And with that, the Fresh Five era has officially ended at Michigan

Submitted by SAMgO on
Spike, Glenn, Mitch, Nik, and Caris, thank you all for helping revive Michigan basketball. You guys brought us a Championship appearance, an Elite Eight, and a whole lot of excitement, and that will not soon be forgotten. Best of luck to all going forward and Go Blue.
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ijohnb

March 29th, 2016 at 10:01 AM ^

think you can go with "what could have been" with regard to this class specifically.  We were two bad calls and two bad bounces away from winning the whole thing one year and one epic shot away from returning to the FF the following year.  This class certainly did not underacheive, and I don't think there is any guarantee McGary would have come back.  Now, "what could have been" in terms of following up this class with better recruting success with top talent, yeah, I can see that.  But a 'SHIP game and an Elite 8.  That is not a "what could have bee," that is a "what WAS."

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Stringer Bell

March 29th, 2016 at 10:45 AM ^

Sorry not to pick on you but we weren't one epic shot away from going to the F4 in 2014. We were an epic shot away from going to OT to play for a spot in the F4, which there's no guarantee we would've won given how Kentucky was dominating us inside and on the glass.

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LSAClassOf2000

March 29th, 2016 at 9:53 AM ^

Thanks for posting this thread, incidentally, for it is a much needed change of pace from the Spike announcement below it which  turned into a tire fire of accusation and presumption before anyone could really do much about it. 

Thanks to these guys for providing some excellent moments that will live on in our basketball memories. I was at Michigan for the end of the Fisher years and the beginning of the Ellerbee era, which provided some fun but also was the beginning of the slide into a long, not so fun period. These guys made it fun again. 

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King Douche Ornery

March 29th, 2016 at 10:32 AM ^

This board ius easy to please.

Yeah, a championship run. An Elite 8. But poop since. I guess two good years, but little more, really than the P word--potential.

Lots of flash with little substance.

Joined: 01/03/2011

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bronxblue

March 29th, 2016 at 10:37 AM ^

So in the four years, they made the championship game, another elite 8, and then the tourney this year even without Spike and Caris. Gawd sometimes the yokels in this fanbase are infuriating.

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gremlin3

March 29th, 2016 at 10:42 AM ^

....that there was simply a disagreement b/w parties as to the risk of playing another season? 

I have faith that Beilein & the medical staff believe that it was in the best interests of Spike and Caris not to play. Other programs with a win-at-all-costs mentality would've questioned their toughness and all but forced them to play. This could've cost Caris an NBA career and Spike a lifetime of walking without limping and hip replacement surgeries.

For some, the chance at glory is worth that risk, and perhaps Spike is one of them. Or perhaps Spike wants to at least play overseas b/c he feels his best earning potential going forward is as a basketball player and, therefore, needs a season to prove he is capable, both in health and ability. 

Whatever the case is, I believe that Coach Beilein is a man of utmost integrity and will always give him the benefit of the doubt in these situations unless facts come forward that prove otherwise.

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7Dime

March 29th, 2016 at 11:37 AM ^

between the shiity foul on burke in the championship and the buzzer beater from Kentucky in the elite 8, it sort of feels like this group got robbed twice. Damn exciting team to watch either way

Joined: 01/22/2016

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Perkis-Size Me

March 29th, 2016 at 1:02 PM ^

It's no coincidence their arrival sparked the best two years in recent memory for Michigan basketball. They were all talented, all contributed heavily, but also, they each helped give this team an identity. They gave it personality. They gave it swagger. Especially Stauskas in year two.

They were good and they knew it. I'm hoping it's not too long before we reel in another class like that.



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UMinSF

March 29th, 2016 at 3:53 PM ^

I've watched UM hoops since the '70's, and never enjoyed a team as much as this one. The '89 team and Fab Five had more talent, but these guys played such a fun style of basketball, with joy and enthusiasm.

Best wish and many thanks to everyone associated with that team, including Coach Beilein.

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