Unverified Voracity Might Be Coffee Dad Comment Count

Brian

YES DO IT YES. Oversigning for the win:

Knows Nussmeier, started four games for them a year ago, immediately eligible, Michigan has the room, just do it.

Are we sure he's not actually coffee dad? From John Beilein's favorited tweets:

image

Coffee dad. Also he favorited some random dude talking about his teams' rebounding derogatorily. John Beilein!

…is self-aware. So it's good he's not Skynet.

OH REALLY. Lost in the sea of March Madness last week was one statement from Brady Hoke that will hopefully prevent me from typing yet more spittle-flecked all-caps rants about how fifth year senior starting quarterbacks don't get benched except in the event of catastrophic injury, and sometimes not even then:

He's doing okay, (but) he's not ready to be the starter at Michigan," Hoke said Thursday. "Devin's got the most experience at that job. … But if we were starting today, (Morris) wouldn't be the guy out there."

All right then. That's settled.

"Two weeks from now? We'll see."

ARGH.

And the Crimson sea parted. It's that time of year again, where players either flee or are pushed from the Indiana basketball program. This time it seems more like a mutual flee/push, as two struggling players Indiana probably needs anyway are exiting. Jeremy Hollowell, one of the two large athletic Hoosiers who can't play basketball, is out the door. Austin Etherington is the other departure. Noah Vonleh already announced he's entering the draft.

With Luke Fischer's departure for Marquette in the middle of the season, Indiana has lost every player over 6'8" who saw time except for Hanner Mosquera-Perea. Meanwhile the biggest guy in their recruiting class is a 6'7" small forward.

Is it too late for James Blackmon to decommit again? Asking for a friend.

And then the other red sea parted. OSU takes a major hit with LaQuinton Ross's NBA draft declaration. They've got a terrific recruiting class coming in, and now they're really going to need it. They've lost Ross, who was 30% of their shots, Amedeo Della Valle, Aaron Craft, and Lenzelle Smith from a six seed and first-round exit.

And then everybody in the Big Ten laid out the red carpet. West Virginia shooting guard Eron Harris is transferring closer to home. Home is Indianapolis. Harris averaged 17 points a game as a sophomore, shooting 42% from two and 86% from the line. Scout's Brian Snow says Michigan will be involved($), and lord knows everyone in and around shooting-challenged Indiana will also make a run. Michigan's hoping that "closer to home" really means "away from West Virginia" since 250 versus 350 miles isn't much of a functional difference.

I'm in favor of Michigan trying to grab him. Think of him as a 2015 recruit who only  gets two years before he has to go to the NBA, and oh right that just makes him like anyone else who ends up shooting the ball a lot under John Beilein.

Michigan has an open scholarship this year and it would be nice to have a couple of upperclass years to fill in those vacated by Michigan's NBA draft departure. After Harris sits out a year he would be competing on the wing with a senior Caris LeVert—maybe—and a junior Zak Irvin—maybe, along with Kam Chatman and any class of 2015 freshmen. Harris is a proven high-level player who will make a decision well before the 2015 kids will. And he'll have a year to get better under Beilein before he gets back on the court. If you can get him, get him.

10751383523_25f3593c4d_c[1]

[Bryan Fuller]

Open to a return. Glenn Robinson was as noncommital as everyone is when asked about entering a professional draft, but this is something good to hear:

"There have been times this year when I thought about it and heard a lot of talk and everything," Robinson said. "I just want to make the best decision, the best decision for me, because I want to play this game for a long time. So if I'm not ready, I'm not ready."

While you can't begrudge someone their desire to get paid lots of money for their skill, it does grind my gears a tiny bit when guys leave early without the prospect of a first-round pick waiting. Robinson might have fallen into that boat; it would be really easy to ignore the stuff they're saying about you this year because you were supposed to be a first rounder last year. Hopefully one of these two things happens:

  1. Robinson annihilates Tokyo as he drags Michigan to a national title
  2. Robinson plays pretty well and follows the Tim Hardaway Jr model.

Open to stay. Please hold your nose at a reference to a Michael Rosenberg-gathered quote, but it's kind of a big deal:

Jordan is so admired within the program that Alexander, another rising coach, endorses him to be the next head coach at Michigan.

"In my mind, I think he would be a great progression, when and if the time comes, when coach Beilein decides to transition on," Alexander says.

