blueheron

April 4th, 2024 at 8:55 AM ^

I'm glad it hasn't been too long since the good vibes. I'm referring to early 2021, when the "COVID" team was romping through the Big Ten and Howard had his #1 recruiting class ready for the next year. Things looked good, didn't they?

Amaker didn't bottom out like Howard, but I'd swear that things felt a little off within a couple years. No good vibes, anyway. That was a longer interval.

WestQuad

April 4th, 2024 at 8:22 AM ^

Didn't we already get Boynton?   

 

If we get Rooths, the Yale kid, the Wisconsin kid, the FAU guys and a couple of the OK State guys it seems like we'll at least have enough players to field a team.  I really know very little about basketball beyond star gazing, but from the descriptions it sounds like there is a lot of reason for optimism.  Can't wait for next year when we win the National Championship in basketball, get our second straight national championship in hockey and three-peat in football.  : )

Longballs Dong…

April 4th, 2024 at 8:58 AM ^

I think this actually works.  Football won the championship LAST year (2023).  OP said he couldn't wait for "next" year.  So that implies we'll win the championship THIS year (2024) and then again NEXT year (2025).  Boom, 3-Peat.  That also works with the hockey back to back comment.  Not sure if that was what he meant but I'm onboard with that plan. 

Longballs Dong…

April 4th, 2024 at 12:16 PM ^

I do find this sort of an annoying thing that has happened that I never had to be concered with previously.  Michigan was the 2023 National Champions but we won the 2024 College Football Playoff.  I bought a shirt after the championship and it literally states both of these things.  I hope we are the 2025 National Champions next year and the 2024 National Champions this year.  

jwk899

April 4th, 2024 at 8:46 AM ^

Some of the transfer options (and Rooths) sound likely, and would at least allow UM to field a competitive team in `24-25.  I still think best case scenario for them is a NCAA tourney bubble team....which would certainly be a significant improvement over this past year.

 

Longballs Dong…

April 4th, 2024 at 9:23 AM ^

I don't think that a bubble team is "best case" but it's probably a realistic expectation.  There is a real chance that this team (assuming we get the players rumored) will be more talented and more experienced than the FAU team that made the Final 4.  So, a Final Four seems like a better case than a bubble team.  

jwk899

April 4th, 2024 at 10:40 AM ^

That FAU Final Four team had an experienced team with a head coach who had been there for several years prior.  UM will have a new coaching staff with a group of players that for the most part, have never played together before.  It's possible (and probably likely) that the first half of the season will be rough, but as they gel, you'll see consistent improvement with a much stronger 2nd half of the year.

 

olm_go_blue

April 4th, 2024 at 10:21 AM ^

I know we can't put too much stock in freshman, but couldn't this team be moderately better than a bubble team with the transfers being discussed?

I realize the team was hot garbage this year, but these are pretty decent starters. I'm probably choosing to be overly optimistic, but with good coaching and a little luck, they could get some momentum early. State wasn't even on the bubble with like 18 wins. I know 8 to 18 (or 20!) is a big jump, but this was a historically ass year and some natural reversion to the mean should be expected.

HarBooYa

April 4th, 2024 at 5:33 PM ^

Love the optimism and don't think it's outlandish to think we land all those dudes.  Could also get kid from Oakland and would love for them to consider the two kids from Stanford who are perfect for May's system.  Be immediately relevant again, or at least above middle of BigTen pack.

translator82

April 4th, 2024 at 10:14 AM ^

Actually, it was Moe/Larry/Curly --> Moe/Larry/Shemp --> Moe/Larry/Joe (Besser) --> Moe/Larry/Curly Joe.

Joe Besser was in the last 16 shorts. Curly Joe was in the movies from the 1960s.

I actually watched Curly's final short yesterday. He had a stroke during its filming and you can tell something's up because he wasn't a part of the climactic pie flight at the end.

Michigan4Life

April 4th, 2024 at 8:27 AM ^

Ideal off-season for May:

- Land FAU players (Davis, Boyd and Goldin)

- Get Rooths to re-commit to Michigan

- Land Liam McNeeley over the blue blood programs (Long shot, but the fact that McNeeley consistently mentioned Michigan is notable)

- Wolf transfer to Michigan

 

4th phase

April 4th, 2024 at 9:57 AM ^

Even without McNeely, if you get the 3 FAU players, Wolf, Essegian, Dailey, and Rooths I think May can make the tournament with that team. The FAU team that was an 8 seed around the 50s, near Iowa and OSU - meaning you could go about 10-10 in the Big 10. With a decent non-con that is enough to make it to Dayton. So you're taking the best players from that FAU team, adding 2 high major transfers, Wolf, and you still have Burnett. That seems like enough of a core. Bring back GW3, play Tschetter and TWill spot minutes here and there and it could work. 

Amazinblu

April 4th, 2024 at 8:53 AM ^

My hope for the team and staff is a focus on fundamentals - and developing these talented young men in ball possession / control - the turnover / assist ratio - and movement off the ball.  Oh, and something known as defense.

Wishing them all well - and, that the recruiting / portal activities result in a tightly knit and talented squad.

Go Blue!

Kevin14

April 4th, 2024 at 8:57 AM ^

One of my concerns about May is his lack of high-major experience.  Boynton and Miskdeen help with that concern - even if Okie State and Georgia aren't the best high-majors. 

trueblueintexas

April 4th, 2024 at 11:11 AM ^

Unlike the B1G, the SEC tends to invest all of that money coming in to make their sports programs better. They also realized they needed to augment the football revenue. In the past 5 - 10 years you can see there has been a focused effort to elevate more programs across the conference in basketball. There are also demographic shifts which have had a major impact on the availability of talent in different regions across the U.S.