Uhh... April Fools?
Support MGoBlog: buy stuff at Amazon
Smotrycz, Brundidge, Christian All Exit
Filed under:
I had these tweets up from Sam Webb that hinted at some attrition from the basketball team but that's all irrelevant now:
University of Michigan men's basketball head coach John Beilein announced today (Wednesday, March 21) that sophomore forward Evan Smotrycz (Reading, Mass./New Hampton Prep [N.H.]),sophomore forward Colton Christian (Bellevue, Wash./Hargrave Military Academy) and freshman guard Carlton Brundidge (Southfield, Mich./Southfield HS) each decided to leave the Wolverine basketball program and transfer to another school.
Smotrycz is the headliner here. He started the first half of the year before Michigan went to Stu Douglass in the starting lineup; playing out of position the rest of the year at the five he still saw 20 minutes a game and was Michigan's best three-point shooter over the course of the season. He was projected to start at the four next year. His loss is both inexplicable and harmful. Unless Smotrycz was flat out told that McGary and Robinson were going to eat his minutes I don't understand that departure.
Brundidge only saw a few minutes spotting Trey Burke; Christian was also an end of the bench type.
Michigan's scholarship crunch just got blown away: Michigan could bring in two additional guys in the 2012 class and still have room for their three guys in 2013 without any further attrition. They only have one active target, 6'5" Findlay Prep PG/SG Amedeo Della Valle. He's got a top five Michigan is a part of along with Texas A&M, Ohio State, Arizona, and Gonzaga. They could also get in on the Trey Ziegler transfer sweepstakes now.
March 21st, 2012 at 3:21 PM
#2
Uhh... April Fools?
March 21st, 2012 at 4:15 PM
#3
Per UMHoops...
Smotrycz:
“It’s just a matter of what I thought was the right fit, something my family agreed on,” Smotrycz said. “I don’t want to say too much right now in being sensitive to the coaching staff. But it was a decision I had to make to be somewhere I was happy.”
March 21st, 2012 at 5:04 PM
#4
Smot knows they call stupid
Smot knows they call stupid fouls in every league, right?
sheesh...best of luck to him. Wish he would have stuck it out.
March 21st, 2012 at 11:28 PM
#5
HIS NAME IS MITCH MCGARY!!
Man, I can scream .. I tried to post in this earlier, but the site went crazy on me... I haven't been able to express my opinion on so many basketball issues, but here, I hope this finds everyone. I'm not saying why Smotz left, but I am guessing one of the main reasons is the lack of playing time he'd get going forward, mostly from a guy named McGary. Mitch McGary is going to start from day one, there's not much guessing on that one. Smotz can shoot, yea, but you know what he can't do, man the block. We need someone that can be a presence on the inside, rebound on both sides of the floor, while also running the floor and offering up some offense in the process. That's not Smotz, sorry. You know who that is; Mitch McGary. I bet McGary averages more than 5 rebounds more than the guy who finishes second on the team in rebounding, he's going to gobble up that many, so while some might be shocked by all these moves ..... I'm not. We lost depth, sure, but hopefully we can go hard for a guy like Trey Ziegler, and Sam Webb already said on his twitter that we'll have two spots open for the 2012 class, and we desperately need to find a backup PG. Heck, we might have to nab two PGs, that is, if Trey Burke believes the person who told his dad the three biggest lies of 2012, one of which was that his son would go between 18-24 in the first round...
...of the NBA draft!
March 22nd, 2012 at 9:37 AM
#6
is this not a passive aggressive slam at the coaches?
not a fan of his quote; he should have had RVB help him out who would have said something like:
“It’s just a matter of what I thought was the right fit, something my family agreed on,” Smotrycz said. “I loved my time here at Michigan but it was a decision I had to make.”
March 21st, 2012 at 4:55 PM
#7
But... it's March?
But... it's March?
#confused
March 21st, 2012 at 3:24 PM
#8
Smotrycz is very puzzling.
Smotrycz is very puzzling. While this will take our 9 man rotation down to 8, I do not think this should lower anyone's expectations for next year. Still though, I can't help but wonder what caused Smot to want out.
March 21st, 2012 at 4:29 PM
#9
While I think he is an
While I think he is an excellent shooter, our team will be much more athletic w/o him. He will definitely be missed though!
