Burke Departure: Possible Comment Count

Brian

Trey-Burke[1]Untitled-1[1]

Trey Burke may have said he'd be back next year in the immediate aftermath of Michigan's ouster from the NCAA tourney, but those things are always subject to change once the emotion of a tough loss wears off.

It has, and now Burke's dad is saying stuff like this:

"We figured we had to at least see what's going on," Benji said. "That's where we're at. We're wanting to see where we're at and go from there.

"Trey just got to Ann Arbor. We just got here, and now we're talking about him leaving. It's just tough, it's a tough decision but hopefully we'll be back in Crisler this year. ... As of now, we're coming back. But anything can change. We're open."

That AnnArbor.com article is headlined "Burke to look into NBA draft stock, still leaning towards staying." The analogous article at the Free Press is of course titled "Trey Burke strongly considering leaving Michigan for NBA draft," because obviously. Pick your probability from amongst options.

Burke's dad says he's had reports that Trey could go anywhere from 18-24th overall. That is greatly divergent from draft boards maintained by Chad Ford (where he ranks 72nd) and Draft Express (not in the top 100, last pick of the first round in their 2013 mock) and could be agents trying to get a kid to sign; that's why they have advisory boards.

I don't think Burke's in a situation like Darius Morris, who left with full knowledge he probably wouldn't be a first-rounder, but at this point any Michigan fan who's assuming is doing the understandable thing.

If Burke does end up declaring Michigan is of course totally boned. At this point the #2 PG is either a walk-on or a 6'6" shooting guard who isn't even on campus yet. They'd probably get a transfer or late commit or something given the obvious opportunity but Trey Burkes don't grow on trees. With the NCAA moving up the withdrawal date over and over again at least we won't have to wait long to know: Burke is in or out by April 10th.

Comments

Bluegoose

March 21st, 2012 at 9:04 PM ^

Whoever it is, it seems like if they are looking, then they're going. Whether it is Darius, or any one of many recruits (Colorado kid went to Auburn recently, or Brionte to Ohio), or whoever; lately it has not come out Michigan's way.

It used to be more about Michigan and what it could do for the kid. Now it seems the other way around. Basketball worse of them all. Agents, money, and the me factor. That is why I like Brady so much. Beillien too. Sorry to say, as much as I liked Burke, if he goes , he goes, and welcome to the new guy who will take his place.

Jon Benke

March 21st, 2012 at 11:16 PM ^

That's what I want to know, right now.

I love his game, love his potential, but if you think Trey Burke is a first round pick, drafted between 18-24, you are sadly mistaken.  Where do these kids get their information from, seriously?  Every year, for as long as I remember, 100+ kids go pro .... and there are only TWO ROUNDS in the damn draft.  That's 64 drafted players, and only the first rounders get guaranteed contracts -- AHHHHH!!!!!!!!

Dude, he can't be serious about leaving .. he can't.

Section 1

March 22nd, 2012 at 11:43 AM ^

If you read Mark Snyder's article, it is pretty fair, and reasonably well-written.

Regarding the headline, which I will bet dollars-to-doughnuts that Snyder did not write, it is every bit as disgracefully hysterical as Brian Cook suggests.  "Because obviously."

A good friend asked me about the Snyder story and the Free Press headline yesterday, and that is what I told him.  I don't think the Free Press is out to "get" Michigan.  I think the Free Press would like nothing better than a Michigan championship in something.  it would be the kind of news that sells papers and website hits.  The Trey Burke story has dominated the Freep.com's "Most Popular" list since it broke.  And the rest of the Top 10 list is almost entirely Michigan and Michigan State basketball and football stories.

College athletics is money for the Free Press.  I don't think that the Free Press has any vendetta against Michigan, per se.  Drew Sharp does, but Drew Sharp has an issue with most organized things.  Sharp, Snyder and Rosenberg all got their college degrees at Michigan.

There was and still is a vendetta at the Free Press, and it was personalized, as to Rich Rodriguez.  That animus was such a powerful motive for Rosenberg and Snyder that they didn't care if they hurt Michigan's football program, as they surely did. 

French West Indian

March 21st, 2012 at 6:14 PM ^

...it's not much but the good news that some blueberry confiture from Verbier just arrived on my desk.  I'm really looking forward to breakfast now!

Blue boy johnson

March 21st, 2012 at 6:21 PM ^

I posted this in another thread and it sums up my thoughts.

I think Burke is better than Morris or Manny

I think Burke might go in the first round and so does he, which is why he is checking it out to find out what the real evaluations for him are. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Burke go and get drafted in the first round

Burke is not the quickest PG out there but he is well built, strong, smart, committed and highly skilled. He might just be a really good NBA PG. He is more in the Andre Miller mode in that he is not fast but he might just be quick enough to be effective. Then again Burke's game may not translate to the NBA, but he will not greatly enhance his draft status by coming back again next season IMO

My boy Royce White on Iowa State recently jumped 81 spots on one sites recruiting ranking, going  from 101 to 20 in the upcoming NBA draft after his NCAA performance, so Burke's status could change greatly by time the draft rolls around.

 

matty blue

March 22nd, 2012 at 11:21 AM ^

i could list...oh...a THOUSAND guys who were unproductive and / or disappointing in college but who became first round picks.  the opposite is also true - guys who were terrific in college but never got legitimate shots at the nba.  actual game performance - particularly on a game-to-game basis - means next to nothing.

nba scouting is all about potential, to an absurd degree.

