MGoHall of Fame: Basketball Nominees Comment Count

Brian

See also: what this is, hockey nominees.

Zack Novak

2009-0104-ad-umbball237[1]medium_321novak[1]

PROS: If he was a Football Manager player, would have an influence and work rate of 20. This means he's a gritty grittenstein who everyone loves because he defies his physical limitations to be pretty good. Had an Aneurysm of Leadership to lead Michigan to its first victory in Breslin since 1997.

Also nailed six threes in that game. Iconically bled all over himself in a game against Illinois during Michigan's first tourney push since the program's NCAA immolation. Kind of a walking capital-L Leadership avatar. The kind of player opposing fans loathe. Our Brian Cardinal. Swears like a sailor and has problems keeping his emotions in check.

Can dunk!

CONS: Was never a star. Senior year usage was 14.3%, in the "role player" arena. Repeatedly posterized by men a half-foot taller than him, though this could be filed under a positive from a grit perspective. Clocked an OSU player late in a loss to get booted.

Darius Morris

PROS: Amazing sophomore year saw him finish top five in assist rate nationally and shoot efficiently despite an astronomic usage rate. Told Kalin Lucas to get off his #$&*ing court, and Lucas had to since Michigan had just swept Michigan State for the first time since paper was invented. Was the engine of Michigan's second tourney birth since the NCAA immolation, this one not a skin-of-your-teeth bubble nailbiter. Nearly led Michigan to an upset of Duke in the secound round. If only that floater had dropped…

CONS: Made a poor decision to enter the draft early, limiting his impact to that one year—his freshman year was not exactly Trey Burke's. Draft entry decision seemingly taken in full knowledge that he was unlikely to go in first round. That's tough to take, and it seems like a one-year phenom has to be more phenomenal to get in here.

Also while it's not his fault that Tim Doyle called him "butterfly," it is a regrettably true thing.

Manny Harris

PROS: Best player on Michigan's tourney-drought-breaking team, with massive usage (32%, top 25 nationally), a nearly-as-massive assist rate, and okay shooting. Major factor in the win at Minnesota that essentially got Michigan into the tourney.

A guy who signed up with Michigan when he had other options and there wasn't much reason to be a Wolverine. Stuck with it despite the Amaker firing. Way less crazy than Alex Legion. Actual full name is "Corperryale L'Adorable Harris," which… wow. Key guy in Michigan's perception-altering wins over UCLA and Duke in 2009.

CONS: Also made a debatable-at-best decision to enter the draft early and has spent his NBA career on the fringes of the Cavs' roster. Had blowups with Beilein that caused him to sit during critical periods. Tended toward lazy habits like jacking up contested threes. Had a little Rasheed Wallace disease while at M wherein he seems like less than he should be. Michigan disappointed greatly in his final year despite losing only a couple of walk-ons and Kelvin Grady.

Daniel Horton

NITMICHIGAN_t440[1]images[1]

PROS: Yeah, he's eligible. If this is a surprise it just goes to show how long ago 2006 seems in basketball terms.

Horton's teams never made the tournament but in his last go-round he was the main man on an outfit Kenpom likes better (#31) than a couple of Beilein outfits that got in. And he was fantastic: 28% usage the #35 assist rate, a bunch of steals, 90% free throw shooting, 49% from two, and 39% from three. That team would have made the tourney if they a) hadn't gone from 16-3 to 18-10 to end the year and b) hadn't blown it against Minnesota in the Big Ten tournament.

I think we all forget how good Horton was because his teams never got anywhere.

CONS: Teams never got anywhere. He's holding the NIT MVP trophy above, a career-summing photo if there ever was one. While this isn't his fault it is a downer. Got suspended for most of his junior year thanks to a domestic violence thing he pled guilty to.

DeShawn Sims

Michigan's DeShawn Sims holds up a framed game jersey as he and fellow seniors Zack Gibson and Anthony Wright were recognized before their final game at Crisler Arena. The seniors went out winners with a 83-55 trouncing of Minnesota, Tuesday night March 2nd.<br />
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com95581892_display_image[1]

This was difficult to separate out since there are a number of candidates with things to recommend them: Brent Petway, Graham Brown, and Stuart Douglass were tough to leave out, but they all seemed like junior versions of Novak in the grit category.

PROS: The other top banana on Michigan's drought-breaker. A skilled power forward forced to play out of position at center too much, Sims was a wildly inconsistent player capable of dropping 20 on 8 shots one night and 2 on 8 the next night. These swings correlated very well with the height of his opponent. Are you a below-the-rim 6'8" kid at Northwestern? Forget it. Are you a shotblocker? Enjoy your feast.

