MBB ranked #8 in ESPN early projections

Submitted by ATLalumni on

Link: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7767401/indiana-hoosiers-continue-moving-2012-13 

 

Of course this is all depending on Burke back.  3 freshman that will be instant contributors.  I don't care if McGary scores more the 5pts a game, I just want him to be a beast on the boards and play some D.  That alone will make us a better team.

AHM16

April 3rd, 2012 at 1:30 PM ^

I think they'll end up moving into the top 5 if Burke stays just based on the fact that teams in front of them will lose players to the draft

HartAttack20

April 3rd, 2012 at 1:38 PM ^

As long as Burke stays I have no problem with that preseason expectation. It's risky to put a lot of stock in Freshmen, but it should be a solid season. Watching Kentucky's team dominate throughout the tournament made me realize how bad they would have most likely beaten Michigan. I just feel like they would wipe the floor with Michigan's team, but hopefully that will change now that Beilein is bringing in top notch talent.

Erik_in_Dayton

April 3rd, 2012 at 1:38 PM ^

 ...upon a red wheel barrow glazed with rain water beside the white chickens, but far more important than that is whether Trey Burke returns.  Putting Michigan at No. 8 right now just seems like a jinx. 

EZMIKEP

April 3rd, 2012 at 1:57 PM ^

I don't understand it. I understand that we lost seniors, and Novaks personality will be missed - BUT - if anyone is paying attention the guys being replaced (no disrespect I love those guys) will be instantly upgraded in talent and athletic ability by leaps and bounds.



Mitch is a legitimate 6'10" 260. Novak at 6'4" and that is giving an inch as a gift. No more tall guys taking advantage of a player playing out of position.



Stauskus should be the best shooter on the team and possibly the Big 10 the second he hits campus. Watch what type of impact that makes on this system. GRIII is THAT guy. Look at the tape. He is the real deal. If we wanna be worried about a 1 and done that is the guy. He is ready. Now. And Timmy should have tons of open looks and mismatches next year because of it.



Burke should be better, and he will have less focus on him by defenses as well. Please don't be dumb and leave..



The size upgrade will be a huge boost. Not only does Michigan return a reshirt junior in Morgan, but you have 2 other redshirt big guys to give minutes along with Mitch in Bedfieldt and Horford. Losing Evan was a blow because any junior big guy who can shoot/rebound/knows the system and gives minutes in a rotation so that drop off in production is minimal hurts. But he isn't the end all.



This should still be a Final 4 team next year. All the tools needed for success are there, it just has to come together. Considering we watched this team share a Big 10 championship with a freshman point guard (Our best player ) and less talent than those other 2 schools we shared it with should say something to the doubters. 

Erik_in_Dayton

April 3rd, 2012 at 2:10 PM ^

Burke is of course the biggest question mark by far.  I don't see Michigan as a Top 25 team without him.  The incoming freshman have never played a minute of college basketball, so we simply can't know what they'll do. 

A quick and not terribly important aside on McGary:  His current school lists him at 6'9".  He looks closer to 6'8" than 6'10" to me.

Blue In NC

April 3rd, 2012 at 3:03 PM ^

Here is the way I like to look at it.

Replace Novak with GRIII.  Talent upgrade but grit and experience down, maybe a wash assuming that GRIII plays significant minutes.  

Replace Stu with Staukas, same deal, maybe a wash.  

Replace Evan with MM, gain talent and rebounding but lose outside shooting, probably a wash.

So that's even and then you assume that existing players such as Burke, THJr., morgan improve a bit.  

This leads me to conclude that Michigan will be better but not way better and that is assuming Burke stays.  My feeling is that being ranked 10-15 is probably appropriate.

champswest

April 3rd, 2012 at 4:30 PM ^

contributors here.  Yes, I too am very excited about the talent coming in.  We will be bigger and more athletic.  We should be a better running, dunking and rebounding team.  However, we are likely replacing 3 of our top six players with freshmen (50% turnover).  Freshmen usually have a steep learning curve, especially in Beilein's system (Burke was the exception).  Look for an up and down early season with significant improvement toward the end of the year.  We could be a decent tourney team if we can make it in.

