Gameboy

October 31st, 2013 at 9:25 PM ^

I guess we had a good shot. It looks like Booker's commitment to Kentucky did get the ball rolling for Blackmon. Too bad, if Booker decided two weeks ago, we could have had better chance.

Follow Thy Fullback

October 31st, 2013 at 9:29 PM ^

It would have been nice to get either one of them, but I don't really care. I'm just happy we're relevant again. Coach is a great evaluator and seems to find diamonds in the rough all the time. Just great to be in recruiting battles with the elites.

Mr. Yost

October 31st, 2013 at 9:40 PM ^

We didn't want them anyway.

/s

And in case any family member or friend or fan of UK/IU read this... /s means sarcasm. As in, I'm joking.

Good luck to both of them.

But really, they suck.

LSAClassOf2000

October 31st, 2013 at 9:41 PM ^

The UMHoops announcement primer mentioned something about how there was some speculation throughout today that Blackmon had sort of tipped his hand about this, but again, I would rather the media let these kids make their announcements. Perhaps that is silly of me. 

Good luck to James Blackmon. Even though we were 0-for-2 today with the announcements, our own program is on pretty solid footing and there are so many reasons to be excited. 

True Blue Grit

October 31st, 2013 at 9:53 PM ^

I really believe the coaches have done a great job recruiting this year, but sometimes things don't go your way.  We've lost a lot of close  battles this year, which is hugely frustrating.  Still, the year isn't done yet and we may still find another great player.  

buddhafrog

October 31st, 2013 at 9:59 PM ^

If I were a 2014 guard, I doubt I would pick UM. Our guard depth is pretty ridiculous. I see: Spike, Walton, Irvin, Levert through 2015-16, and Stauskas through 2014-15. That is talented depth (which makes me happy).

Pretty sure we'll have top pg/sg recruit for 2015.

TheGeneral

October 31st, 2013 at 10:00 PM ^

While I'm no fan of Indiana or their coach in particular I'm glad he went to a B1G school. A strong B1G is good for Michigan. And when you look at our depth chart it's easy to understand kids looking elsewhere. Best of luck to both.

We are in great position with great players in the next class, let's have an awesome season and keep building until schools fear us as a blueblood.

gwkrlghl

October 31st, 2013 at 10:11 PM ^

The Big Ten footprint actually has a lot of basketball talent in general. I'd much rather it stay in conference than leave it. Last year was awesome for the perception of the conference. It was nice to hear "The BIg Ten, the nation's best basketball conference..." instead of "The Big Ten, basically a glorified MAC football conference..." for a change

Piston Blue

November 1st, 2013 at 7:10 AM ^

struck out with Keita Bates-Diop (who went to ohio) Donte Gratham (Clemson) i forgot his name but he was a kid from Yipsi who went to louisville, and now these 2. our classes before have had more than one guy, and while we still have doyle and hatch, im a little worried that ths will be one of the weakest beilein classes.

Don

October 31st, 2013 at 10:37 PM ^

and play for a great coach and high-character guy who just led a very young team to the championship game, good luck to them. Michigan ain't for everybody.

UM Indy

October 31st, 2013 at 10:36 PM ^

To see a guy decommit then recommit in hoops. I know it's happened in football but trying to think of when it's happened with such a highly ranked prospect in basketball? Of course he did originally commit in 4th grade so this is a bit of a unique situation.

trueblueintexas

October 31st, 2013 at 10:42 PM ^

When I read this quote from Beilein today, my first thought was don't be surprised if neither Booker or Blackmon commit.

Q. Obviously recruiting is very accelerated, Coach, but how have you seen making it to a national championship affect recruiting since then, please?

COACH BEILEIN: That's a common question. Recruiting is such a unique science to it.
I think there's been good things and I think it hasn't made a difference in some other ways as well. Certainly I think we're on a lot of people's lists. At the same time, everybody has different reasons for choosing their next university, the university they're going to go to. So I've seen some really good things, but at times it's maybe not the right fit. So we just keep doing what we are doing.

I know he was answering a broader question but I wonder if this part, "sometimes it's maybe not the right fit" was somewhat in direct reference to the two announcements which were still to come today.

Tater

October 31st, 2013 at 11:02 PM ^

I am not that suspiscious about Indiana, but when kids go to UK, it always pisses me off that they don't just level the playing field and let everyone else's boosters pay players, too.