Sims came back from an unimaginable personal tragedy—his brother was shot to death—endured during his freshman year to be a mainstay for his final three years. He was high-usage, a quality rebounder, and rarely turned the ball over. These things made up for some eh shooting percentages to make him an efficient player. Another guy who had options but decided to go with Michigan at a time where there was little reason to.

CONS: Has the same knock Manny Harris did since his final year was the disappointing follow-up to the tourney appearance. Was never a really great player and doesn't bring Novak-level fan intangibles (FANTANGIBLES!) with him.

Comments

Blue-Chip

May 14th, 2012 at 1:25 PM ^

They say that the HoF status is a gut feeling, a guy is or isn't. The only one of those that pass the gut feeling test for me is Novak. He may not have been great from what the stats look like, but he was great at being what the program needed at the time.

backusduo

May 14th, 2012 at 1:25 PM ^

Novak to me is the only no brainer.  He is what Mike Hart was to football on the basketball court.  I liked Manny and at least I could say he won some must win games, and played well in others, but at the end of the day I feel you need to be the reason for your team's success, and Manny was just successful, and due to that at times his team was successful, but I never felt it was the other way around.  The good news is with Beilien around we'll have more players to celebrate in years to come, but at this time, only 1 should get in.

mobablue

May 14th, 2012 at 7:27 PM ^

Cmon now. Hart is our all-time leading rusher. He was over 1300 yards every season but #2 (injuries). He only lost 3 fumbles.. that's less than one a year (!!). Novak, grit, etceteras. Mike Hart he ain't.

chitownblue2

May 14th, 2012 at 1:25 PM ^

I'd say Novak and Sims.

Horton fails by being on bad to mediocre teams.

Harris for destroying one year as much as he helped another.

Morris for only having 1 year.

I'd vote Stu over any of them other than Zack and Sims.

imafreak1

May 14th, 2012 at 1:30 PM ^

Recalling the careers of most of these players made me cringe. These were just not good times.

Daniel Horton. He was a fine player but his teams never even made the tourney. He even missed most of a season because he pleaded guilty to domestic violence. That's like pretty bad, you know.

Manny Harris. Seems like he was kind of a locker room cancer. I see no reason for him to be anywhere near a hall of fame.

Darius Morris. A good player but his early exit hurts him. We are talking about a Hall of Fame here and not just a list of players that were good.

Simms was never even the best player on the team. What's he got?

Zach Novak fits the role nicely, I'd say. I mean, if someone must be elected. Although, I am a little confused why screaming on the sideline is considered leadership or even novel. Something something RichRod.

Lionsfan

May 14th, 2012 at 1:32 PM ^

I'll vote Novak and Sims. Horton got me watching the B-Ball team again, but it was the Manny and DeShawn teams that got me going, particularly DeShawn. And Novak just helped redefine the whole program for the future and left it in the best place it's been at since forever

Chobee215

May 14th, 2012 at 1:35 PM ^

Even though it doesnt make sense except on a very basic level, I continue to want to compare Novak to Jud Buechler. Therfor, I vote for Novak since who doesnt like old freckle covered mid-life crisis fathers who shoot 3's sporadically for the Pistons when they werent that great?

Logic. 

Musket Rebellion

May 14th, 2012 at 1:39 PM ^

The only person on this list that I'd vote for would be Novak. Throw Stu on there and I'd vote for him. As much as Novak was the gritty gritstein that we all love, Stu was just as important to the basketball renaissance that we are currently enjoying. Picking one and not even nominating the other seems unfair. 

J. Lichty

May 14th, 2012 at 1:55 PM ^

as much as I like Novak - I would say none are worthy.

Burke and Hardaway have potential to be HOFers, but all others while good players are not Hall of Famers.

Hall of Fame should be a rarified event.  Novak is no more a hall of famer than David Eckstein. 

profitgoblue

May 14th, 2012 at 3:09 PM ^

In my mind, this is a perfect example of the difference between an "actual" HOF and the MGoHOF.  X-factors like grittiness and heart and sports intelligence can make or break a candidate for the MGoHOF in my opinion.  Thus, while much more gifted athletically, Burke will never make it into the MGoHOF over a guy like Novak.  But that's just me.

