Michigan basketball: Danny Wolf limiting turnovers and growing as a creator, Vladislav Goldin's finishing ability is 'special'

Michigan Wolverines basketball junior forward/center Danny Wolf is one of the most unique players in the country. The 7-foot-0, 250-pounder is a primary ball handler for the Maize and Blue, playmaking through pick-and-rolls and other actions.

The Yale transfer has been turnover-prone — averaging 3.3 per game — but is limiting them lately as he’s established himself as one of the best and most valuable players in the Big Ten.

In a six-game span from Jan. 4 to Jan. 24, Wolf recorded 4.2 turnovers per contest on average. But in the six games since then, he’s averaging only 1.8 — that’s 17 assists to 11 turnovers, all while his role as a ball-handler continues to grow.

“Even the first turnover he had [against Ohio State], it was weird because I felt like [graduate center] Vlad[islav Goldin] and [junior guard] Tre [Donaldson] were open, and he kinda threw it in between the two. I didn’t ask him if it slipped or whatever the case, but for that to be his only turnover with his usage and having guards underneath him … he’s using his pivots better, he’s using his size and stature more effectively than he was earlier in the year. He’s not over dribbling, and he’s taking what the game gives him.

In addition to running the ball screen with Goldin, Wolf is picking his spots better on how to take different defenders — big, small and everyone in between (teams are throwing a bunch of different looks at him). The gravity changes when he’s on the floor, too, with opponents having to load up to stop him, which opens up opportunities for his teammates.

“The play to end the first half was indicative of his growth,” Michigan’s coach explained. “Tre Donaldson set a great screen, and Danny found him on a diagonal skip across the court. He got a great look; it didn’t drop, and Vlad gets the tip in because they were off balance.

“He had guards on him last night. Ohio State put their guards on him, so he was able to play over the top a little bit more.”

Wolf didn’t run ball screens at all before Michigan started experimenting with it in workouts over the summer. He was a center growing up and at Yale, but he has extraordinary skills with the basketball in his hands. It’s been a growth process, and he’s improving at taking care of the ball.

“Some of his turnovers this year have been where he saw something as an elite passer that maybe a cutter didn’t see,” May explained. “And also — I’m not complaining about officiating — but he’s not throwing it when Vlad’s open. He sees it before Vlad’s open. He’s reading the coverage and throwing it before Vlad’s open, so if Vlad starts to roll to where he’s going, and the guy that weighs 240 pounds grabs his arm and holds him and the ball drops to no man’s land, it’s easy to point the finger at Danny.

“But that’s where’s he’s adjusted. We said, ‘We can’t control that, so now you’ve gotta make these adjustments and tweaks so if they do, do that, and it’s not called, then it’s not a turnover. We still have an option to go to the next thing.’

“He’s adjusted. He’s simplified some things. But just the reps and experience that he’s getting night in, night out, is probably the best thing for his growth.”

Vladislav Goldin gets taken for granted

Goldin leads Michigan in scoring (15.7 points per game), the only player on the team who averages 13-plus points. He adds 6.2 rebounds per contest, too, and is coming off an outing versus the Buckeyes where he hauled in 6 offensive boards.

However, he may even be underrated. May said amid a slow start to the season for the Russian he wanted to see “Mad Vlad” finish with more power around the rim. While he’s totaled a team-high 27 dunks, his skill and touch are at an extremely high level, and that’s been on display lately. He just poured in 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting from inside the arc against Ohio State and is shooting 63.4 percent at the rim this Big Ten season, making a lot of contested looks.

“Mad Vlad … it was more touch and skill Vlad last night,” the Michigan coach noted. “He was knocking in the floaters, he was on the glass. They blocked one shot off the backboard, and he caught it in the air and dunked it before anyone in the gym knew what the heck happened.

“He’s just finding different ways to impact the game. He had a big shot block late whenever they were on their run — I think it was [Ohio State forward Evan] Mahaffey who shot it — and those have a residual effect.

“He’s just a good basketball player. We take him for granted.”

The 4-5 pick-and-roll wouldn’t be what it is without Wolf’s handles and passing ability, but Goldin is a huge part of it, too.

“Danny gets a lot of credit for the 4-5 pick and roll, but find me another big that finds space like he does and catches the ball in front, behind, low, high, wherever,” May continued.

“He left a couple on the floor last night that didn’t drop for him, but his ability to catch on the move and finish … turn on a game tonight — it’s not something that you’re going to see a lot in college basketball. Obviously, there’s a partnership that makes it all work, with the shooting around them and the screens that the guards set to help give those guys separation, but man, Vlad’s ability to catch and finish on the move is special.”

And it’s one of the big reasons why Michigan is competing for championships down the stretch in May’s first season.