Alexander is 37, and he set a goal for himself to be a head coach by age 40. But he looks at Jordan and thinks of the Michigan football team's defensive coordinator. Says Alexander: "I would be more than willing to be (Jordan's) Greg Mattison. We want to continue to work together. I just think the world of him."

If Jordan and Alexander are both around when Beilein hangs it up, I don't know how you don't give Jordan the job after his work with Morris and Burke and Stauskas and LeVert, plus the recruiting bonafides and possible huge long-term upside. (Beilein is 61, so if he goes another five years you'd be hiring a 39-year old guy who could be around for the next 25 years.) Especially if that would mean Alexander sticks with him.

They've really got to do something about this. Urban Meyer on the packaged play trend and its acceleration:

The second-level zone read has his attention. In the traditional zone read, the quarterback reads the defensive end to dictate whether he'll hand off or run. In this version, the quarterback is reading the linebacker.

“That's going to not disappear,” Meyer says. “It's even in the NFL now. The NFL doesn't give you three yards.”

College does -- as in, officials allow linemen to get up to three yards downfield before a throw. After following up with other coaches on this concept, one popular play is to throw a slant to the open space if the linebacker goes inside to cover the run, knowing linemen are already headed downfield to block.

This has started to become comical. Last year in the Michigan-Air Force game, two Air Force OL had in fact engaged defenders six yards downfield on a pass play without a call. Either get rid of the illegal man downfield rule or enforce it. But pick one.

Etc.: Glasgow's issue was a "driving-related offense," which seems pretty likely to be one particular driving-related offense unless they've got some really strict new rules about using your turn signal.

Derrick Green getting slimmer. Jim Tressel's CV doesn't include anything about sweatervests. Bo bracket. Pistons to chase Izzo because owner is MSU grad. No idea why MSU NBA owners want to wreck their alma mater's program but fine by me.

Comments

Erik_in_Dayton

March 25th, 2014 at 12:58 PM ^

I saw Eron Harris play live once this year.  That kid can really shoot the basketball, and he's quick too.  He'll need to cut down on his turnovers, but he's a really dangerous offensive player.

As for having Coaches Jordan and Alexander take over post-Beilein, that's amazing news that BA would be willing to stick around under Coach Jordan. 

echoWhiskey

March 25th, 2014 at 5:18 PM ^

I've seen Harris play a lot this year as I grew up in WV and WVU is my second favorite college team.  Your assessment is correct but I’ll add that he seems to be a below average defender and has some decision making and confidence issues.  Nothing Beilein couldn’t work his magic on, but the transfer year would be beneficial in that regard. 

 

I think it’s a moot point though as I believe that he wants to go home and will stay close to Indianapolis.  

tbeindit

March 25th, 2014 at 2:21 PM ^

It's not open though.  Not only has the Hatch situation not ironed out, Michigan is still at the limit even if his scholarship doesn't count on the limit.  You need some combination of NBA Draft decisions, transfers, and hardships to equal 2 scholarships in order to have room for this transfer guy.  Not saying it won't happen, just saying it's not a fact right now.

Brian

March 25th, 2014 at 2:34 PM ^

Harris won't make a decision until after the draft deadline, at which point Stauskas will be gone or not, and... I mean... Austin Hatch hit one three pointer and his entire team hit the floor for a technical foul. He's going to get a medical. Let's be real. 

Jgrasty

March 26th, 2014 at 11:17 AM ^

I was confused by this as well.  

I did some googling as to whether or not medical redshirts count against scholarship limits.  Ironically, the best answer I found was a post on this blog from a few years ago regarding the Gardner situation.  Basically, Hatch needs a medical EXEMPTION, not a medical a redshirt.  Medical redshirts count against the scholarship limits, medical exemptions do not.  

Medical exemptions are where an athlete sustains an injury that is career ending.  Then the school can still pay for their education but they don't count against the scholarship limit.  It would seem Hatch would be eligible for this, since he could barely get on the court at the high school level 2 years after his accident.  But I really don't know.  Here's the link http://mgoblog.com/diaries/medical-redshirt-vs-medical-exemption-overview

TheNema

March 25th, 2014 at 1:02 PM ^

Izzo looks burnt out a lot of the time and will be replacing a great deal of talent next season. Doesn't look like he has a rebuilding project in him. Tell me again why Gores would be ruining their program by taking him away this stage?

champswest

March 25th, 2014 at 11:01 PM ^

Izzo is past his prime and now he has to contend with Beilein.  His recruiting has been off for a couple of years and doesn't seem to be getting any better.  If MSU bows out to Virginia and UM advances , that could be the final nail in the coffin.  