 

Erik_in_Dayton

May 14th, 2012 at 4:34 PM ^

...of saying that I'll take my ball and go home, this is a pretty pointless excercise if we're not including Novak.  We're already running the heavy risk, IMO, of being absurd by doing this to begin with, and we will have very thoroughly become ridiculous if our standards are going to be typical HOF standards. 

bronxblue

May 14th, 2012 at 5:09 PM ^

Also, not to be a jerk or anything, but putting Hardaway in this mythical HOF and leaving Harris and Morris out is just silly.  Hardaway's great year was with Morris at the helm, and last year, when asked to carry the club, he faultered.  Burke, yes, but Hardaway was disappointing.  Harris at least got his club to the tourney as "the guy", and the same with Morris.

bronxblue

May 14th, 2012 at 2:18 PM ^

I'm all for Horton - guy was a very good player his senior year.  Didn't really evolve as a PG his first three years, but Amaker never struck me as a big player-development guy, so I'm not that surprised.

I'm loving all four.  In terms of overall play, Novak is probably the weakest just because I never felt like he took over games (outside of a couple of 3-point runs).  On a UM team in 5 years, he'd be the plucky bench guy who came in for 5-10 minutes a game.  I love the grit and what he did for the team, but for an HOF I'd like to see a bit more production on the court.

Simms was a good player, and a better guy by all accounts. 

Mtruck

May 14th, 2012 at 2:22 PM ^

For me its Novak and Horton.  Maybe Horton because I went to U of M and had season tickets 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 and remember wishing he had some more help.  I was always optimistic about our team only to be disapointed.  But hey, at least it was super easy to get bleacher tickets those years!

ehatch

May 14th, 2012 at 2:44 PM ^

I think Zack is the heart of the argument about who should get in to the MGoHall.  Are we looking at superstars?  Or are we looking for players that we love?  Because Zack is on the exact opposite spectrum for both of those, not remotely a superstar, but we love him (I love him more than any player in recent memory, only Glen Rice might hold a higher place, but he isn't eligible yet).  He more than any one player is the reason UM ended their NCAA tournament drought.  

 

If we are going for superstardom, I would say none of these players deserve to get in.  Brian asked toward the end of the season, How did this team win the B1G championship?  And the answer was unequivically John Beilein.  If I had 1 vote for a BB enterant into the MGoHall, it would be Coach John Beilein.  I don't recall if Brian's rules specifically forbade coaches.  

profitgoblue

May 14th, 2012 at 3:05 PM ^

Basketball voting is going to be difficult for me because of all the "leave early for NBA" shenanigans.  It'll be hard for me to vote for anyone who only stayed 1-2 years over someone less talented that stuck in for a full 4 years.  So, Novak gets my vote.

 

Blue Durham

May 14th, 2012 at 3:15 PM ^

Back in the late 1970's, early 1980's, Michigan was not very good.  This was after head coach Johnny Orr, who had some great teams in the mid 1970s (1976 NCAA finals Michigan lost to undefeated Indiana) left for Iowa State (!).

During this period Michigan didn't make the tounament, and had a couple of decent players, Mike McGee (one of Michigan's all time leading scorer) and Thad Garner. 

Like Novak, Garner was a very good player and a great leader, and was loved by the fans.  Garner's impact on the teams he played on was such that a Thad Garner leadership award was initiated. 

Later, even when Michigan became a national power with Tarpley, Rellford, Joubert, Rice, Higgins, Grant, etc., Garner's impact on the program was not forgotten.

There are parallels to Novak here, with the difference that Novack was able to get his teams to the NCAA's.  Like Thad Garner, I don't think Novak's contributions will be forgotten anytime soon, even if Michigan again becomes a national power. 

The others listed, not as much.

/OldGuyPerspective

CalifExile

May 14th, 2012 at 3:51 PM ^

.

WAYMAN BRITT OUTSTANDING

DEFENSIVE PLAYER AWARD

Established in 1976, this award is given to

the Michigan basketball player who exhibits

the greatest effort on the defensive end

of the court. Britt was the first recipient

of the award in 1976, when he served as

team captain of a U-M team that was the

national runner-up. Britt became notorious

for his ability to shut down the opposing

team's big scorers, despite the fact that

at 6-2, he was one of the shortest men to

ever play forward for the Wolverines in the

modern era.

 

STEVE GROTE

HUSTLE AWARD

Established in 1977, this award is given

each year to the player who displays the

greatest effort on the court, in both practice

and games. Steve Grote, a four-year

starting guard for U-M from 1973-1977

and a first team Academic All-American

for three consecutive years, became the

first collegian ever to play in four consecutive

NCAA Tournaments and was

an instrumental member of two Big Ten

Championship teams in 1973-74 and

1976-77.

CalifExile

May 14th, 2012 at 3:38 PM ^

This one really makes me want to see the criteria changed: move the end of their career to 2003 so we can vote for Lavell Blanchard.

He came to Michigan knowing the program was in trouble and stayed 4 years, becoming the fifth player to lead an NCAA team in scoring and rebounding four times.

