Unverified Voracity Sips Coffee Comment Count

Brian

Hunwick. Got in. Faced zero shots. But got in!

If that's it for Hunwick in the show at least he got his cup of coffee. Couldn't happen to a better guy. Speaking of…

College hockey on the upswing. This is a remarkable graph, albeit one that is a little deceptive in its axes:

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In ten years the percentage of NHL players from college has jumped 50%. Euros made up 23% of the league a year ago, leaving 47% of the NHL from the traditional major junior route. Since there are only 40-some college hockey teams that produce NHL talent* versus 60 CHL teams, the NHL talent per capita between NCAA and junior is now almost a dead heat. The CHL continues to have a lion's share of the top, top guys but college competition is a lot older.

*[Atlantic Hockey excluded.]

Final rankings. The CSB has published final rankings for the various eligible Michigan guys. Results:

  • Jacob Trouba: 9th
  • PDG: 22nd
  • Boo Nievies: 29th
  • Connor Carrick: 124th

Milne and Selman are not ranked. Neither is Rutledge. As always, remember that the CSB splits these guys into North American and European categories and ranks goalies separately so add 20-30% to draft rankings to get approximate positions. Trouba should go around #12, PDG and Nieves sometime in the second, and Carrick in the fifth or sixth.

Oddity: The IIHF yanks Q-bound NTDPer Stefan Matteau from its U18 roster after stating that he hasn't played two consecutive years in the US since he turned ten. His spot goes to Anthony Louis, a diminutive Miami commit who is amongst the NTDP U17 leaders in scoring.

Basketball recruiting: now what (again)? Michigan has one open slot for 2012 and a second they could use on a grad-year guy if they want. With Burke's return and Albrecht's commitment the urgency to fill that latter spot—and the attractiveness of it—gets drastically lower. I doubt they add a 13th guy now, graduate or not.

The 12th spot is another matter. UMHoops reports that Arizona picked up a commitment from Matt Korcheck, a 6'9" power forward. While Korcheck doesn't directly conflict with Amedeo Della Valle, he's no longer visiting Arizona this weekend. The Wildcats are likely out of spots. Point Guard U says his Michigan visit is still on and "likely Ohio State" after that. Texas A&M and Gonzaga are the other suitors; it probably comes down to the Big Ten teams now.

Should Michigan take Della Valle now that Albrecht is in and Burke is back? I'm not sure. It was hard to get any sort of read on his game from the Findlay Prep games I watched. If he's really a 50%+ three-point shooter, obviously you take him. That's doubtful, though. He is a 6'6" wing/SG/PG who would be useful to have on the roster if GRIII or Hardaway leaves early and he does have a number of other offers from majors. Michigan would be filling their roster for 2013 by taking him only if everyone sticks around, and how likely is that? Not likely. I'd take him if he wants to come and continue going after a fourth guy in the class of 2013.

McGary continues to slide. I don't think this will affect any recruiting rankings but reports on him from the Hoop Summit were not positive, particularly this bombing by NBA Draft.net:

Mitch McGary, C: The big lefty who burst onto the 2012 recruiting scene this past summer showed he is definitely far from a finished product. After going from relative unknown to garnering comparisons of Tyler Hansbrough, McGary came back down to earth once he got to the more organized play of his Brewster Academy prep school. Mitch’s motor was advertised as being non-stop, but have yet to see that and have yet to see anything close to the ability of Psycho T. Mitch is a decent athlete and has good size, but he went with the trend of staying more out on the perimeter.

FWIW, another observer noted that McGary spent the week icing his feet and legs due to a presumed injury. He weighed in at 6'10", 265 and looked a lot more sluggish than he did over the AAU season. He'll have to recapture the passion that drove him to the top of rankings boards and get in shape to have the sort of impact Michigan fans are hoping for.

Brock walks. Brock Mealer update video from Barwis Methods:

Keith Jackson, Ufer, Bo, and Anthony Carter, 1979. If you need more than this, I cannot help you.

It kills me not to be able to see what Jackson's wearing.

Fun fun fun. I may have more on this later but for right now know that Matt Hayes just bombed Urban Meyer in a Sporting News article:

Multiple sources told Sporting News that Meyer—who won two national championships in six years at Florida and cemented his legacy as one of the game’s greatest coaches—told the Diggs family that he wouldn’t let his son go to Florida because of significant character issues in the locker room.

