...talks about how UConn hasn't been in contact and how they're out. (HT: UMHoops)
Unverified Voracity Sips Coffee
Filed under:
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:
![gy3yhnoej_iphone[1]](http://mgoblog.com/sites/mgoblog.com/files/images/UV_B323/gy3yhnoej_iphone1.png "gy3yhnoej_iphone[1]")
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.
April 9th, 2012 at 3:35 PM | 
I like Della Valle, FWIW
I like Della Valle, FWIW
April 9th, 2012 at 3:53 PM |
I love that clip of Hunwick's
I love that clip of Hunwick's
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.
April 9th, 2012 at 6:39 PM |
People keep saying there were no shots on goal.
People keep saying there were no shots on goal.
I prefer to believe that they were simply afraid to shoot.
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
April 10th, 2012 at 8:36 PM |
I love the post-game...
I love the post-game...
...when he's skating next to the starting goalie and there's about a 1 foot difference between the two of them, height-wise. Hunwick is an awesome midget NHL goalie, now.
MGoGTI
April 9th, 2012 at 3:56 PM |
Brock Mealer's recovery
Brock Mealer's recovery
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?
April 9th, 2012 at 3:59 PM |
He's got to take it as it
He's got to take it as it
He's got to take it as it comes.
April 9th, 2012 at 4:06 PM |
Walking is impractical
Walking is impractical
I think you've just taken the role of "contrarian internet dick" to a new level.
This has nothing to do with Michigan football.
April 9th, 2012 at 4:04 PM |
If someone told me...
If someone told me...
...that I had a 1% chance of ever walking again, I'd say this technique has plenty of practical use. This could just be the first proverbial step in his recovery.
"The Strength of the Wolf is the Pack, and the Strength of the Pack is the Wolf."
April 9th, 2012 at 4:12 PM |
Recovery from all sorts of injuries/maladies...
Recovery from all sorts of injuries/maladies...
...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.
It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future. -- Yogi Berra
April 9th, 2012 at 4:27 PM |
Yeah, trick was probably the
Yeah, trick was probably the
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.
April 9th, 2012 at 4:31 PM |
Fair enough
Fair enough
Barwis isn't your usual PT/OT, I think we can all agree. He's a really educated guy. He's just an educated guy with a voice out of an action movie and a penchant for owning wolves and killer dogs and such.
It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future. -- Yogi Berra
April 9th, 2012 at 5:43 PM |
Yeah, Brock wasn't really
Yeah, Brock wasn't really
Yeah, Brock wasn't really walking. He's just supporting his entire body weight with his legs while simultaneously moving himself forward by placing one foot in front of the other on a repeated basis.
That tricky bastard.
April 9th, 2012 at 5:04 PM |
http://www.theonion.com/artic
http://www.theonion.com/artic
April 9th, 2012 at 6:35 PM |
Brock has an aisle to walk down,
Brock has an aisle to walk down,
and he isn't going to let details stop him.
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
April 9th, 2012 at 4:18 PM |
Furman
Furman
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.
April 9th, 2012 at 4:35 PM |
Alternate theory, poor AnnArbor.com reporting.
Alternate theory, poor AnnArbor.com reporting.
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.
April 9th, 2012 at 4:43 PM |
There are lots of cases of a
There are lots of cases of a
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.
Want a winged helmet hat? See this post: Link
April 9th, 2012 at 4:19 PM |
Speaking of healing
Speaking of healing
Good luck tomorrow Brian. Heal quickly and don't be too much of a pain to the Dr./Mrs. OK?
Nobody home...
April 9th, 2012 at 4:53 PM |
And how nice of Trey
And how nice of Trey
to help get those healing chemicals going just when you need them.
April 9th, 2012 at 4:41 PM |
1979 MSU game
1979 MSU game
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.
April 9th, 2012 at 4:46 PM |
fun fact - for me anyway
fun fact - for me anyway
darryl rogers bought his EL house from my grandparents when he coached at msu.
April 9th, 2012 at 5:50 PM |
The Big Bo-Little Darryl
The Big Bo-Little Darryl
The Big Bo-Little Darryl competition. Hart didn't start it. Ufer did.
April 9th, 2012 at 5:53 PM |
For Brian:
For Brian:
April 9th, 2012 at 7:26 PM |
Is this still
Is this still
from the '79 MSU game?
For some reason I get a feel that it's older, like maybe OSU in '74 (or was that with Joe Paterno?) or '73. How long did they wear the yellow jackets?
April 9th, 2012 at 8:25 PM |
Still the 79 MSU game. And
Still the 79 MSU game. And
Still the 79 MSU game.
And yes, Paterno did the color commentary for the 74 OSU game. (Mike Lantry's field goal that was good but called wide left.)
Go Blue! Always!
April 9th, 2012 at 7:35 PM |
The comments
The comments
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.
April 10th, 2012 at 7:38 AM |
I am
I 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.
April 9th, 2012 at 8:41 PM |
Keep the recruits coming
Keep the recruits coming
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
April 9th, 2012 at 9:11 PM |
Fun fact wrt that college hockey graph
Fun fact wrt that college hockey graph
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
Rudy watches inspirational movies about Shawn Hunwick
April 9th, 2012 at 9:59 PM |
JB will still take ADV
JB will still take ADV
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.
April 9th, 2012 at 10:03 PM |
Um, yeah Brian, you should
Um, yeah Brian, you should
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.
Call Mr. Plow, that's my name, that name again is Mr. Plow
April 10th, 2012 at 3:29 AM |
Those 70s UM defenses were great!
Those 70s UM defenses were great!
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!
expect the best
April 10th, 2012 at 6:24 AM |
Seems like something is up with McGary
Seems like something is up with McGary
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.
"You owe it to every man, woman, and child in the State of Michigan to beat the Buckeyes and silence their fans! Now go out there and make it happen!"
- Bo Schembechler (Result: U-M 22 OSU 0)
April 10th, 2012 at 9:16 AM |
Great to see Brock's progress...
Great to see Brock's progress...
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?
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.
It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future. -- Yogi Berra