Michigan Basketball Senior Day Appreciation Thread
While this year is different and one or more of these below players could play at Michigan again next year, I figured it's a good time to express our thanks to the NINE seniors on this basketball team.
Hopefully we get a couple of these guys back next year. Regardless, thank you for all you've done for the program.
Isaiah Livers - A fantastic 4-year player who has blossomed into a great shooter and defender that the team can rely on. (Ps, thank you for the great inbound passes for the Poole buzzer beater and the MAAR buzzer-beating foul against Maryland)
Eli Brooks - A true glue guy who makes the team better just by being on the court. Always knew the right thing to do and always willing and able to step up and make a play when needed. (Please come back next year)
Austin Davis - Once a frustrating after-thought, he's now turned into a solid backup Center who can score in the post with great fundamentals.
Mike Smith - I don't think many people expected you to adjust so well to B1G basketball. You've outperformed all expectations and are a truly important piece to this team's success. (Please come back next year)
Chaundee Brown - A true energy guy who is willing to mix it up and get in the face of anybody. You can hit the 3-ball and you provide wonderful energy and team camaraderie off the bench.
CJ Baird - We'll never forget that 3 you hit against Texas A&M in 2018.
Rico Ozuna-Harrison - Great scout team player and an aspiring doctor. Thank you for everything you've done.
Luke Wilson - Vital part of the bench mob and the scout team. Love that you were a preferred walk-on. Your love for Michigan is clearly there.
Jarron Faulds - The lesser known and respected of the two Columbian transfers we have on the team. Important to the scout team and the energy on the bench.
Hard to find a better group, top to bottom, that has represented our University so well, and accomplished so much. So much love for these boys - enjoy your day, and an extra helping of Sparty whoop-ass
I admit to being a homer as I have family members very close to the Davis family but I am so proud at how Austin has finished his career. Playing last year on a partially torn labrum, to getting a partially torn plantar fascia this year and continuing to get better says a lot about his character considering there have been a healthy amount of fans that either A) were mad when he announced his commitment to Michigan or B) get mad every time he goes into the game. I know it isn't feasible from a team chemistry / minutes perspective but I wish all these guys could come back next year.
Yes, a big THANK YOU to Austin Davis, the epitome of a selfless, team player. It always makes me smile when an opposing coach recognizes his contribution, such as this from Archie Miller after last Saturday's game against IU:
"“I thought today they mixed up defenses and tried to take us out of our rhythm in sets and made us play the game.... it’s tough to score with low post, back to the basket moves consistently against that type of size inside. Austin Davis does a good job too when they bring him in. He’s very underrated.”
I don't think Faulds is less respected because he's lesser known.
Way to try to make this post about you. Good job.
Well-deserved appreciation for an unexpectedly excellent season.
SOBERING THOUGHT: If none of the seniors return and Franz Wagner leaves for the pros, then next season Michigan would have only one returning starter (Hunter Dickinson) and three seniors (Brandon Johns, Jr., Adrien Nunez and Brandon Wade), only one of whom would be expected to be in the regular rotation. Even with a highly-rated recruiting class, Michigan would have one of the least experienced teams in the Big Ten next season, unless there are some graduate transfers who might be joining the team.
Although they are seniors, wouldn’t we allow scout team guys to return if they chose to continue their Michigan education? Like if Rico went to U of M Med School. Covid extra year doesn’t impose any roster limits for next season so it’s just up to the athletic department and basketball coach to say yes to each individual they want to invite back.
I dont want to be sober right now. We have a national championship to win
A very productive senior class. Will Juwan start all seniors tonight?
He could with Livers, Davis, Smith, Brooks and Brown. Not a bad lineup.
i love this group, every last one of them. they've been a credit to the program.
i know this is a celebration thread, but it's a bummer that jordan poole isn't here for it.
Eh, count me in the minority, but I like the make up of this team. I wouldn’t want to add a Jordan Poole to it now, even if it was allowed.
I agree.
Jordan Poole will always have this one shining moment in a Michigan uniform.
oh, i agree completely. part of what makes this team so great - and one of the reasons it's one of my favorite teams ever - is the chemistry and makeup. i wouldn't change one bit of that. i'm really just kinda sad that we never saw him reach his potential here.
Leaders and, hopefully after tonight's win, Best.
HERE HERE!
Me too. Hear! Hear!
(In case anyone's interested, "Hear! Hear!" was originally "Hear him! Hear him!" Not sure but I believe it came from England's notoriously yelling Parliament.)
I love you Chaundee more than I love oxygen. Thank you for your intense man defense and corner threes!
Is there anyway to catch tonight's Senior Night pre-game recognition? I'd love to watch. BTN showed it for Rutgers last week and it was awesome, but tonight's game is on ESPN.
The seniors are going to be honored AFTER the game. You can follow it on Instagram - Umichbball. That’s the only way I’ve heard we can follow it. GO BLUE!
Credit to all of them for navigating an unexpected coaching change and still playing at a high level and representing the team and University so well. Hopefully they'll hang a banner tonight.
Those who stay...
These guys are such a terrific senior class, and great representatives of the University of Michigan. Really appreciate their poise, comraderie, leadership and fine play. Wish them the absolute best in all of their endeavors, and truly think they each will do well in life. Meanwhile, hope they have a lot of basketball left this season. Been too much fun not to keep it going. Beat Sparty.
Every time Eli brooks took the floor it reminded me of the 2:40 mark of Charlie Murphy’s Prince story. He got better every season and made valuable contributions every game. Lets get the W, Blouses! RIP Charlie & Prince
Thank you, Jarron.
Thank you, Luke.
Thank you, Rico.
Thank you, CJ.
Thank you, Chaundee.
Thank you, Mike.
Thank you, Austin.
Thank you, Eli.
Thank you, Isaiah.
And thank you, UMFanatic 96, for posting this invitation to honor the seniors.
Big Country
I have nothing to add -- so perfectly stated already. Great OP, OP.
2 things: 1. Why pull HD when he gets 1 foul?
2. Are they really going to call 2 weak moving screens on consecutive possessions?
Oops, wrong thread? Sorry guys! Thanks to all of the seniors!! Beat State!!
Will Livers even get drafted? 2 points at halftime tonight... Seems to be in a bit of a slump?