his 1-for-7 showing versus the Hoosiers, which also included missing the game-tying three as time expired. At least he wanted that shot.

Prior to the loss, the 6’4”, 175-pounder had an impressive four-game stretch, scoring nine, nine, 11 and 18 points, respectively.

At 6’6” and 190 pounds, Dawkins possesses it all: the ability to fly, finish and quickly flood the scoring column.

He only scored seven versus Indiana, but don’t judge him on that one game. He scored a career-high 20 during a 73-65 overtime win over Illinois, scored 11 much-needed points at Rutgers (54-50 win) and scored 19 and 16 during his past two home games.

Despite a down year, Dawkins and Abdur-Rahkman are turning into two classic cases of Beilein Development 101.

And so is Ricky Doyle, who scored 15 points—one shy of tying a season-high—in addition to grabbing six boards and blocking two shots during Sunday’s loss in Bloomington.  

The 6’9”, 245-pounder is learning, but he’s certainly come a long way since the beginning of the year. He’s learning how to better position himself against stronger opponents. Conversely, he’s learning not to commit needless push-and-shove fouls against lighter work.

He’s a freshman. He makes mistakes. Just remember 2013-14 when talking about Doyle, the junior.

Spike Is the Heart

Through it all, trial and tribulation, Spike Albrecht has been the glue that binds the Wolverines. The 5’11”, 175-pound junior point guard averages slightly less than six points and 30 minutes per game, but his management skills are what make him invaluable.

And his incredible motor—can’t forget that motor.

Refusing to roll over, Albrecht hit a couple of big three-pointers that helped take the Spartans into overtime. He scored eight of 12 points and blocked a shot during the final four minutes of the loss to Indiana. His presence isn’t only welcome—it’s necessary.

Tournament hopes are bleak. Irvin, Abdur-Rahkman and Dawkins are high-value components, but Albrecht could end up being Michigan’s season MVP when it’s all said and done.

Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan Wolverines basketball writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81.

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes and references were obtained firsthand by the writer via press conference, press release or other media availability.

Michigan freshman Ricky Doyle shares a lot of qualities with Mitch McGary—just how many depends on whom you ask.

On some nights, the 6’9”, 245-pound power forward appears to be a near-mirror image of the former Wolverines big man. In other instances, it’d appear that Doyle still has a way to go before reaching similar heights as McGary, who spent two years in Ann Arbor before being selected No. 21 overall in the 2014 NBA Draft.

“It’s hard to compare—Mitch is a great player. He came to Michigan and did some great things,” said Doyle, who’s roughly an inch shorter and 10 pounds lighter than McGary. “One thing I really took into consideration coming here, [something] that really inspired me [was] how Mitch played—his intensity on the court, how he just got the crowd involved. I really wanted to try to take that from Mitch’s game to really pump up the team and be the best teammate I can.

Obviously, I’m working on my skill set right now—Mitch had a great skill set. I’m working to get that good and hopefully be ‘there.’”

Sooner or later, Doyle will get “there.” Despite struggles through the first 20-something games of his career, he’s already shown the ability to produce in the post by dunking, rebounding and blocking—just like a healthy McGary.

The next step is to further develop touch and finesse. The touch will come in time, as it did for McGary, but silky moves to the rim are already part of his arsenal, as shown by the accompanying Vine (Note: Picture a No. 4 on the jersey—that helps):

Bring the ‘Bows

In his eight years of coaching the Wolverines, coach John Beilein said he’s never seen a player invite physical contact as much as Doyle—well, with exception to McGary, who was a 6’10”, 255-pound load to handle in the paint.

“You can get a lot of big guys who are not going to take charges. They don’t embrace physicality, they shoot fadeaway jump shots because they don’t like that physicality—that’s never been in Ricky’s nature since the day he walked in here,” Beilein said.

“That’s a mindset, and he has certainly got the body. When he walked in here this summer and they began the strength training, he certainly had to change the look of his body but John Sanderson told me right away, ‘This kid is strong.’ Just look at the bench press, it’s like he’s lifted for two years, even though he hasn’t. He was country strong coming in…”

Doyle is learning to play smarter and dodge fouls, said Beilein, but so far, so good for the robust former swimmer. 

Mitch Digs It

McGary's spent most of his time rehabbing his back, but the Oklahoma City Thunder forward has found enough time to catch up on the Wolverines—and he’s paid some attention to Doyle, who should evolve into a reliable star, he says.

Once alerted of Beilein’s comparison, McGary agreed. In fact, he let loose with a satisfied laugh when told of the bruising compliment from his former coach.

“I definitely like that,” he said. “I remember playing some open gym this summer with him when I went there. He’s very physical, likes contact, doesn’t shy away from it. That’s something that’s really good in the college game—not many bigs can play [with that type of] physicality.”

Doyle recently recalled that sparring session: “It was a fun open gym. We just played up and down a couple of times. He was coming at me, I was going at him. We were just having fun—just playing basketball, the game we love.”

Having the opportunity to play Doyle was memorable. McGary sees shades of himself in Michigan's next star forward. 

"When I hung out with him this summer, you know—he’s just a big, nice, goofy kid similar to me," he said. "We both like to have fun. Always had a smile on his face, always working hard—see a lot of similarities in each other. I hope that he sticks to it and stays diligent and has integrity with his work and becomes a great player."

Ask Around

Spike Albrecht, a captain and junior point guard, understands the physical comparison, but that’s where it ends—Doyle and McGary each have unique personalities that, at times, can be worlds apart. 

“They both got high motors,” said Albrecht, who played two years with McGary. “Ricky has that high motor and intensity. A little bit mean at times the way he attacks the glass and things like that. I’m not going to say he’s quite as crazy as Mitch (laughs), but he’s definitely doing a great job.”

But wait a second…crazy? Please elaborate, Spike.

“Mitch is at a whole other level than anyone I’ve ever met,” Albrecht said. “But that’s why I love him. They’re different players in the sense of their style, they’re much different. But Ricky has a chance to be a really good player here—his work ethic and things like that, we have high expectations for him.”

Doyle’s aggressive nature definitely puts him in the McGary ranks—but his attention to detail is often overlooked, and it’s actually one of the better parts of his game, says star junior wing Caris LeVert.

McGary was a stickler for crossing Ts and dotting Is.

“On the court, they both listen really well,” LeVert said. “When you tell them something, they’ll pretty much do it word-for-word—which is really good when you’re a guard for a big to listen to you like that.

Doyle is encouraged to be himself—he doesn’t have to evolve into a carbon copy of McGary. But he certainly has the potential to equal or eclipse McGary, who set the bar. 

“I definitely think so," LeVert said. "It’s tough to compare them now, obviously, because Mitch is an NBA player and Ricky’s still a freshman, but there’s definitely some potential there in Ricky.”

Not enough?

Ask McGary—he sees nothing but progression in Doyle’s future.

“If anything, he might be ahead [of my development],” McGary said. “I was a little bit older as a freshman and didn’t really get thrown into the fire like he has.

He’s playing quite a bit of minutes his freshman year. Towards the end of my freshman year, I played the majority of the minutes—but he’s getting thrown into the fire pretty early, and he’s going to learn some lessons.”

Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan Wolverines basketball writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81

Unless otherwise noted, quotes were obtained firsthand by the writer via press conference and other media availability.

Special thanks to the OKC Thunder’s John Read and Matt Tumbleson for McGary quotes, and to Michigan assistant SID Chad Shepard for the Doyle quotes.