EZMIKEP

April 3rd, 2012 at 8:44 PM ^

Even if McGary was 6'8" 250 which he isn't because when you see him suit up next year he is going to be visibly bigger than everyone else, an almost 20 year old athletic high motor kid is going to change the entire complexion of that team as opposed to Evans soft approach to the game as well as his horrible footwork which make him a giant liability on defense. He is and has been our worst defender on the team out of any of the real contributors. MM can also hit the mid range without a problem. Therefore it isn't even close to a wash. 



Novak grit is only going to get you so far. I know people love him as I do because his moxy was A+ but in this sport that only can get you so far. This is the level where freshman can come in and be impact players right away. GRIII could come in and be half as good as advertised and it still wouldn't be a wash. Too long, athletic and quick. 



Even if 1 of the 3 come in and flame out with the expectations this team will be markably better next year. THJ doesn't have to improve one bit and he will still be better next year just by the talent upgrade around him. Same with Burke. 



This is a above average blue chip class infused with very good college level experience. That is a very important combo. Teams with less experience and same level of incoming talent have done great. I am drinking the koolaid. I have watched college hoops and played this game way too long to see it any other way. The only thing holding this team back from taking another step forward is experience. I am sure by the end of the season next year they will be running on all cylinders. It is a team that will probably miss out on winning a Big 10 title barely but be better as a team by the time the tourney rolls around. 



And as I said people are sleeping on the size upgrade with Horford and Bedfieldt getting minutes with MM and Morgan. They will be very beefy next year. They havent had that in any of Coach B's tenure. 

ijohnb

April 3rd, 2012 at 3:55 PM ^

cannot identify THAT guy from a tape of him playing in high school.  If you could, every hoops recruit that sets foot on campus would be THAT guy.  To say that this is a Final Four team in such short order ignores 1. A first round exit in the NCAA tourney this year, 2. The loss of the teams leading scorer in that first round NCAA exit, 3. The loss of 2 senior starters, 4. The conclusion that Trey Burke is going to come back, 5. The conclusion that talent is more important than effort and chemistry per se, 6. The conclusion that every recruit will end up performing at best case scenario leven, 7. The conclusion that Hardaway freshman year was real and Hardaway second year was fluke.

There is skepticism and than there is taking all factors into account.  If Trey comes back this team will be good, but nobody knows how good because there are simply too many unknowns.

In reply to by ijohnb

EZMIKEP

April 3rd, 2012 at 8:48 PM ^

kids coming out of high school had that IT factor. That their game was just too good not to project that they were going to be something? I am not saying GRIII is on the above level NBA wise but it will translate to the college level. That kid has game. Not a little, a lot. And he is just touching it. If has any of the swagger his dad had it would be the cherry on top. His dad is a was one of the greatest college basketball players I have ever seen. 

sundaybluedysunday

April 3rd, 2012 at 2:09 PM ^

They keep moving up these lists every single year and it's just absolutely insane that they can make one the day after the championship game. Sure you can project certain players to leave and stay in school but there are always a few surprises every year that have a major impact on a team's prospects. Then there is the whole signing prospects thing. If Kentucky signs Nerlens Noel, Shabazz Muhammed, and the other guy, they're virtually the same team as this year in terms of skill level, just with completely different guys.

But it's just dumb to release these sorts of lists with so many unknowns. Just another example of one sports outlet trying to beat the rest to the punch, and in doing so putting out a speculative and uninformative article that will be outdated in 2 weeks.

goldyumich

April 3rd, 2012 at 5:28 PM ^

I obviously don't have enough points to start a new thread but word is Trey has withdrawn from all classes and signing with a local agent. Credible source? Pretty credible as I know the agent.

goldyumich

April 3rd, 2012 at 6:09 PM ^

well without total substantial evidence as of yet didnt want to eb the one to really get everyone crazy however there are definite whispers around campus that Trey has withdrawn from all classes this semester. Obviously this is a red flag and would make sense if he is leaving bc then he wouldn't care to take finals. In regards to the second part again there are talks that he is signing with a local agency from a former student who has a slew of mchigan talent underneath them.

I wish I had more to substantiate at this time but I don't just like everyone else i am holding my breath that he decides to stay s leaving it would be devastating not only for the University of Michigan but in my eyes for him as well. Wil he get drafted? Who knows. If he stays will he improve his stock? I think that goes without saying.

 

 

 

AHM16

April 4th, 2012 at 12:24 AM ^

I don't have enough points to post yet but what do you guys think of the Keno Davis hiring at CMU ? Seemed to do a good job a Drake but when got to Providence he didn't do so well