Character issues that we now know were fueled by a culture Meyer created. Character issues that gutted what was four years earlier the most powerful program in college football.

I haven't had time to read it yet but am preparing bib and knife to do so.

UPDATE ON FURMAN: Better Call Saul disclaimers apply but this is the picture painted by his potty-mouthed lawyer:

"Joshua didn't do anything," Mason said. "He's got one guy sending him threatening text messages, and then when he gets upset about the nasty text messages, somebody else pulls his hair out, and then the poor bastard gets arrested.

"My suspicion is (the women) will show up in court and make a record in court and say, 'Hey look, this guy didn't hit us, he didn't punch us, he didn't do anything,' and at that time the judge will have a little trial or entertain a motion to dismiss it.

"We're working through the case and hope the charges disappear, once cooler heads prevail."

If that turns out to be true then Furman will get restored to active status in a couple weeks.

Etc.: Holdin' the Rope profiles the Alabama OL. Meinke on Jibreel Black's move inside and Jerald Robinson's move up the depth chart.

Comments

Erik_in_Dayton

April 9th, 2012 at 3:35 PM ^

He seems to bring a lot of energy to the court.  He strikes me as a guy who is going to annoy opposing teams with his effort in a Novakian sort of way.  I also like the fact that he can play both PG and SG, even if he is mostly a SG. 

74polSKA

April 9th, 2012 at 3:53 PM ^

I love that clip of Hunwick's appearance.  The way the CBJ announcers talked him up and the players went right to him after the game was classy.  I've always thought Jeff Rimer was a good play by play guy.  I hope that isn't Shawn's cup of coffee and that someone will give him a chance in the league.

Patent Pending

April 9th, 2012 at 3:56 PM ^

Let me start out that his recovery is very impressive and his continued fight to walk is inspiring.

I'm not a doctor or exercise physiologist, but isn't his walking motion more a result of the particular shoulder motion and tightening of his stomach muscles than actual leg work?  I replicated the motion and my opposite leg would involuntarily lift a little.

There is no way I am discounting the courage that Brock is exhibiting in these videos, but if he isn't retraining his legs to work on command, isn't he simply learning a trick that has no practical use?

Erik_in_Dayton

April 9th, 2012 at 4:12 PM ^

...often involves learning to do old things in new ways.  He still has a lot of muscle mass that he needs to put back on his legs, too.  He'll hopefully get to a point in which he doesn't have to use his upper body as much, but that's presumably going to come very slowly...I understand what you mean, but I don't think you can call what he does in that video a trick.  He gets from point A to point B while standing up and w/out crutches. 

Patent Pending

April 9th, 2012 at 4:27 PM ^

Yeah, trick was probably the wrong word.  If that technique truly is a starting point to developing a reliable gait - awesome.  It was probably the setting.  If the video was in a rehab facility with people with lab coats, rather than in an old warehouse with music blaring in the background, I'd likely see it more as a first step in a course of treatment instead.

Commie_High96

April 9th, 2012 at 4:18 PM ^

Is it just me or does Furman's attorney's story sound a little suspicious?  So, Furman was arrested and charged because two cheerleaders ripped a Dred out?  Whaaa?  If the alledged vics state that there was no assult, the charges will be dropped, but that is one suspicious story.  Alternate theory, poor AnnArbor.com reporting. 

Don

April 9th, 2012 at 4:35 PM ^

Well, what a surprise that would be.

A defense lawyer making light of the allegations? Not shocking; it's part of their job. However, it wouldn't be the first time that an athlete has had bogus accusations thrown at him. I hope bogus is the operative word when it's all said and done.

julesh

April 9th, 2012 at 4:43 PM ^

There are lots of cases of a male getting arrested/charged during a domestic disturbance call when they are not at fault. No one knows the real story here, of course, and I think we all hope the lawyer's story is true, but I also don't think it's completely out of the realm of reality. 

BlueMan80

April 9th, 2012 at 4:41 PM ^

I should not have watched that clip.  You made me relive the BJ Dickey/Brian Virgil horrorshow that screwed up that season.  Wangler was sitting on the bench because he wasn't an option QB and Bo wanted to run the option and crush people with ultra-manball.

bjk

April 9th, 2012 at 7:35 PM ^

on the Matt Hayes article aren't very friendly to him.

Cause for pause: one commenter picked out this Matt Hayes opus from 2009 as evidence that his work fails to stand the test of time.

