2020 5* PF Greg Brown's family: “If we weren’t serious about going, if we weren’t serious about a place, I’m not wasting my time."
Apparently Greg Brown is very serious about Michigan regardless of our open scholarship spots. For a player comp, he reminds me of a slightly taller and more athletic version of Cliff Alexander
January 7th, 2020 at 9:42 AM ^
Which means if history is a guide we'll be runner up on signing day.
Edit: Y'all know I'm right but you dont want to admit it.
January 7th, 2020 at 9:52 AM ^
It's a new era, Toby.
January 7th, 2020 at 10:22 AM ^
I really wish Tobias would get into character.
"Which means if history is a guide, he won't play ball where I want him," would have been a decent attempt.
January 7th, 2020 at 12:16 PM ^
Agreed. I do enjoy how some of the folks on the board post in the "voice" of their user name.
January 7th, 2020 at 12:45 PM ^
I wish Tobias would simply acknowledge he’s blue through and through!
January 7th, 2020 at 12:53 PM ^
Here's the World War I Flying Ace.
January 7th, 2020 at 1:34 PM ^
Yup, it can be entertaining if not done too much. I remember when Yoda would post things like - "Agree with your viewpoint I do".
January 7th, 2020 at 1:37 PM ^
"Which means if history is a guide, his balls will be going into someone else's rim"
January 7th, 2020 at 8:45 PM ^
Tobias, Ffs there is always money in the banana stand. Be the bagman we want, be the bagman we deserve.
January 7th, 2020 at 4:49 PM ^
There are dozens of us who realize the "we'll be runners-up" thing doesnt apply currently, when UM has the #4 class in the country, has a 5-star verballed, and has three Top-60 players already.
January 7th, 2020 at 4:57 PM ^
Dozens!
January 7th, 2020 at 9:45 AM ^
Using this Michigan of ours as bidding leverage? I'm suddenly experiencing recruiting flashbacks to 2014.
January 7th, 2020 at 9:50 AM ^
Howard tryin to get everybody
January 7th, 2020 at 9:52 AM ^
What is our open scholarship situation? I think we only have 1 left and I thought we were going after a G (Josh Christopher)?
6.5.0January 7th, 2020 at 10:04 AM ^
This was covered on the front page yesterday, but they're planning for Todd playing overseas, Livers going to the NBA, or some other unplanned attrition, which would free up another spot.
January 7th, 2020 at 10:07 AM ^
Not taking on any graduate students (5th year seniors) next year is also a likely option.
January 7th, 2020 at 10:22 AM ^
Even John Beilein eventually started recruiting with attrition in mind.
It's just foolish not to. Juwan could easily end up with multiple open scholarships. I wonder if anyone can name the last season there wasn't some attrition from the roster or the recruiting class? Not counting unrenewed 5th years.
January 7th, 2020 at 12:28 PM ^
I think a few guys will get the message they are being recruited over. You have some bench players that have to know they are not going get playing time going forward.
Bajema, Dejulius,Castleton,Wagner, Johns, and (possibly) Brooks may be the only guys that factor into the plans going forward.
I expect Livers to leave if he can come back healthy for a B!G and NCAA tourney run.
Brooks may be needed for experience and guard help but that's not a given. If he can graduate in 3.5 years then who knows.
Obviously, Howard is looking to flip the roster right now and not gradually. He really is attacking each day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind (no slights intended).
January 7th, 2020 at 1:38 PM ^
Yes, and like Matt said earlier, Juwan is recruiting guys with the idea they can and will contribute immediately vs. being developmental projects. If he brings in guys who pass by guys already on the roster, that's the way competitive basketball goes.
January 7th, 2020 at 10:33 AM ^
2 more players could sign right now without breaking any rules(actually 3 more since Todd hasn't signed technically). Plus I'd basically guarantee there is attrition in the offseason.
January 7th, 2020 at 10:54 AM ^
Zeb Jackson is the only signed recruit. The others are only verbal commits and can't sign until mid-April. The roster should be a lot clearer by then.
January 7th, 2020 at 11:18 AM ^
It's a good place to be in when you are limited on scholarships and a 5* player is interested and fans are debating if he comes or not and if there will be attrition.
Love to land a couple 5* guards in the next class or so...
January 7th, 2020 at 11:31 AM ^
We are going to be the only team in the country that plays with only Power Forwards on the floor.
It is a bold strategy, let's see how it plays out.
January 7th, 2020 at 3:02 PM ^
Not a bad route, we would be the 76ers of college basketball. Ok, technically Josh Richardson is only 6 foot 6 but he has the size to readily play PF in the college game. The other 4 starters on the team are ideal power forwards / point forwards.