My name ... is Tim

May 14th, 2012 at 3:42 PM ^

First, I'd just note that any list that does not include Amadou Ba as a choice - he led the B1G in congratulatory high fives all four years during a not very worthy of congratulations Amaker era and he also stiffed my buddy his half of the rent during his time in Ann Arbor - is invalid.

However, with these options, I vote:

1. Novak - I think Novak is deserving but he's almost more of a symbol than an actual player deserving of the hall. There's no doubting his gritty grittyness, and his status as ultimate glue guy, but I feel like I'm just voting for him because he represents the resurrection of Michigan basketball. Whatever, he gets my vote.

2. DH - I'm biased because I went to UM during the DH era. I sadly sat through almost every single home game during my four years, all of which were spent during the Amaker era. I, and others like me, deserve a merit badge much more so than sitting through the 2008 Northwestern game. That said, Daniel Horton was the one beacon of light during that whole era. There were some down moments, yes, but he led us to that win against MSU that had everyone believing in Michigan again (only to have our soul sucked out later), and was the first borderline marquee basketball talent to put on the Maize and Blue for some time. He should also get bonus points for having been coached by Amaker, whose talent development skills surpass only those of perhaps Rich Kotite.

7NK7

May 14th, 2012 at 4:02 PM ^

Novak. mostly for his leadership. okay, almost all for his leadership. i will say im voting for him versus anyone else for a lack of better options. the basketball team since 2005 hasnt had many guys worthy enough to be a true HOFer, and since 1 is mandatory i give Novak the bid by default. 

UMaD

May 14th, 2012 at 4:25 PM ^

Harris simply meant way more to the rise of Michigan basketball.  I like Novak (who doesn't) but he gets way too much Eckstein-credit. The guy battled and gamely played PF despite being 6'3.  That's great, but it also benefited him greatly on the other end to be able to get around people. Also, he was extremely athletic and pretty darn strong for his size.  His 'grit' is a little overrated - guy has excellent raw physical abilities.

Like Harris-Sims, he's linked up with Douglass, who did a lot of the same team-oriented glue-guy things, even playing out of position at PG a good bit.

Harris contributed 3 years here, which is enough (unlike Morris).  He was the most important player when it comes to pushing Michigan out of the doldrums.

DingoBlue

May 14th, 2012 at 5:00 PM ^

Member of first Michigan team to be B1G Regular Season Champions since before I was born.

1000+ career points

500+ career rebounds

4 years

If that's not tangible then I don't know what is.

umfanchris

May 14th, 2012 at 5:00 PM ^

Novak and Horton get my vote.

Novak helped bring this program around, was always consistent, worked harder then anyone, and was always the first person on the floor for a loose ball. He had a great work ethic that I hope the younger players were able to pick up.

Horton was a beast. His freshman year they would have been in the tournament had they been eligible. Sophomore year they won the NIT. Senior year they went 22 - 11(8 - 8 Big Ten) and very well should have made it (it's not his fault that Amaker never wanted to schedule a tough opponent.)

I wouldn't be upset at all with any of the others, but these 2 get my vote!! 

MGlobules

May 14th, 2012 at 5:27 PM ^

mensch(es). IIRC, this is about mgoblog and how we as fans FEEL about these players in retrospect, right? 

Had Darius stuck around, no question. . . he had one of the most inspired years ever in an M uni last year. But for me one year of greatness does not an MGOBLOG HOF'er make.

champswest

May 14th, 2012 at 10:22 PM ^

their own way, but it seems Hall of Fame (even on a blog) requires more substance.  I love Zack, but the production just wasn't there.  Leadership and grit are very important, but, by themselves, not enough.  I have proposed many times that an award should be named after him (perhaps the "charges taken" award).  Let's wait a few years to see if Zack stands the test of time.

From this list, Horton comes the closest.  Lack of team accomplishment should not be an excluding factor in my book.  Leaving school after your sophmore season is a factor (sorry D-Mo.  Are you listening, Trey?).  Being a good teammate should be heavily considered (I'm looking at you, Manny).  Sims just wasn't good enough or consistant enough.

Omjoey

May 14th, 2012 at 5:53 PM ^

Manny Harris was the largest contributor to michigan's rise, even leading the team to a first round win in the tourney. Novak and Sims are close behind.

Bob Tabachino jersey

May 14th, 2012 at 6:07 PM ^

did more with the least.  Our Robert Horry, but career captain instead of sixth man.

Tozmo

May 14th, 2012 at 6:21 PM ^

Yay for the Football Manager reference.  I still play Championship Manager 03/04.  I'm in 2028.  I essentially have no life.  Kids (and a job) do that.