All this aside, I still don't think you can go wrong regarding Myer with the deepest suspicion.

ijohnb

April 10th, 2012 at 7:38 AM ^

becomming weary of articles like this.  The agenda come first, the writer begins the story with his conclusion in mind and then collects all evidence that supports his conclusion while ignoring or at least not presenting any evidence to the contrary.  I thought the Fress Press story on RR was trash, I thought the story on Howland was a smear job, and I think the same of this article.  Even the Nevin Shapiro article has turned out to be largely fiction.  This new fad of "ground breaking" reporting on the culture of college sports has run its course and is now overkill.  Every single major college football program is a healthy combination of The Program and Blue Chips, taking players straight from cultures like the Permian Panthers.  This is not news anymore.  Either you enjoy the sport or your don't.  I do, I am aware of its evils and pitfalls, and I am under no misperceptions about the product that I am enjoying.  Now just let me enloy it please. 

Blue boy johnson

April 9th, 2012 at 8:41 PM ^

2011

Trey Burke (Columbus, OH)

Carlton Brundidge (Southfield, MI)

Max Bielfeldt (Peoria, IL)

One already gone from this class and very nearly two

2010

Evan Smotrycz (New Hampton, NH via Reading, MA)

Tim Hardaway Jr. (Miami Palmetto, FL)

Jon Horford (Grand Ledge, MI)

Colton Christian (Hargrave Military Academy, VA via Bellevue, WA)

Two are gone from this class

2009

Darius Morris (Windward, CA)

Jordan Morgan (University of Detroit Jesuit, MI)

Matt Vogrich (Lake Forest, IL)

Blake McLimans (Worcester, MA)

Great class, only DMo has left early

2008

Ben Cronin (Henninger, NY)

Stuart Douglass (Carmel, IN)

Zack Novak (Chesterton, IN)

Two out of three is good, still feel bad for Cronin, he would have been a good one.

2007

Kelvin Grady (East Grand Rapids, MI)

Corperryale “Manny” Harris (Detroit Redford, MI)

Neither lasted four years

2006

DeShawn Sims (Detroit Pershing, MI)

Ekpe Udoh (Santa Fe, OK)

Anthony Wright (Oak Hill Academy via Sterling, VA)

K’Len Morris (Grand Blanc, MI)

Reed Baker (Bishop Verot, FL)

Three left early from this class

http://www.umhoops.com/history/past-classes/

lhglrkwg

April 9th, 2012 at 9:11 PM ^

From CH Inc:

The 300 former college players who played in the NHL this season represented 45 colleges, led by Michigan (23), Wisconsin (22) and Boston College (21).

That's right son. And we've got plenty more who will be there in a few years

Michigan4Life

April 9th, 2012 at 9:59 PM ^

even with Burke coming back.  I'm pretty sure that THJ and Burke will be gone next year.  Glenn Robinson looks like a 1 and done candidate if he continues to get better.  That's 3 Guards/Wing Players right there.  JB is already preparing for the possibility of all three players leaving.  Even with Walton coming in at PG, it's nice to have some insurance and depth at G with ADV, Spike and Stauskas.

Jeff09

April 9th, 2012 at 10:03 PM ^

Um, yeah Brian, you should read that article.  For everything I've read about the poor state Meyer left the program in, or his likelihood of bolting early, or character issues, this is by far the most scathing thing I've seen yet... So scathing I actually have to ask if this guy has an agenda.  Admittedly I don't know much about Sporting News, are they credible?  Because if so, wow... just wow.

uminks

April 10th, 2012 at 3:29 AM ^

As a kid growing  up in the 70s, the Michigan defenses were my favorite! Jim Young, Mo and McCartney's Monsters all had great defenses and they were all great DC. I can't wait until Mattison gets our defense playing like he had them playing in the mid 90s!

True Blue Grit

April 10th, 2012 at 6:24 AM ^

If he HAS put on bad weight and his effort on the court seems to be slipping, then maybe it is a motivation issue.  It's hard to believe that suddenly a lot of scouts were wrong about his skill level.  I'm taking the optimistic view here that all will be fine when he hits Ann Arbor and Beilein and company will turn him into the premier college big man that we've been waiting for.  

beerhauler

April 10th, 2012 at 9:16 AM ^

It's also great to see that Mike Barwis continues to see the value in associating himself with the University of Michigan (see prominent block M's and winged helmets on his web site).



How long does he get to use Michigan as a marketing tool?