Most Intriguing Wolverines to Watch: Pippen, Cason, Walters

Michigan, an 89-58 winner Sunday over Purdue Fort Wayne, has an established starting lineup and sixth man. But who steps up in key bench roles will be central to team success

Photo Courtesy of University of Michigan Photography

Freshman guard Justin Pippen, slowed early in the season while recovering from sports hernia surgery, scored a career-high 10 points in 18:40 on the court.

By Steve Kornacki

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Playing rotations are always a work in progress, but Michigan coach Dusty May is in the final stages of establishing his go-to group for the grind of the Big Ten season.

The No. 24 Wolverines (9-3 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) beat Purdue Fort Wayne, 89-58, here Sunday afternoon in the next-to-last non-conference game before playing 17 consecutive Big Ten contests.

The top six players have firmly established themselves, and first guard substitute Rubin Jones is a solid graduate student who will contribute important minutes. He looked good early against Purdue Fort Wayne, but May said he was “dinged” with a minor injury not expected to keep him out, and limited to making the only shot he took from behind the arc in five minutes.

However, for my money, what freshman guards Justin Pippen and L.J. Cason (who May tellingly said needs to improve his practice habits) become by March is keenly important along with 6-foot-10 sophomore forward Sam Walters’ development.

That trio is so central to the success of this team for two reasons: they bring outstanding talent that can cause matchup problems and injuries, unfortunately, are bound to happen. The next-men-up must be ready to step up when called upon for a few minutes or major minutes.

Pippen, who had 10 points against the Mastodons after having just 5 points in all prior games, is perhaps the most interesting player to watch. He’s the son of NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen and the versatile guard from Chatsworth, Calf., has unusually high levels of court savvy and awareness.

“Justin Pippen’s a good player,” said May. “I mean, if he doesn’t get hurt, when he showed up this summer he was ready to play in a college game. And when you miss a summer and fall of practice [timing is off]. And he’s developing that now. He’s sound.

“Seeing his shots go in was great, but I thought he defended well, his communication was good. I think he’s going to be a really good basketball player.”

Pippen has a silky-smooth shot from behind the arc (2-for-4 on Sunday) and also is a deft passer (2 assists) who can rebound well at 6-foot-3 (4 rebounds) and excel on defense.

“It feels good getting in the game and making the most of it,” said Pippen.

His progress this season was slowed by sports hernia surgery that caused him to sit out early with soreness in his groin area.

“I tried to stay positive,” said Pippen. “I knew at one point I was going to get back to [feeling] myself and being confident. Just a couple weeks ago I started feeling like myself, moving comfortable and well.”

When I asked May just who his backup point guard was to Tre Donaldson, he said, “Rubin Jones has been at times. L.J. and Pip have all been that at times. And then, usually when Tre’s out, we try to have Danny Wolf in to help relieve some pressure.”

Wolf is an excellent passer, and matches Donaldson for the team lead with 3.8 assists per game.

Pippen said he played mostly point guard in high school.

“In practice, I play point the most in the second group,” said Pippen. “But point or two [guard].”

I asked him what he’s become more comfortable with as a freshman.

“Just making the right reads coming off of ball screens,” said Pippen. “Knowing when to pass, when not to…Not scoring off one and then having a turnover – just being smarter with the ball.”

And here’s why I think he’s going to be special.

I asked what’s allowed him to develop such court sense so early, and he said, “I’d just say putting myself in uncomfortable situations – ball screen coverage, all these situations.”

So, he likes the dirty work?

“Yeah,” Pippen said with a smile. “If it’s uncomfortable, it’s got to be good.”

That’s a winning attitude.

Walters needs to revert to his early-season prowess. He endured the 0-for-10 streak of missed three-pointers, but the Alabama transfer can be deadly behind the arc and really spreads the court for teammates.

Walters was 11-for-21 on treys in his first five games, averaging 9.4 points. He’s been 4-for-21 on triples in the seven games since, averaging 4.0.

“I wish Sam appreciated as much as we do the gravity he provides on the court,” said May. “And by that, I mean gravity when he checks in a game – they’re worried about his shooting, his floor spacing. Pip got three wide-open threes, and it was the result of Sam running the same lane and the defender committing fully to Sam and leaving Pip open, and then Sam made the right play.

“He’s got to take the pressure off of making and missing and hunting shots. He had a couple nice drives today. We believe in Sam. Just having him on the court makes everyone significantly better.”

Cason scored 14, 10 and 11 points in three of his first four games, but didn’t play in the last two games against Arkansas and Oklahoma and didn’t score in brief action in two Big Ten games prior to that.

I asked May about what Cason, from Lakeland, Fla., needs to improve upon as well as what he does best.

“His practice habits have to improve,” said May. “His day-to-day work. There’s no way I’ve lost any faith in him or we’ve lost any faith in him. He’s a player, and just sometimes you go with guys who have done it at this level, and there’s a comfort level of guys who are 21 versus 18.

“But he’s going to get there if he stays committed to the process of working and growing, and embracing – I guess I don’t want to call it failure because it’s temporary. But just embracing that this is difficult and almost everybody goes through it. And if you bust that wall down, you usually like where you are on the other side.”

So, many of his bench players are works in progress.

How important is it to establish a playing rotation?

“You know, the majority of coaches think that that’s’ important,” said May. “I don’t know. I don’t want to tighten up our rotation because a game is going a certain way. If those guys can continue to practice the way they’ve been practicing and compete – not one day, not two days…but to work like that with longevity, intention, put in extra time, their roles will grow.

“And I told the staff coming out at half time, ‘If any of these guys really decide to communicate at a high level this half, their minutes are going to go up. If these guys show they value the details that win and lose, then they have a real opportunity to improve their minutes and role in the rotation.”

The starting lineup is set with center Vlad Goldin (13 points, 3 rebounds against the Mastodons), power forward Wolf (4 points, game-high 13 rebounds, 5 assists), Donaldson (team-high 16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists) and big guards Roddy Gayle, Jr. (12 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists) and Nimari Burnett (10 points).

Will Tschetter (9 points, 4 rebounds) is firmly established as the sixth man. He fills in for the “Area 50-1” combo of Goldin and Wolf and provides spark, inside-out scoring and rebounding in very productive manners. He’s averaging 6.8 points and 2.3 rebounds in just 14.5 minutes per game.

So, everything’s set among the top six. But who gets the PT after that remains to be seen. It should be interesting to see who steps up and grabs those much-needed, all-important minutes.

Michigan finishes non-conference play with Western Kentucky here Dec. 29, and then travels to new Big Ten schools USC Jan. 4 and UCLA Jan. 7.