Originally Posted by
scottdude8
Todd has explicitly said he doesn't view himself as a center, but as a stretch 4, and my understanding is that's the role Howard sold him on. Yes, he has the size to play college 5, no doubt. But I'd be shocked if that's the plan, and even more shocked if Dickinson sees Todd as competition for PT.
FWIW, Livers is a guy who can play the 3, and I would imagine that's the plan for him next year. Many Michigan fans think that this year's best Wolverine lineup, especially while Franz Wagner is out, is a twin-towers situation with Teske and the previously mentioned Castleton, with Livers at the 3. Livers is a plus defender and mobile for his size, so more than capable of filling that role.
Going into last year I thought Johns might play as a big, especially in Beilein's system, and there were a couple of games where he ended up doing so out of necessity due to fouls/injury. But he looked like a deer in the headlights in the paint. He's another guy who, despite his body, is more comfortable on the perimeter, and is more naturally either a stretch-4 or a large-3. Again, with Howard's emphasis on more traditional big man play, Johns isn't going to be starting at the 5 unless something major changes.
Again, none of this is to say that these aren't things that Dickinson might think about. But in my mind if a school is selling him on the ability to step onto campus and be the starting "center", in the most traditional sense of the word, Michigan has the best pitch since Mark Williams committed.
Another disclaimer, I know NOTHING about Dickinson's thought process here. I don't know whether early PT/starting is playing a factor in his decision. But just playing things out, if that is at the forefront of his mind there isn't anyone on Michigan's roster next year of the caliber of Wililams to compete with.
And for those who are going to accuse me of dual-allegiances, OF COURSE I WANT HIM AT DUKE! Just trying to keep things realistic and key everyone in on what the "other side" is saying, which as is noted often on the front page is sometimes the best way to judge the trajectory of recruiting.