South Bend Wolverine

November 1st, 2013 at 12:36 AM ^

Put me down for "whatever".  Great players I'm sure, and if would've been great to land them, but it was no surprise to miss.  When you're at this level of recruiting and going head to head with the big boys, you're going to lose a lot of battles.  Both of these guys had offers from an array of elite teams.  Just gotta win enough to keep up, and then let our coaching take us to the next level.

MichiganMan14

November 1st, 2013 at 2:37 AM ^

I think Kam Chatman will be a beast.  I think DJ Wilson is going to be a Belein Special and develop into a stud.  Ricky Doyle looks like a true big that can help us especially in rugged conference play.  Jury is still out on whether or not Hatch will be able to make his return all the way back but what a story that would be!  The 2015 class has a chance to be special with Jalen Brunson.....Stephen Zimmerman....Diamond etc.  No Worries fellas!

 

2014/2015  Two Deep

Walton/ Spike

Stauskas/ Levert

Irvin/Chatman

Donnal/Beifelt

Horford/Doyle

 

That is a drop off from our past two  lineups but that is still very good. 

This is ommitting the potential of DJ Wilson and Jonah Bolden being "Play Now" types. 

ak47

November 1st, 2013 at 10:46 AM ^

That's 4th place in the big ten sweet 16 ceiling probably talent.  Is that bad? of course not and it is going to happen and beilein has shown he can coach kids up but there is a reason he never went to a final four until he had his most talented team and that is because talent mattters.  I'm a little dissapointed in this class and I think its crazy not to be, but that doesn't mean the program has hit its peak and is moving in the wrong direction. 

Shakey Jake

November 1st, 2013 at 6:11 AM ^

Michigan is now battling Kentucky (and other top programs) for recruits. 

Who would have thought that just a few years ago?

Michigan just has to continue to win and go deep in the tourny and have more players get drafted early and often. Doing that will fortify Michigan as a place to be for top recruits that fit into what Beilein runs.

So far, it's all good!

MFanWM

November 1st, 2013 at 7:37 AM ^

I think that there is a reality to the style and focus that the coaches bring as well.  Michigan coaches are focused on the college experience and education vs. UK being focused on the NBA.  I think Blackmon was a situation where the kid had been committed forever to IU, so not truly surprising that he reconsidered as he only spent a few months decommitted vs years on-board.

Kinda similar to the difference I see when comparing the way Hoke focuses on a more old school message of academics and BIG Championships vs. the NC and get you to the NFL only focus that seems to come from Saban/Meyer and many of the SEC schools.  

You can be successful with both ways, just may take a bit longer when the truly elite players in both sports are in reality probably not as focused on the academic side at 15-18yrs old and if you walk into a UK or Alabama, it is hard to miss the NC trophies and see the results in the pro ranks.

skegemogpoint

November 1st, 2013 at 8:47 AM ^

#39.  You make a great point but you left out 2 important points:

1.  your assetion that UK boosters pay players is assnine and w/o any basis in fact and

2.  Calipari's record of putting kids in the pros is unparalleled

fatbastard

November 1st, 2013 at 1:49 PM ^

of Mr. Calipari's prior coaching has become!  For reference:

Calipari led UMass to the Final Four, an honor that was later vacated after the NCAA determined that national player of the year Marcus Camby had accepted thousands of dollars and gifts (including hookers) while at UMass. Calipari claimed to have been unaware of the extra benefits. 

Calipari also seemed to be unaware of how Lou Roe miraculously became eligible to play at UMass when nobody in America thought the Atlantic City star would ever qualify for school. That situation played itself out again at Memphis (after a lengthy stop in the NBA before rebooting his college coaching career) when academic eligibility questions followed Calipari down south. 

In the wake of the scandal surrounding current Bulls All-Star Derrick Rose's invalid SAT scores, Calipari had his second Final Four erased.

It surely didn't stop him from moving up in the college basketball world, as Calipari jumped ship from Memphis for Kentucky five months before the NCAA investigation was completed. Calipari was already deep into his first recruiting class at Kentucky before the ink was dry on the sanctions at Memphis.

Just sayin'.

trumpetgirl

November 1st, 2013 at 10:22 AM ^

It's all good, really.  I was just noting that I do not like his hair.  This is really important, obviously.  This spares me from feeling bad about this if he ended up at Michigan.  I am certain with Crean's influence, it will look even worse (I mean, look at the guy!).  At least I only have to look at it like 2-3 times a year!

/s