March 21st, 2012 at 5:14 PM
#10
I appreciate Smot's skill
I appreciate Smot's skill with the ball, I'm gratefull for his effort this year, and I wish him well wherever he goes. But with Robinson and McGary likely taking the minutes he would have played, we're almost certainly a better rebounding and defensive team. We won't be able to stretch the floor nearly as well offensively, but McGary and Robinson both look pretty skilled on that end as well. Obviously, we're going to be relying more on true freshman, but I expect both those guys to step in pretty smoothly.
EDIT: I originally read "I do not think" as "I do think" in your post.
=> shorter version of my post: I agree.
March 21st, 2012 at 6:37 PM
#11
I think
you may not be considering how baffling this is, and that it may be indicative of a bigger problem than just Smot. That team was not right for a while, and Beilien did very little coaching in either the Big Ten tourney or against Ohio. I think there is a cancer somewhere on that team. This is not good news, recruiting class aside. A mass exodus is very unusual for a basketball team, especially for one player who was a substantial contributor. Stay tuned here.
March 21st, 2012 at 3:25 PM
#12
Wow.
That's all I can say. Wow. And not in a happy way.
March 21st, 2012 at 3:34 PM
#13
TREY ZIEGLER
If this helps us land Trey, I'd be okay with all these moves.
We need to add a backup PG, asap though!!
March 21st, 2012 at 6:43 PM
#14
looking
more and more like we're gonna need a STARTING pg. :(
March 21st, 2012 at 3:31 PM
#15
Interesting indeed. Too bad
Interesting indeed. Too bad to see Smotrycz leave.
March 21st, 2012 at 3:35 PM
#16
Too bad to see them go. Good
Too bad to see them go. Good luck gentlemen, and thanks for your contributions to M Bball.
March 21st, 2012 at 3:40 PM
#17
Not a good sign for Beilein
Boy, how things have changed with the M basketball program in just a couple of weeks. After losing to Purdue at home we come back and get a share of the Big 10 regular season championship, then look miserable the rest of the regular season and in the NCAA's. Now this. I'm guessing DB is wondering what happened to Beilein and the program in such a short time frame. Negativity breeds negativity and some good recruiting news is needed to reverse the current downward momentum.
March 21st, 2012 at 3:43 PM
#18
I fail to see the logic
I fail to see the logic behind this post.
March 21st, 2012 at 3:53 PM
#19
I fail to see the
"I fail to see the logic behind this post."
Because there is no logic to this post.
March 21st, 2012 at 4:06 PM
#20
good things may come of this, and it's hardly as though
the ship of state is running aground. But losing all three at once is likely to be seen as a negative. I think that it's going to emerge both that there was a little friction between Smot and the coaches and that he was going to see his PT drop.
March 21st, 2012 at 3:54 PM
#21
-
@MgoLogan
That's because there is none
March 21st, 2012 at 3:43 PM
#22
Negativity?
We just won the damn big ten for the first time in 26 years and you're claiming negativity?
These moves could be 100% NON basketball related (especially Smot). Sometimes things don't work out, doesn't mean the program is on the fritz.
March 21st, 2012 at 4:22 PM
#23
On the contrary....
This is a
On the contrary....
This is a sign of an upward leap..... these three transfers are all due to playing time... . don't believe anything else.... For when someone wants to do something, then any excuse will do. Smot knew his playing time would be still limited, and perhaps would prefer to play near home and start full-time... this still is all about playing time, which is a function of an uptick in the program.... Amen I say to that [Amen means "So be it"]
March 21st, 2012 at 3:45 PM
#24
By this time next year we
By this time next year we will be a club team!
/s
March 21st, 2012 at 3:47 PM
#25
I'm guessing "DB" isn't
I'm guessing "DB" isn't "wondering what happened to Beilein and the program in such a short time frame" because Dave Brandon is smart enough not to evaluate the status of a major program by only looking at a three week period in which nothing that could be construed by any reasonable person as "negativity breed[ing] negativity" took place.
March 21st, 2012 at 5:20 PM
#26
agreed.
similarly, my i.q. was around 140 before i read your post, and now it's down about 60 points.
March 21st, 2012 at 7:39 PM
#27
Yeah, John Beilein should
Yeah, John Beilein should totally be on the hot seat for losing two games at the end of the season.
If you were actually the sports editor of the Daily . . . wow.
March 21st, 2012 at 9:23 PM
#28
Man, you just got TOLD.
Man, you just got TOLD.
March 21st, 2012 at 3:42 PM
#29
Not a good sign for Beilein
Edit. Double post
March 21st, 2012 at 3:43 PM
#30
i hate to say this, but i
i hate to say this, but i really think the fans ran off Smot. he's just a college kid and he got criticized constantly. maybe he needed a thicker skin, but i don't blame him.
