basketball

After a solid showing at UM's college practice camp, Beilein extended an offer to the guard who's somewhere between 6'3" and 6'5" depending on what site you're reading.

Beilein went to basically every single one of his AAU games this summer, and he's from the same AAU program that Duncan Robinson is (Middlesex Magic). He goes to Milton Acadmey, a NE prep school.

I bet he ends up in the class (don't have any inside info, but is from a school that appreciates UM academics, has AAU connections, and likes Beilein's slow/low-key recruiting approach).

Since we're all pining for football season to start, and it has yet to oblige, I figured some basketball talk might help us get through this sleepy Friday.

Particularly, I want to talk about Moritz Wagner. He came in at 6' 9" 210 lbs. and showed some promise as a freshman. He showed good hands, shot-blocking ability, and some nice touch around the basket. With some added bulk and more experience in Beilein's system he could have a huge sophomore season.

It appears he's making progress in the size department:

Moe Wagner update, 6'11.5" 240lbs. #EatLiftGrowRepeat pic.twitter.com/li5H7Lecf2

— Jon Sanderson (@CampSanderson) July 14, 2016

Improved vertical as well:

First lift rockin the Jordan Gear! #GoBlue @umichbball pic.twitter.com/EnfOLz02RG

— Jon Sanderson (@CampSanderson) August 1, 2016

In this picture he looks bigger then Donnal and Austin Davis:

Moe Wagner touched 12ft today,his baseline test as a freshmen was 11'4.5" Unbelievable! @umichbball @moritz_weasley pic.twitter.com/qkiXUe4jUW

— Jon Sanderson (@CampSanderson) August 5, 2016

Sam Webb and others have called him the biggest x-factor going into this season. I'm inclined to agree. Looking at the team as a whole, these are the things I think need to happen in order for this team to reach it's potential:

• Wagner plays like McGary lite
• Xavier Simpson is able to successfully platoon with Walton and MAAR in the backcourt
• Irvin plays more consistently
• Billy Donlon takes Michigan's defense to a new level
• Duncan Robinson shoots like we all know he can all season.

I think a lot of these are within reach, which is why I see this team winning the B1G and having a nice deep tournament run. NOW DRINK MY KOOL AID.

Per https://twitter.com/ThomasKithier/status/761322535749349382.

Kithier is a class of 2018 PF from Macomb who is ranked #123 in the 247 composite. Although he did not have a Michigan offer, he was expected to attend this weekend's Elite Camp.

With the NCAA Tournament on the Time Warner channels, this is an interesting development for cord cutters.  Time Warner (TNT, TBS, CNN, etc) will have a 10% stake in Hulu.  Hulu is coming out with their own online live TV service, and those networks will be included.   

There is rumor that Hulu will have a basic $35 package to stream to one in-home or mobile device (I assume one at a time) and $50 for streaming to multiple devices.  As a Playstation user, I probably would not jump ship from PS Vue unless Hulu has a better channel offering.

Link (DetNews)

Can't make this up.  UNC admits it had bogus classes that athletes took for good grades - an entire academic unit, in fact, was a sham.  BUT, UNC says, it's not an issue within the NCAA's authority to punish.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/17202668/north-car...

Apparently, the cheating was so rampant, non-athletes benefitted too.  And nothing in the NCAA rulebook says classes can't be really lame.  So UNC argues, the NCAA can't punish UNC.

It's laughable.  Either that UNC has the iron ballz to say this... or, that they are right.  Either way, what a joke.

Sign of the times, I guess.