2014-2015 MBB - how good can it be?

Submitted by superstringer on

Never count your chickens, right.. .but the "NBA early entries" talk this week -- meaning, "we might not have any this year" -- immediately raises the question: How good can this team be next season?

How reasonable is it to assume no one leaves early for the NFB.  Nik - can't play D and will be outmuscled (a problem THJ is having).  GRIII - need to, um, find game.  Mitch - could be viewed as a major risk if he comes out this year.  And this is supposedly a very deep class for the NBA generally, so as a player it's not a good class to "take a flier" on.

And assuming no one goes early -- which of the most likely recruits (incoming freshman) are likely to play, and what positions.  I have no clue on this.

So project the entire team (sans Jordan, although, that's legitimately half a big loss) comes back, plus Mitch playing full time, plus Donnel joining the lineup, plus whatever freshman will contribute... Is there even available minutes for everyone to play?

Perkis-Size Me

February 12th, 2014 at 1:20 PM ^

Although I like to enjoy the moment and what THIS YEAR'S team brings to the table, I'll go ahead and bite:



-Assuming everyone comes back, including a healthy McGary, all of which is far from a given, then you can talk legitimate preseason top-3 team and Big Ten favorites. Final Four favorites? Ehh maybe, but the tournament is a whole other animal, not to mention a complete crapshoot. All it takes is one off game to flush your season down the toilet.



That being said, would this team have the talent and depth to get that far? Abso-friggin-lutely. Yes, we'll lose Morgan, and that will hurt, but you'd still have an abundance of depth and experience all across the board with this team, not to mention guys like Donnal who are redshirting but can come in and contribute. And let's not forget about some very talented freshmen who are on the way.

Tater

February 12th, 2014 at 1:47 PM ^

My take at the beginning of the season was that they would struggle early but be a team that nobody wants to play by tournament time.  The Wolverines may not win the conference or even the conference tournament because officiating seems to degenerate to football by the end of a Big Ten season, but they are a perfect team for the NCAA Tournament, where games are called tighter.

We have no idea what is happening next year, but this year could be special.

FrankMurphy

February 12th, 2014 at 2:00 PM ^

McGary won't leave. GRIII shouldn't leave. Stauskas is 50/50.

I don't think we hold on to all three. I think McGary and GRIII stay and Stauskas leaves. But even so, with the return of McGary, the ongoing improvement of Walton and Irvin, and the addition of Donnal, we'll be the preseason favorite to win the B1G. And if no one leaves, then the sky's the limit.

Raback Omaba

February 12th, 2014 at 2:32 PM ^

I'm  torn on Mitch McGary on coming out. On the one hand, he hasn't really played all that much in his career, so coming back - especially due to the stacked draft class this year, should be a good thing. He can really establish himself with a good year next year.

On the other hand, he is old in terms of NBA Draftees. Additionally, if he came back next year and injured his back AGAIN - he would be really screwed.

I think he has the toughest choice of all.

ThadMattasagoblin

February 12th, 2014 at 4:09 PM ^

Why would we want to have our players go the NBA over all coming back? Is Kentucky in a better position now because anthony Davis and Gilchrist went to the NBA instead of coming back and winning three straight NCAA championships. definitely not. However saying this, I support whatever decision the kids make but I feel it's best for our players' draft stock sans possibly Stauskas to come back.