January 7th, 2020 at 1:20 PM ^
Let's say, hypothetically, that Brown and Christopher both want to come AND Jace does as well and we need room for all three. I think even considering the minutes both of them have been getting, it's easy to say goodbye to Austin Davis and give a handshake of encouragement to Adrian Nunez - a nudge to the transfer portal, if you will. Congrats kid, you got two years of great education, but you won't play if you stay. Harsh, but a reality. Which underclassmen could go on their own? Well, Livers could kick the tires and many thought (pre-hand injury) it would be a good bet that Franz was one-and-done. That's up to four departures that aren't natural senior-leaving spots.
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January 7th, 2020 at 12:28 PM ^
Is Brown as good a prospect as Kareem Abdul- . . . er, Roger Murdock?
January 7th, 2020 at 4:59 PM ^
Why pretend, we both know what this is really about. You want me to get an abortion.
January 7th, 2020 at 10:03 AM ^
Would he be an option at Center? Given the current roster construction if Todd comes, that would seem to be the only way to get all these guys on the court.
January 7th, 2020 at 10:30 AM ^
I think so.
January 7th, 2020 at 10:49 AM ^
Maybe? Could be a small ball center, but not sure how good of a defender he is. Between Castleton and Dickinson, I think we should be fine at center
January 7th, 2020 at 11:33 AM ^
I'm not sure about Castleton at this point. He is getting tossed around like a rag doll right now in his second full season here. I don't want to write a guy off, but Castleton doesn't appear to be much more than a "give you a couple of minutes here and there" guy to me right now. I know that the numbers say he was a +5 guy on the floor against MSU but I don't think that was anything more than coincidence. He was, in a word, a mess.
January 7th, 2020 at 12:04 PM ^
Did we think much of Teske early in his 2nd year? Probably not more than "give you a couple minutes here and there".
January 7th, 2020 at 12:06 PM ^
Jon Teske went 7'2, 250 as a freshman.
Castleton is 6'10 215 right now.
Teske is a Giant Person. Castleton is merely a big guy.
January 7th, 2020 at 12:35 PM ^
You might be exaggerating a little. Teske was listed as 7’0 245 as a freshman. Castleton is listed at 6’11 235 right now. That might be generous but closer than your numbers. Teske wasn’t 4 inches taller than CC is now. Castleton is probably 225-230 right now. Considering how much size and strength he has already gained, him getting to 240 by next year isn’t a stretch.
January 7th, 2020 at 12:41 PM ^
Damn inaccurate quick random Google search.
January 7th, 2020 at 2:48 PM ^
Two things I know about Castleton:
(1) He's been very disappointing this year. I haven't even seen the flashes of potential that we saw last year.
(2) I will trust entirely what Juwan wants to do with him. If he sees potential and wants him to stick around, I'll be confident that Castleton will become a contributor next year. If he doesn't see the potential and nudges him out the door, I'll also see that as the right call. Juwan knows his bigs.
January 7th, 2020 at 12:50 PM ^
Disagree about Castleton. He seems too slightly built to play the 5 - especially in the Big Ten - and added to that he plays soft. I wouldn't be upset if we see more Davis going forward.
January 7th, 2020 at 8:49 PM ^
The rim would be very well protected if Todd and Brown were on the floor together. There are defensive advantages of having "flat-footed" height inside but the verticality of those two together would be a sight to behold. It is fun to think about this. Schematically it generally works better to have talent like this defending from the wings and coming over to help/swat from the off-ball side. I don't know how ready Dickinson will be but with his standing height and Todd and Brown on either wing-oh my! From the coaching side it would indeed be quite the deal trying to figure out how the fit the pieces of this puzzle together.
January 7th, 2020 at 10:10 AM ^
5*'s and a cloud of dust baby......
January 7th, 2020 at 10:14 AM ^
I cant see Castelton staying hes to frail for the B10
January 7th, 2020 at 10:50 AM ^
He's definitely bulked up since the start of his freshman year and I'd expect him to continue that trend under another off season of Camp Sanderson
January 7th, 2020 at 10:52 AM ^
Have you seen Haarms?
January 7th, 2020 at 10:55 AM ^
The Dutch Windmill.....
January 7th, 2020 at 1:50 PM ^
but haarms is 7'2". that's a big difference. castleton's on court improvement has been disappointing, ignoring his bulk.
January 7th, 2020 at 11:04 AM ^
I had a lot of hope for Castleton coming into the season but he looked awful on Sunday. I’m starting to question if he has what it takes at this level.
January 7th, 2020 at 3:08 PM ^
I'm going to say C4 has more upside than Davis, and Davis has shown huge improvement over last year. Another year of development and C4 will be fine.
January 7th, 2020 at 6:21 PM ^
We've never seen enough Davis to have anything to compare.
January 7th, 2020 at 6:56 PM ^
Davis is miraculously an effective college sub. Seriously, for him, that is a huge deal. Credit to that kid for sticking to it, and to JB and JH for their work with him. He looked like he knew what he was doing against State.