Also, I don't see Izzo being successful in the NBA.  I don't think his act even works that well in the NCAA any more.

pdgoblue25

March 25th, 2014 at 1:06 PM ^

Experienced size on the interior who already knows the offense could potentially be making the line calls while Kugler can still sit if he needs to.  There is too much win in this scenario.

The FannMan

March 25th, 2014 at 1:15 PM ^

100% agree.  The three yard rule requires a ref, post-snap, to remember exactly where the LOS was, track five separate guys running down field while 5 to 7 other guys collide with them, note the moment the ball is thrown and determine if any of 5 guys are more than three yards(ish) downfield at that moment.  This is asking a lot.

creelymonk10

March 25th, 2014 at 1:45 PM ^

That's why the umpire position is best to recognize it. He's a few yards off the LOS he's watching the offensive line. He can obviously tell when an offensive lineman has gone past him and he doesn't need to watch the play to realize the ball was passed. 

With the NFL moving the umpire behind the offense near the ref, that makes it very difficult to enforce.

The FannMan

March 25th, 2014 at 2:44 PM ^

Actually, he does need to watch the play b/c the issue is where the linemen are at the moment the ball is thrown.  He also has to track a three yardish rule and use his judgement if the lineman is too far.

My point is that it would be better to have a brigher line rule like the NFL does.

Shop Smart Sho…

March 25th, 2014 at 1:20 PM ^

"closer to home" really means "away from West Virginia" since 250 versus 350 miles isn't much of a functional difference."

Nearly 5 hours to Morgantown and only 4 hours to AA.  Also, you don't have to drive through Ohio.  The last part is a HUGE difference.

mistersuits

March 25th, 2014 at 1:47 PM ^

Go get Eron Harris. He's legit.

Kid came off the bench as a freshman versus Michigan last year shot 3 of 3 for 10 points as WVU's only good looking shooter. Also looking at his stat line against WVU's win over Kansas a couple of weeks ago: 28 points on 14 shots, 5 of 7 from 3. Yes please!

kzooblue2016

March 25th, 2014 at 1:51 PM ^

That whole section about LaVall Jordan and BA made me super happy. If we can convince those two too stick around until Beilein retires, that would be incredibly awesome.

MGoChippewa

March 25th, 2014 at 3:41 PM ^

Only really works for two people: Tom Izzo and Tom Gores.  Gores gets to sell some tickets to people who normally wouldn't come watch a shit team, because they're intrigured by Izzo coaching in the pros.  Izzo wins because he exits before his reputation as a college coach doesn't have a chance to deteriorate.  MSU fans lose because now they're a program losing their three best players and their head coach; left to try and win with a roster full of Branden Dawson and 3*s under a new HC.  Pistons fans lose because the team still sucks, and even if Izzo does a good job, it won't be good enough with their roster.

alum96

March 25th, 2014 at 5:24 PM ^

I don't think there is any chance Jordan won't be a head coach within 2 years elsewhere.  I think UM's best chance is he goes somewhere for 5-6 years, does very good at a mid major, and is ready to take the UM HC job when Beilein is ready to retire.   I dont know the college basketball assistant coaching "hot names" list but how Jordan is not in the top 5 right now would be beyond me - you get a guy who has developed a lot of players very fast, and you get a guy who has spent time with one of the top 5 coaches in the nation, with an offense that you can take less developed / not high end players a mid major would get and pull some upsets in the 1st and 2nd round of the NCAAs.

buddhafrog

March 25th, 2014 at 9:49 PM ^

As long as we have Beilein, UM will be successful on and off the course.  I'm very confident.

When he leaves, UM will probably be an elite program for any coach to come into.  In that way, it won't be too scary.  However....

Give us Jordan/Alexander, please God.

I think that is sort of too good to come true, but that would be ideal.  Likely one or both of those coaches move on to head coaching positions before that date.  Hopefully returning when there is an opening.  But I'd love to see David Brandon open the university's pockets and pay these guys - possibly giving them titles and/or an understanding that if they stay, the HC job is one of theirs.

That would really provide long term success bringing UM to NC, Duke, KAN levels of basketball.