WolvinLA2

March 21st, 2012 at 6:38 PM ^

Trey Burke might be a better college player than either of those guys, but I don't know if he's a better pro prospect.  Burke is a better scorer than Morris, both from long range and driving to the basket.  However, he's 5 inches shorter, and he doesn't have the athleticism to make up for it. 

Even if he's a slightly better pro prospect at this point than either of those two, that isn't saying much, since Manny and Morris are hanging onto the NBA by their teeth right now. 

Needs

March 21st, 2012 at 6:42 PM ^

I don't get the Andre Miller analogy. Miller could be 'quick enough' because he was 6'4 and could see over the top of people. And Burke's much quicker and faster than Miller.

Burke's analogue is Tony Parker. He just needs to work on his ability to play fast and in control, which is the only real weakness in his offensive game. (Defensively, I think he needs some work). When he plays very fast, he tends to turn the ball over a bunch, as we saw against Ohio. Whether college or the pros is the best place to learn that, I'm not sure. Hopefully, he's smart enough to stay if he doesn't get a first round grade. 

El Jeffe

March 21st, 2012 at 7:03 PM ^

Well shoot, that's the problem, isn't it? Parker wasn't quick, he was supercollider quick. Trey is a good college basketball player who had some very good games and did things that most freshman don't do. But Tony Parker? Hell no.

EDIT: BTW, I'm agreeing with you.

STW P. Brabbs

March 22nd, 2012 at 7:53 AM ^

This shit has reminded me to keep my emotional distance from Michigan basketball.  Even if I did enjoy watching basketball as much as I do football, dealing with the constant looming threat of the NBA is a real fucking pain in the ass.   Because of the nature of the game, any individual attrition in basketball is exponentially more likely to fuck up an entire season, to boot.  In football, even if your starting QB decides to up and transfer - which is an extremely rare event - you have more of an opportunity to recruit and develop depth behind him than you do for say, I don't know, the PG position in basketball.   As someone points out later on, you're almost put in a position where you're rooting for your best players to struggle a bit in basketball.  Fun times.

So yeah, college basketball does kinda suck.  If it wasn't for the tournament, it would have a fan profile more similar to college baseball: a core group of committed diehards with little broad interest nationally.   I realize that's a fairly mountainous hypothetical, but think of it this way:  without the tournament, do any regular season college basketball games get televised nationally?

Blue boy johnson

March 22nd, 2012 at 9:39 AM ^

Fear of the unknown.

Lotsa games are televised nationally on an almost daily basis.

As far as Michigan Bball and attrition, the 3 guys lost yesterday will be replaced rather easily and even possibly with better players. Smot is the only player who played significant minutes among the three. M has 2 redshirt centers, (Horford and Bielfeldt) who will be available next year. Also 3 top ranked recruits coming aboard. Counting Novak and Stu, M loses 5 players and as of now stand to gain 5 players. If Ziegler and Amadeo decided to go Blue  the team is actually stronger than before the 3 transfers. Future still quite bright.

STW P. Brabbs

March 22nd, 2012 at 10:33 AM ^

I know perfectly well that lots of games are televised nationally, but my contention is that a national fan base for basketball only exists because of the tournament.  As a side note, I'm guessing that the ratings for most of those games is less than impressive in most cases.

The overall talent level on the roster will be better next year, even if Burke leaves.  But if he leaves, they have no point guard.  So they won't be a better team.  I'm not a basketball expert, but that seems difficult to dispute. 

But the broader point is that even if we are better next year, it will be because of the outstanding performances of young players.  Which will engender defection (or at least the possibility thereof) to the NBA.  The impact of which can only be ameliorated by the influx of new players the following year. 

I like to be able to watch the careers of guys like Junior Hemingway, David Molk, Chad Henne, Brian Griese. etc., etc. develop.  I like not having to worry that players will not have too good a year.  I know there are people who really like college basketball - my wife's one of them.  I just don't really get the appeal.

 

Blue boy johnson

March 22nd, 2012 at 11:35 AM ^

Sounds to me, in my expert opinion, you just don't like college hoops. There is a good deal of attrition in football as well. This could be Taylor Lewan's last year in football, let's hope not. With the type of talen Hoke is bringing in, players leaving after their junior season will increase, it''s part of the deal of being good. Alabama football, Roll Damn Tide, is constantly refreshing their talent. Shane Morris will probably lead about 6 fellow junior teammates to the NFL, after they get their NC.

My advice, start following hoops, it will prepare you for the football exodus to come.

Medic

March 21st, 2012 at 6:28 PM ^

If his dad really said he's been projected anywhere from 18-24 that is so disappointing, he is not even close to that ready for the NBA. Neither was Morris and look how thats turning out now for him (Morris might get 2 or 3 years in the league and that's it).

These kids may be good, but they are not out-of-oven NBA ready the way parents or agents think they might be. Burke needs 2 more years of development before this should even be a discussion. Very sad to see really.

I Bleed Maize N Blue

March 21st, 2012 at 8:49 PM ^

Came up with a couple more verses:

 

Won a Big Ten 'ship

Won a Big Ten 'ship

Won a Big Ten 'ship, but left the dance too soon

You know we need you so

Trey Burke please don't go

 

Wanna make a run

Wanna make a run

Wanna make a run to the Final Four

You know we need you so

Trey Burke please don't go

 

(repeat versese 1 & 3)