Kornacki: Brooks, Poole, Livers Have a Lot to Learn … and Offer

By Steve Kornacki

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Eli Brooks, Jordan Poole and Isaiah Livers are new in town, new on campus, new to their team. They have a lot to learn. But, they also have a lot to offer.

Brooks has emerged as the starting point guard, and puts the University of Michigan men's basketball team into a flow on offense while making big plays on defense.

Poole came off the bench to drain five of 10 three-point shot attempts for 19 points to spark Saturday's (Dec. 2) 69-55 win over Indiana in the Big Ten opener.

Livers also is getting important minutes and will provide his share of matchup problems over time. He is big and athletic at 6-foot-7 and 230 pounds, and can hit three-pointers as well as hit the boards, run the court and play solid defense.

They totaled 59 minutes against the Hoosiers, and give Michigan something that it sorely lacked last season, when the freshmen evolved slowly. Though center Jon Teske, point guard Zavier Simpson and swingman Ibi Watson are beginning to do some good things as sophomores.

There is something special, though, about Brooks (Spring Grove, Pennsylvania), Poole (La Lumiere School in Indianapolis) and Livers, who was Michigan's Mr. Basketball at Kalamazoo Central.

While they are still learning a great deal on a daily basis, they play with a comfort level. And that is important. It allows them to play the game with self-assuredness through the good plays and the bad plays.

I asked Wolverines head coach John Beilein what enabled them to play that way right away.

"I think it's because they have great personalities," said Beilein. "Every one of them has a very good confidence. They all have confidence in their ability to do things. And they are also embracing adversity as a way of growing."

Brooks has been central to this team -- which had only three of its top seven players returning from last season's Big Ten Tournament championship squad.

He plays bigger than 6-foot, 170 pounds and makes great decisions.

There was a play in the first half Saturday, when he stripped the ball from Indiana's Robert Johnson as he rose off the court with a put-back attempt. Brooks then calmly fed the ball down court for an easy layup.

"This is really why he's in there," said Beilein. "It's his ability to think to the next play. Now, all of his fundamentals aren't there. But his mind is there. To have a freshman playing against a fifth-year guy and have six assists and no turnovers … that was a really good step for him."

Brooks also chipped in five points. Josh Newkirk, the Hoosier Beilein was alluding to, had one assist and one turnover with seven points.

Brooks has never had more than one turnover in a game, and that is a winning stat for a point guard whose assist numbers could be about to pop.

"It's easy to play with great players," said Brooks, who has started five consecutive games. "We're just relying on each other."

He said he likes to watch videotape of players he models his game after, and San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker is his main man. That speaks volumes about Brooks, a coach's son who began studying the game when he was 8. Parker is all about doing what it takes to win, a model of unselfishness.

Poole is emerging as a high-energy gunner off the bench. He's 11-for-24 on treys, and tied with Moritz Wagner (11 of 32) for third on the team behind Duncan Robinson (22 of 61) and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman (13 of 39).

"Jordan Poole has shown those qualities," said Beilein. "He just needed to be good before he tried to be great. Great players just get good shots and make good plays, and they are solid on defense. In practices, there had been a lot of turnovers and bad shots. Now, he's taking care of the ball and he's taking good shots.

"'All right, it's your turn.'"

His "turn" came 15 seconds into the Indiana game. Charles Matthews had just picked up a foul and Beilein wanted Matthews to avoid a quick second foul. So, he signaled Poole to check into the game, and Poole hit two treys in six minutes before Matthews returned. Michigan took the 12-2 lead that ended up putting them in control the entire way.

Michigan head coach John Beilein said Jordan Poole is taking care of the ball and taking good shots, and it showed Saturday with just two turnovers and a team-high 19 points against Indiana.

"Jordan's a playmaker," said Brooks. "He seized the moment. We all knew he could play this well; it was just a matter of time."

Poole earned his 27 minutes, playing with Matthews when Beilein elected to go with a four-guard offense. Even though Poole (6-foot-4, 190 pounds) insisted he played the "four" or power forward position for the first time.

Beilein chuckled when that was mentioned, adding, "Well, we just played with four guards. If he wanted to call himself a 'four' he could do that."

Poole, the team's biggest cheerleader when on the sideline, brings what Wagner calls some major "swag" to the court.

"Having confidence and swagger, I bring it on for everybody else," said Poole. "Like, when Moe (Wagner) hits a three, and I'm turning and I'm right there running with him and I'm yelling. It rubs off.

"I'm the hype man, for sure. I bring a lot of the good energy and positive vibes whether I'm in the game or not in the game."

While Poole and Brooks were front and center against Indiana, Livers had four points and one rebound in 10 minutes. He was coming off season highs of nine points and five rebounds at North Carolina, but Beilein saw notable improvements in his short playing stint.

"Isaiah did some things today," said Beilein. "He got that shot blocked at North Carolina when he had a fast break, and this time he got out and extended. He got ahead of the defense with it, and he had a great give-and-go when he went strong. He's had several times when he caught the ball right underneath the basket, and he threw it out to somebody instead of finishing it.

"So, boy, I love these three freshmen. I love them."

Beilein paused before smiling and adding, "They still make me angry almost every day."

Then he noted that his confidence in them has grown greatly over the last three weeks.

They are enabling this team to potentially come together quicker than last year's -- which didn't appear to be headed to a conference championship or Sweet 16 berth until showing hints in February and then completely meshing in March.

The freshman trio is enjoying their beginnings.

"Jordan's a natural scorer," said Livers. "Eli is a dual threat -- he can shoot the ball and can go to the rack with the floater. He even rebounds with that great wingspan. His passing ability is great. He looks at getting you the basket rather than himself, and that's what I really love about him.

"I'm really proud of both of them. All three of us came in together and stuck together and are picking up things. I think I bring an all-around game and can spread the defense out with a three-pointer, hit a 15-footer or go to the rack. But mostly, I can guard. I move pretty quick and my arms are pretty long."

Brooks said, "It's been great to grow as a group and as individuals."

Poole added, "All three of us are close-knit, and we just want the best for each other. We have bigger roles than a lot of freshmen do, and we have each other's back. Everything's positive. They always tell me in practice, 'When it's your time, just do what you do.'"

Saturday was his coming out party, but each of the freshmen contributed and improved.

They are coming on and learning at a rapid rate.

"Coach B challenges you mentally as well as physically," said Livers, "and that's where your game really grows and takes off."

Watching freshmen take their first big steps is a feel-good time. It's when the future comes calling.