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I met Hunwick and Novak tonight and...

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May 11th, 2012 at 11:39 PM
#1
ish
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 13409
I met Hunwick and Novak tonight and...

...you should be proud to have both men represent your university.  What struck me most was how intelligent both them are.  They actually put the student in student-athlete.  They were intelligent, articulate and honest.  Other notes:

  • Both were very happy with their Michigan experience;
  • Both had nothing but great things to say about their coaches;
  • Both felt confident in the future of their respective programs;
  • Novak is not nearly 6'5".  He said he's 6'2".  Hunwick said he's 5'6"; and
  • Both read MGoBlog.
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May 11th, 2012 at 11:45 PM
#2
Wolverine Devotee
Wolverine Devotee's picture
Joined: 06/29/2009
MGoPoints: 121253
Pic or it didn't

Pic or it didn't happen.

/s

Shawn Hunwick is my hero.

Novak for three.

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May 11th, 2012 at 11:47 PM
#3
sundaybluedysunday
Joined: 01/07/2009
MGoPoints: 914
So is he cool with the whole

So is he cool with the whole tiny Jesus thing?

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May 11th, 2012 at 11:48 PM
#4
Saint_in_Blue
Saint_in_Blue's picture
Joined: 10/17/2011
MGoPoints: 16842
Cool story bro

Cool story bro.

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May 11th, 2012 at 11:52 PM
(Reply to #4) #5
icefins26
icefins26's picture
Joined: 02/01/2009
MGoPoints: 12768
"Cool story bro" is so Rich

"Cool story bro" is so Rich Rod era...

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May 12th, 2012 at 12:08 AM
(Reply to #5) #6
moredamnsound
moredamnsound's picture
Joined: 08/05/2010
MGoPoints: 2432
And "Rich Rod era" is so

And "Rich Rod era" is so 2008-2010

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May 12th, 2012 at 7:05 AM
(Reply to #7) #7
Seth
Seth's picture
Joined: 10/14/2008
MGoPoints: 86117
And "2008-2010" is so two to

And "2008-2010" is so two to four years ago!

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May 12th, 2012 at 8:22 AM
(Reply to #16) #8
Saint_in_Blue
Saint_in_Blue's picture
Joined: 10/17/2011
MGoPoints: 16842
I know

And 2-4 years ago is so my mid 20's. :/

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May 11th, 2012 at 11:59 PM
#9
weasel3216
weasel3216's picture
Joined: 08/09/2009
MGoPoints: 3419
Post games

I really hope that they don't read the open threads on the blog after a loss.  

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May 12th, 2012 at 8:12 AM
(Reply to #6) #10
willywill9
willywill9's picture
Joined: 09/22/2008
MGoPoints: 12800
They read it during the

They read it during the game... that's what's actually impressive.

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May 12th, 2012 at 12:20 AM
#11
ST3
ST3's picture
Joined: 09/11/2010
MGoPoints: 22625
Novak

Did he see the photoshop thread where he had no legs?

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May 12th, 2012 at 12:27 AM
#12
BiSB
BiSB's picture
Joined: 08/15/2009
MGoPoints: 44273
In that case...

Hey Zack. Hey Shawn.

Big fan.

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May 12th, 2012 at 12:30 AM
(Reply to #9) #13
MGoVillain
MGoVillain's picture
Joined: 01/09/2011
MGoPoints: 1794
Thanks.  

Thanks.  

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May 12th, 2012 at 12:33 AM
(Reply to #10) #14
BiSB
BiSB's picture
Joined: 08/15/2009
MGoPoints: 44273
Hey, wait a minute...

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May 12th, 2012 at 12:46 AM
#15
ken725
ken725's picture
Joined: 10/26/2008
MGoPoints: 24770
Someone mentioned that Novak

Someone mentioned that Novak might play overseas.  Did he mention his future basketball plans?

Also that is a cool story bro, but not in the a-hole way.  

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May 12th, 2012 at 8:54 AM
(Reply to #12) #16
ish
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 13409
yes, he plans to play in

yes, he plans to play in europe.  he has an agent and will know where in about two months.

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May 12th, 2012 at 9:09 AM
(Reply to #12) #17
Magnum P.I.
Magnum P.I.'s picture
Joined: 07/16/2009
MGoPoints: 11118
I've always thought that

I've always thought that playing professional sports in Europe would just be the best job ever for a 20-something American. Get to live in an exciting new culture for a few years, actually have some money (not a ton, but more than a backpacker) to travel and live it up, play a game for work, not have any real pressure on you (assuming you're not playing soccer). Go east young man.

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May 12th, 2012 at 1:04 PM
(Reply to #23) #18
bacon1431
Joined: 07/26/2008
MGoPoints: 9092
This is why I have no idea

This is why I have no idea why some players are content in being the 13th man or be in and out of the NBA every other year or playing in the NBDL. I would much rather spend my time playing in Europe for my entire career, make a decent amount of money and retire back in the states or somewhere in Europe. Heck, I'd play a few years in Italy, a few in Germany, France, Spain, Israel, Turkey, even China. It'd be a great experience. But I also love to travel and experience new places.

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May 12th, 2012 at 1:32 PM
(Reply to #27) #19
snarling wolverine
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Joined: 12/14/2011
MGoPoints: 31297
But on the other hand,

But on the other hand, American players overseas might find themselves on a team where neither their coach nor teammates speaks English very well, and they might feel culture shock off the court, too.  At the same time, U.S. players are usually expected to be superstars wherever they go and can face a fan backlash if they don't perform that well.  To say it's low-pressure is not very accurate; European basketball fans can be as crazy as soccer fans.  Also,  overt racism still exists in many of these countries (we're talking about fans throwing bananas at black players and making monkey noises, etc.).  A player really has to find the right situation.  Some clubs can be a great fit and some can be miserable.