March 21st, 2012 at 3:50 PM
#31
If smotrycz transferred
If smotrycz transferred because some people gave him a hard time for turning the ball over in the Ohio game, then he probably is better off not continuing to play basketball anywhere else. Don't have a twitter if you really don't want to hear that stuff. Not to mention that there was an equal amount of people that told him to keep his head up, etc after the Ohio game.
March 21st, 2012 at 4:32 PM
#32
I thought he was unhappy all
I thought he was unhappy all year, his body language screamed it. He made this decision or at least thought about it for a while and the turnover had nothing to do with it - IMHO.
I just think he didn't like his role on this team or didn't care for Beileins system. There is no doubt he ends up being a solid player by his senior season, the fact that he could have been a team leader next year is sad.
March 22nd, 2012 at 3:19 AM
#33
I saw that too
Even commented to people I watched games with. He looked like a player 'going through the motions'.
Good luck to him and the rest wherever they land. Sports are supposed to be fun.
March 21st, 2012 at 4:00 PM
#34
I will miss the lobsters...
Bring them back!
March 21st, 2012 at 5:10 PM
#35
No need to get a refund on the lobster costumes!
The Smotrycz's Lobstryczes can use the costumes for the upcoming football season and dress as Urban Meyer's Crabs.
March 21st, 2012 at 5:07 PM
#36
If thats the case
then it explains his inconsistent play and his lazy defense...hes a quitter not tough enough to make it at a big time school...
March 22nd, 2012 at 9:09 AM
#37
Go back to your shanty.
Go back to your shanty.
March 21st, 2012 at 3:44 PM
#38
What will become of
What will become of Smotrycz's Lobstryczes?
I don't understand him transferring at all.
March 21st, 2012 at 3:46 PM
#39
I can kind of understand CC
I can kind of understand CC and Brundidge wanting to transfer, but like everyone, I'm puzzled by Smot wanting to transfer.
March 21st, 2012 at 3:46 PM
#40
Holy smokes! Didn't see that
Holy smokes! Didn't see that one coming.
Brundidge and Christian I might be able to understand. But Evan? He was basically a starter on a B1G Championship team. Wowza. Interested to learn of the details behind his sudden departure. Good luck to all three.
March 21st, 2012 at 3:47 PM
#41
Wow
Very sad to hear Evan is leaving. I really thought he was going to do great things at Michigan. I wish him all the best.
March 21st, 2012 at 3:47 PM
#42
I was always puzzled why
I was always puzzled why Brundidge was so highly ranked. He didn't look that impressive against high school competition. Talent wise, only Smotz will hurt, but he really had a tough year considering the pre-season expectations for him.
March 21st, 2012 at 9:11 PM
#43
I think Sam Webb single handedly
Got his recruiting service to rank him that high. I never heard anyone as high on him as Sam was. But Sam's on the radio, not coaching.
March 21st, 2012 at 3:48 PM
#44
What the !?!
What the !?!
March 21st, 2012 at 3:48 PM
#45
Shocked
Wow, totally unexpected. Good luck to all three. The only upside to this is not having to look up how to spell Smotrycz all the time.
March 21st, 2012 at 3:48 PM
#46
Wow
We lost a large percentage of the team in the last four weeks.
March 21st, 2012 at 3:49 PM
#47
Trying to figure out what I
Trying to figure out what I am missing on the scholarship situation. How can we fit two more in the 2012 class and still get our 3 in 2013. Is Brian assuming Biefeldt slides over to a walk-on?
I have a 2013 Roster of
SR: Hardaway, Morgan
JR: Burke, Horford
SO: Stauskas, Robinson, McGary, Biefeldt
That's 8, two more in 2012 is 10 and not enough room for 3 in 2013. What am I missing?
March 21st, 2012 at 3:56 PM
#48
considering that 3
considering that 3 scholarships are opening up with this I don't see how you are confused.
March 21st, 2012 at 4:00 PM
#49
We were gonna need some
We were gonna need some attrition to get those three in already.
March 21st, 2012 at 4:02 PM
#50
Well, logic would dictate
Well, logic would dictate that if Beilein was counting on attrition before, he likely still may.
March 21st, 2012 at 4:35 PM
#51
Totally. Although it's very
Totally. Although it's very possible that one of these three were part of his planned attrition.
