Michigan men’s basketball has one of the top guards in the Big Ten in Tre Donaldson, and the freshmen behind him can play too. Sam Walters and Will Tschetter may get more attention off the bench, but first-year rotation players LJ Cason and Justin Pippen have each earned consistent playing time at certain points in the season.
Cason came on strong in the beginning of the season, scoring double-digit points in three of the first four games. In the last four contests however, Cason has played over four minutes just once (Purdue). It took longer for Pippen to find his footing, but he’s seen fairly consistent playing time since a season-high 10 points in 18 minutes against Purdue Fort Wayne on Dec. 22.
Michigan coach Dusty May comments on guard rotation
Head coach Dusty May said it’s tough to give everyone ample playing time.
“It’s just hard to play ten guys. (If) you start playing a rotation (of) 10, 11, 12 guys, man you’re taking Tre Donaldson off the floor,” May said at a press conference Monday. “I think (Pippen’s) been very steady. The competition – I don’t even want to say it’s competition amongst (Pippen and Cason) – it’s just which one can help the group function when they’re in there.
“Sometimes as a freshman backup guard, the role might be which one can hold it in the road, versus which one can go make some plays. And they’re completely different players. (Cason) might be better than anyone on our roster at simply going and making an individual play, but there’s also different layers to that.”
Consistency tends to be something freshmen lack, but up-and-down playing time can make it worse. Adjustments are always possible, but Michigan seems to have its rotation set in terms of expectations. May said it’s beneficial for the players to know where they stand.
“Once you start going (with) one or the other (game-by-game), then they don’t know when they’re going to play,” May said. “It’s even more difficult for them to stay ready if they don’t know if they’re going to play or not. I think Pippen knows now he’s in the rotation. He’s going to come into the game about six minutes in.
“… (Cason) has had really big moments (and) he’s going to help us win some games this year. (Freshman guard) Phat Phat Brooks needs to stay ready because he’s going to have some moments too, and that’s a sign of character. The guys that can keep moving forward when it looks bleak, and it’s very difficult to do, but the special ones can do it.”
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