If you're riding the pine in the NBA, that's not ideal but 1) you're in your home country, 2) you get a guaranteed contract (and for better money than Europe) and 3) you may face less of a fan backlash if you don't perform.

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May 12th, 2012 at 10:31 PM
(Reply to #28) #20
bacon1431
Joined: 07/26/2008
MGoPoints: 9092
I think you're concerns are a

I think your concerns are a little overrated and the worst case scenarios, which if the player has a decent agent, he'll be able to find a good spot. Financial concern is definitley overrated. But I also am really cheap and don't care that I wear the same clothes that I did 6 years ago (I'm 23). The only way I could see someone not wanting to do it is if they didn't want to leave the States. But that's tough for me to understand because every time I have visited another country, I have loved the experience. If you don't perform as a 13th man, yeah there would be no fan backlash, but you'd also probably lose your roster spot.

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May 12th, 2012 at 10:40 PM
(Reply to #31) #21
justingoblue
justingoblue's picture
Joined: 11/16/2010
MGoPoints: 29685
Just curious:

Would you rather be a starter in the MAC or a backup in the Big Ten? I've always said I'd rather sit on the bench in the big games than play in less important matchups. Then again, I know this is a personal choice and I never had to put my money where my mouth is and make it.

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May 12th, 2012 at 2:06 PM
(Reply to #23) #22
allintime23
allintime23's picture
Joined: 09/21/2009
MGoPoints: 12489
You sound like Tom Izzo

You sound like Tom Izzo talking to his star grads.

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May 12th, 2012 at 1:22 AM
#23
Blazefire
Blazefire's picture
Joined: 04/17/2009
MGoPoints: 25032
Thanks for the note!

This is kind of like having somebody tell you they met your family member, and they were just wonderful. It really has nothing to do with you, but it makes you feel good anyway.

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May 12th, 2012 at 2:39 AM
(Reply to #13) #24
WolvinLA2
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Joined: 11/13/2009
MGoPoints: 52390
I met your mom. She was

I met your mom. She was wonderful.

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May 12th, 2012 at 7:07 AM
(Reply to #14) #25
Seth
Seth's picture
Joined: 10/14/2008
MGoPoints: 86117
Meeting Blazefire's mom is so

Meeting Blazefire's mom is so late Carr era.

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May 12th, 2012 at 8:23 AM
(Reply to #17) #26
Brown Bear
Brown Bear's picture
Joined: 01/10/2011
MGoPoints: 34328
I met her in the back seat of

I met her in the back seat of a late model car.

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May 12th, 2012 at 8:25 AM
(Reply to #17) #27
Saint_in_Blue
Saint_in_Blue's picture
Joined: 10/17/2011
MGoPoints: 16842
Timeless

Some things are just timeless.

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May 12th, 2012 at 9:51 AM
(Reply to #24) #28
The Squid
The Squid's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 291
Agreed

I'm a barefoot 6'3" and Novak is definitely not shorter than me. He's slightly taller, although 6'5" might be stretching it.

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May 12th, 2012 at 4:40 PM
(Reply to #24) #29
Baxter
Joined: 09/27/2008
MGoPoints: 322
Was there last night.  He's

Was there last night.  He's probably 6'3" (my height).  They were both totally down to earth, Hunwick's very excited to have gotten the opportunity in Columbus, and Novak's looking forward to Europe.  

Novak thinks that Beilein has done an outstanding job changing his game plan depending on the talent he has, noting Burke in particular (our offense was nothing like a traditional Beilein team this year).  He's incredibly excited to see what he can do with even more talented players, and some extra size in the post.  

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May 12th, 2012 at 10:03 AM
#30
2014
2014's picture
Joined: 12/11/2009
MGoPoints: 2314
NYC alumni club event or after hours strip club?

Cause the alumni club thing would make more sense since that was where they were speaking, but the after hours strip club thing would make for better gossip. Justy sayin...

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May 12th, 2012 at 11:20 PM
#31
JamieH
Joined: 09/05/2009
MGoPoints: 12033
Almsot any athlete would rather play

Almost any athlete would rather play in the MAC than ride the pine at a major program.  They all THINK they are going to get minutes.  Very few players actually choose to ride the pine--they just overestimate their ability to get on the floor.

Now,the pros is a bit different because money is involved.  Riding the pine becomes more tolerable is it comes along with a chunk of cash.  Hell, backup QB in the NFL might be the best job in the world.

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May 13th, 2012 at 12:18 AM
(Reply to #33) #32
justingoblue
justingoblue's picture
Joined: 11/16/2010
MGoPoints: 29685
Sure I would want to play.

But the lifestyle difference of being a starter at EMU and playing special teams on the other side of Washtenaw County is huge. I'm not talking about getting laid, probably every FBS player does that easily, but the alumni connections, the immortal nature of being a member of team 13X, ect. are all strong draws, to use M as an example (the same is true at any blue blood schoo, though).

I'd also challenge the assumption that everyone chooses playing time; Russell Bellomy is probably extremely confident in his abilities, but he committed with Denard having two years of elegibility, Devin three (or four) and whispers of Shane Morris coming into the fold as well. I'm not saying he'll never start, but he had to know there was at least a chance that he wouldn't, yet he came to M over Boise, among other suitors.

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