Kam and DJ.
Good news? Thank you.
Merlot.
April 26th, 2014 at 11:01 PM ^
April 26th, 2014 at 11:26 PM ^
April 26th, 2014 at 11:54 PM ^
What's wrong with Merlot?
April 27th, 2014 at 12:58 AM ^
Just give him his Natty Ice back.
April 27th, 2014 at 11:25 AM ^
"Sideways" :):):) .... The Merlot scene was the funniest scene.
I'll check it out. Thanks
Wilson is our first 7 footer in a while (yes I am counting the 3 inches of hair).
The Europe trip is going to be a big help this year with such a young team (feel like I am typing such a young team every year now). Surpised more teams don't do this; it is like a bowl practice season but preseason. I am glad Beilein does this as often as they allow it.
What's with the whole Europe thing?
This isn't just a Beilein thing either. Fisher did it after the 1991-92 season per Fab Five docuemntary footage of a young Jalen rather being in Detroit than going to San Marcos Square.
I think you are allowed to do it either once every four or once every five years. I believe that's the reason every school doesn't do it every year. Plus, it's expensive and you don't get any money back for tv deals or anything like that, because they are scrimmages.
Oh the money that could be made with TV deals, fan-team packages where you travel with the team to each European locations.
And the slogans. Oh the slogans.
"Azul en España"
April 26th, 2014 at 10:30 PM ^
April 26th, 2014 at 11:03 PM ^
The Michigan women's team's trip to France and Italy last summer was funded by donations by two fans, who also went with the team on the trip. One of the fans was mentioned in this press release as having made the trip possible; both of them were mentioned/profusely thanked in later releases.
Here's another example: Hawaii raising money for tour of Asia
Coach Gib Arnold is asking Warriors fans to either purchase travel packages or donate to help fund the foreign tour, with the school setting up the WarriorsToAsia.com website.
Surpised more teams don't do this
I think plenty of teams do take these trips. Two years ago, 60 basketball teams took a foreign tour. If that's a typical number, that would come out to about 240 teams over the course of four years (given that you can take one of these trips once every four years).
One thing making these tours more advantageous now is that you can take incoming freshmen on the trips. That wasn't the case until about five years ago.
Interesting info - thanks. I think there are 300 some D1 schools so that would be 1/5th which means its actually pretty common and teams are taking advantage of it far more than I thought. Looks like the Pac 12 especially loves it..
Didn't realize those European pro teams were so busy playing our college kids.
April 26th, 2014 at 10:03 PM ^
I just hope they get to face some good competition. Not sure if this was posted here before, but about a week ago, Mark Donnal revealed on Twitter that the team was headed to Italy. The Michigan women's team went to France and Italy last summer, and their competition wasn't very good.
The trip was still worthwhile for team bonding and all the extra practices, but it would have been even better if they had actually faced some decent teams. The scores of their three games were 102-34, 112-37, and 117-15. One of their opponents: the Italian All-Stars.
April 26th, 2014 at 11:22 PM ^
How good various NCAA women's teams isn't the issue. It's that the level of competition you might face in Europe can vary wildly. I'd rather see the men's team face tough competition there and not win every game than face a series of tomato cans.
My point was it doesn't vary nearly as much as women's basketball (and any other sport really). There's so much more depth in men's basketball. I'd be willing to bet even the lowest European men's teams are much more capable of putting up a fight than the lowest European women's teams.
April 26th, 2014 at 11:32 PM ^
I would think Italy is pretty good - I think after Spain and Greece that would be the next best league for the men. Of course you could play a "division 5" team in Italy versus a "division 2". Also keep in mind we are going to send over there almost all 18-20 year olds versus grown men, so losing 110-67 won't serve us use either; I am sure Beilein knows enough to get us good competition. I think last time we went to Europe we went 1-3 or something and lost pretty handily a few times but it worked out.
I looked over your link and some of the places those teams are playing as compared to Greece, Spain, or Italy are.... interesting.
Beilein just needs to keep the team far away from Amsterdam, if you know what I mean.
I do know what ya mean
Looks like that 6'8" for Kam is legit if Wilson is 6'9". Here's to hoping he can put on 20 pounds and be a legit option at the 4!
April 26th, 2014 at 10:21 PM ^
April 26th, 2014 at 10:25 PM ^
April 26th, 2014 at 10:35 PM ^
There are similar shirts at MDen, but they are polos and not button down shirst such as this one sadly. I will say, however, that I really do like this look and the best thing about it for me is that it would still be 100% work appropriate as it has a collar as well. I would like to know where you can get these myself actually.
This is not a "button-down" shirt. Button-down refers to shirts whose collars are held down at the points by buttons. This is a button-front shirt or, in normal usage, just a "shirt."
April 26th, 2014 at 10:40 PM ^
April 26th, 2014 at 10:40 PM ^
But really it is great that the freshman get to on this trip. It is really advantageous that Michigan is taking a Europe trip this year. This team will need the extra time to gel.
April 26th, 2014 at 11:01 PM ^
April 26th, 2014 at 11:25 PM ^
Anyone else watching the OKC vs. Memphis game and catch their conversation about Serge Ibaka's brother Igor possibly getting offered by us? He played at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M college, averaged about 14 points and 10 rebounds per game as a freshman. They have him listed as a 6'9" 220 lbs center. The announcers during the game mentioned that Serge said his brother might be getting offered by U of M and I just was wondering how serious this was. I haven't seen anything mentioned about this on this site or anywhere really. Maybe someone else has some insight into the situation?
April 26th, 2014 at 11:37 PM ^
No more room even if accurate. 2 openings and offers out to Dawkins and it sounds like Huff once he lands in AA. I guess if one or both say no there could be other offers but right now these seem to be targets 1A and 1B.
As of now there are zero openings for next year since we have no seniors but Caris (NBA) and Hatch (not sure if his scholarship will be athletic the whole way through) are potential openings 12 months from now along with any other kid who may get magically blessed with some kind of crazy jump year over year and start the NBA talks all over again. But at this point I think we might only have 2 scholarships free even a year from now.
We need a true 5 in the next class unless Donnal is going to be play 5 his whole career. Doyle is the type of guy you see 8-10 minute next year due to need (redshirted in optimal circumstance), 20 minutes the next and then 25 minutes or so from there.
You still need someone to suck up 15 minutes his JR SR years - if he even develops. I only say that because it is not 100% and it seems big men have more of a strike out range. A 5 in the 2015 class you redshirt his first year and then he provides backup for Doyle the year after when Doyle is ready to go 25.
If Donnal is going to play 5 at least 3 years as his primary position then you can wait a year for the next 5 in recruiting.
April 27th, 2014 at 11:09 AM ^
we not have offered both Dawkins and MAAR. Despite what Sam Webb and others have said, they seem too redundant, and could end up closing off a player with more upside and at a bigger position of need.
April 27th, 2014 at 12:24 AM ^
April 27th, 2014 at 11:18 AM ^