SamGoBlue2

May 14th, 2012 at 7:00 PM ^

Well I have a  couple of thoughts to share on this idea, which I think is a great one, and on some previous comments.

First off, I think almost all of these players are deserving of MGoHOF statuses. If we could vote for as many as we'd like, I would select all but DMo. I loved everything about Darius Morris - wearing the Maize Rage t-shirt in warm-ups before every home game, committing to Michigan when it wasn't very cool despite being a 4-star with multiple other offers and from 3/4 of the way across the country, assisting/scoring over half our buckets his sophomore season, standing up to Kalin Lucas after The Sweep, etc - but leaving after only one productive season when he seemed somewhat destined for the second round left a sour taste in my mouth. Now that I think about it though, I think DMo deserves his place as well. He certainly did a lot for the program and helped Michigan accomplish a good deal that probably would not have been realized without that sophomore season of his.

Secondly, obviously Novak will be (deservedly) voted in, but I will be extremely upset if Stu doesn't get his own recognition. As has been proposed before, I am also a proponent of the Stu/Novak entry. Someone already pointed out that he only led Michigan in either points or rebounds one time out of eight opportunities (rebounds junior season I think), and while his leadership should not go unnoticed, I believe MGoBlog would also be remiss to pass over Stu and his leadership contributions over the last four years. Their numbers were really not all that different in four seasons, and it is also note-worthy to add that Stu, not Novak, actually became the all-time leader in games played in Michigan history this past season. Novak places high on the list of games played, games started, and minutes played, but isn't number one in any of those categories.

3. (Numbers just seem easier) I have also mentioned in another comment what I think bears repeating. Novak and Stu had basically no other option than Michigan if they wanted to play high major basketball, and both embraced the opportunity Beilein presented to them and ran with it, obviously for the better of the program as a whole. This is in stark contrast to other nominees here like Daniel Horton, Darius Morris, Deshawn Sims, and especially Manny Harris. Horton played four years for Tommy Amaker and was brilliant despite having Dion Harris chucking shots and just about no one else around him in his career, helping us take down State in their high-water years (yes, I believe their in-state dominance is over) two or three times. Morris knew what he was getting into and made the most of it, leading us to the tourney his sophomore year and nearly helping us reach the Sweet 16, but played sparingly his freshman year and left to be drafted in the second round after his record-setting second year. Peedi stuck around despite having committed to and playing one season under Amaker, and while he was never consistently great, he had some amazing games, co-led us to the tournament for the first time in a gazillion years, dealt with the tragic loss of his brother (who was by all accounts his best friend), and stayed four years. Manny was in a similarly precarious situation after committing to Amaker with Legion and Grady (who lasted a combined two years in the basketball program) just to see him get fired and Beilein, whose system honestly didn't fit Manny at all, take over. Manny was long rumored headed to Tennessee after this happened but instead decided to stick it out and really started the turnaround we are seeing today. If Manny did not come to Michigan, we are simply not where we are today. He led us to upsets over UCLA and Duke his sophomore year, led the team in scoring all three seasons, made Michigan cool again, and was simply Fresh til the end. Yes, he left early and went undrafted (some purport due to an injury suffered), but can you really blame him? Him and Sims were as close as can be, and truthfully Manny would have served himself better if he left after only one year. Also note-worthy: Manny and Peedi are the only two players from Michigan, and specifically Detroit, on this list. That probably doesn't mean much, but it should count for something. Would anyone (still reading) perhaps back my recommendation of a Manny Harris-Deshawn Sims dual HOF entrance as well? If I have to vote individually, it's:

1. Manny Harris (Novak is getting in regardless, he doesn't need my vote)

2. Daniel Horton

3. Deshawn Sims

4. Darius Morris

If I had my way, though:

1. Manny Harris - Deshawn Sims (Call it the Manny/Peedi entry if you will)

2. Stu Douglass - Zack Novak

3. Daniel Horton

4. Darius Morris

BraveWolverine730

May 14th, 2012 at 7:39 PM ^

The biggest problem with this exercise is that we're deciding between guys we all love(since obviously they all went to Michigan).  Looking at the criteria again, I gotta say that it's Novak or none for me in this round. I don't know the football candidates yet, but I can't see Woodley/Graham not getting in and I can't put any but maybe Novak ahead of even a guy like Martin(not to mention Zoltan possibly). This is before looking at the hockey guys who probably also deserve at least two entries. 



Edit: The fact that I forgot Henne/Hart/Long just goes further to show how big a gap there is between sports. In conclusion, I like all these guys, but I still think only Novak should get in.